SPD and pelvic girdle pain advice?

[vickyors]

I'm 29 weeks pregnant with my second baby, and I've got some serious pelvis pain.. I took a day off last week and saw doctor who was incredibly unhelpful.. I'm going back tomorrow as two days into this week and I can honestly say work was agony. My sis had it so I've got her support belt, I swivel in/out of car, but walking is really tough.. Any ideas? Anyone else in this boat? Cheers!

I had this with my first. I self referred to physio. A support helped me. Does your support fit well?

Hi, alao in a similar situation, I'm 38 weeks.

Sleeping with a pillow between your knees, and keep your knees together helps at night.

Avoid doing things that flare it up. Like you say, swivel out of the car. Walking one step at a time, bringing your feet together also helps.

If it's really awful and you're struggling with sleep a paracetamol is a good idea!

I had it in my last pregnancy. I got signed off at 29 weeks and didn't end up going back. My job is very physical and I just couldn't do it. I got referred to physio, I started off with a support belt and finished off with crutches.

What helped was not pushing myself and resting as much as possible, keeping legs together when getting out of car/bed, sitting down to put pants on so never standing on one leg.

Oh yes definitely pillow between your legs at night.

I had this from 25 weeks with my 2nd DC. I saw a Physio on the NHS who really didn't even touch me and despite giving me a belt to wear, nothing improved the pain it only got worse. I could hardly walk by the end even 10m.

I was expecting it with my 3rd DC and sure enough the pangs started at 14 weeks. I went straight to an Oesteopath who diagnosed that my left hip was misaligned with my right and was causing the pain, effectively an injury that was being exacerbated by the pregnancy hormones. I felt an immediate improvement from the first session and had 3 more and have been completely pain free (am now 28 weeks). It cost me about £200 total but was priceless. I don't think the NHS has a clue what they are doing with PGP to be honest.

Silky pj's/sheets helped me as I used to wiggle in bed and it hurt. Go up stairs one at a time so put both feet on the step before taking the next step iykwim. It sucks - poor you. On the plus side I had it really bad with my first but didn't get it on my second so...

I had it badly with my first from about 26 weeks. I used crutches and a support belt and worked from home whenever possible. But what helped most was a visit to a private physio with experience of pelvic problems - 1 visit to her and I was able to walk without crutches - 2 visits later and I was able to get through the rest of my pregnancy with minimal pain and didn't need my crutches again.
The pelvic partnership (a charity - google them) have a book they can send to you with advice and exercises and they can also advise if there is any private physio/osteo in your area that has experience that they know of.

There is a charity called the pelvic partnership who can give advice (they have a helpline). They can also often recommend a local physio who has experience in treating pregnant women with spd.

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk

Sorry cross posted the same recommendation there!

vickyors - my wife had SPD and her doctor was also incredibly unhelpful. She struggled on, ended up on crutches and still has pain 15 years later.

Get a second opinion. Get help. Get a wheelchair if necessary. Dont ignore it.

I am not an expert but I have seen the long term harm my wife did to herself walking in severe pain thinking it was normal and would go away after DS1 was born.

Going through the same thing, sorry to hear you're having a rough time.

Go see your doctor (NOT your midwife) and ask for a referral to a physiotherapist. Might take a week or two and you'll go to a support group that gives you lots of information and even a belt.

Try not to walk if you can avoid it, have someone else drive you if possible. As others have said, sleep with a pillow between your thighs and your feet on the same level as your knees, otherwise it does damage to your spine.

Try some pelvic girdle pain exercises online, and I personally highly suggest an exercise ball, as this will also be helpful for birth prep. (Make sure to get the right size ball, otherwise it won't work as well). Also paracetamol, and if the pain is too much ask your doctor to prescribe something stronger.

Please don't do anything that makes the pain worse; it WILL get your body used to it, it will just get worse. Accept that this is your body trying to cope with your growing baby and do what it tells you to do. Best of luck x

Sorry, mistype. Struggling through the pain will not get your body used to it. Important difference.

Thanks all.. I went to see the doctor this morn and he's referred me. I will get that book and the website looks great.. If necessary my folks have said they will help me pay for a private physio as my sis had this and still has issues.. He offered to sign me off work for a week, but I'm resting today and hoping to just take it a day at a time..

I have got a referral through my MW. Hoping it helps! 29 weeks also and didn't have this anywhere near this bad with DS1

Good luck OP.

I feel your pain op. I've been off work since Monday with mine - went in to work on Monday but didn't even get as far as seeing my registration group as I was in tears from the pain and my HOD sent me home. I'm all about the exercise ball and my physio gave me some exercises to do which have helped a bit but the best is just resting feel a far bit better for being off my feet for a few days but know as soon as I go back to work it'll all go to pot again.

I've still got SPD over 19 years after I was pregnant with DS2. I was in a wheelchair and bed bound through pregnancy. My story is horrendous so I won't tell it, but it is on here.

My recommendation is to see an osteopath or chiropractor who specialises in SPD. There was no such thing when I was pregnant unfortunately. They can work wonders, most NHS physios have very limited experience.

Get a Serola belt.
Snoozle on the bed is brilliant. I have 2 long pregnancy pillows either side of me so it stays in place.
No hoovering, pushing supermarket trollies or pushchairs.
You might not be able to drive
Go up the stairs one step at a time, ie both feet on one step before moving on to the next.
Ice the joint.
Rest as much as you can
Sit down to put your knickers, tights, trousers on.
Sit on the edge of the bath and put both legs over don't step in.
Don't be afraid to get signed off work.

Good luck.

Our NCT instructor was adamant about getting referred to an osteopath if any of our group had pelvic pain. I'm glad she insisted on it, as the MW had basic advice but the attitude was 'it's just one of those things that happens in pregnancy'.

I was lucky in that mine wasn't too bad--the osteo helped by realigning one of my sacro-iliac joints and while the pain hadn't entirely gone, it's very manageable (only time it really hurts is turning over in bed at night). The pelvic partnership website has a list of practitioners who treat PGP/pregnant women across the UK. It's absolutely worth it IMHO.

Another previous sufferer here. Started at 11 weeks, was on crutches from 24 weeks and was practically housebound towards the end

I've been very lucky, it took a couple of years but it did clear up completely.

Try going upstairs backwards. It feels a little awkward at first, but its less of a swing on your hip. Also, when walking if you're going to change direction, stop walking, turn on the spot then walk again. Leading with one foot (as you would if you didn't stop first) opens the pelvis too far and hurts a lot!

Ok - this is getting much worse now.

Can anyone recommend an osteopath in London?

I am in bloody agony - feels like I have been kicked in the lady garden!