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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

spd/pgp groin and thigh agony - positive stories?

36 replies

strangerjo · 26/02/2016 19:16

I've had pelvic girdle pain since the first trimester. Now 39 weeks and recently the pain in my inner thighs and groin are agony - it feels like sprains. I'm worried this pain won't go! Standing, walking, moving in bed at night - all eye-wateringly painful.
Has anyone experienced this? Please tell me it will go! I hope it's just the weight/position of the baby!

OP posts:
macdat · 26/02/2016 19:31

Aww, poor you Sad
It does get better though. Some people get better during pregnancy, some straight after birth, some a few weeks after.
Have you had any physiotherapy at all? If not, see your midwife to refer you asap. Ask them to do a quick referral too because you don't need this when the baby comes and you're already tired, stressed and in pain as it is.

Original poster
strangerjo · 26/02/2016 19:44

Cheers! I've had nhs physio (3 appointments in 7 months so useless), osteopathy, private physio and massage. It was manageable until the thigh pain kicked in - now I can't walk for more than a couple of minutes.

OP posts:
chandelierswinging · 26/02/2016 19:48

It will go! I went in to deliver DC1 on crutches... and walked out a few days later.

Have you got adequate pain relief?

CatsCantFlyFast · 26/02/2016 19:48

A chiro that specialises in pregnancy? I can recommend if you're south/west London accessible. Made such a dramatic difference to me

Augustwedding · 26/02/2016 19:51

I had exactly what you describe! It's utter agony and saps everything you have left which at this point is not much!!

However it did go for me straight after birth and I currently have no lasting affects.

I ensured the condition was highlighted on my notes and I told every mw I had. The other advice I was given was to measure how far you can open your legs comfortably and cut a piece of string to this width. This gives the mw an idea of what is comfortable for you.

One mw did put me in stirrups and that was agony so I soon got them taken down!!

Good luck x

Original poster
strangerjo · 26/02/2016 19:52

Thank you!
NotWithoutMyMerkin - yes please let me know your chiro!

OP posts:
Original poster
strangerjo · 26/02/2016 19:54

I've tried pain relief with no success. Staying off my feet is the only pain relief I have but not a very healthy way to live.

OP posts:
chandelierswinging · 26/02/2016 19:56

The pelvic partnership website is really helpful.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/02/2016 19:58

The thigh pain could be because the baby is so low down and pressing on some nerves. You're doing really well, tbh, because you can still walk, but I would advise you to rest as much as possible. It's the best thing for you. Don't push supermarket trollies or hoovers, don't drive, limit the amount of times you go up and down stairs. Just sit down, put your feet up and rest.

A word of caution to all of you saying it will get better, that's not true. I've had SPD for 20 years, and have had 6 major surgeries on my pelvis. I'm in quite a few support groups and women get really upset and disheartened when it doesn't get better after being told by many, many women that it will. The word that's needed is might.

Puppymouse · 26/02/2016 20:14

Mine came back after DD was born. I was desperate and terrified I'd be living with it for rest of my life. If one more person recommended pelvic floor exercises or Pilates I was ready to thump them. Saw osteopath and referred to NHS physio but nothing helped and the minute I tried pushing to do a bit more it came back with a vengeance.

I did some research online and there's an organization called The Pelvic Partnership - www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk where they know the experts they would recommend and they have used. They were so helpful.

Saw new physio (long way away but worth it). She had a totally different view and advised me and I haven't looked back. I've gone from not being able to walk without pain to running and riding again. Occasional twinge but rare.

chandelierswinging · 26/02/2016 20:16

I'm really sorry to hear your story Fairy- it must be horrendous. Flowers However, for the majority of people, SPD/PGP does get better. Cases like yours, as awful as they can be, are rare. This from the pelvic partnership says that long-term PGP sufferers are in the minority.

Original poster
strangerjo · 26/02/2016 20:18

Puppymouse - what did the new physio do that the others hadn't?

OP posts:
Original poster
strangerjo · 26/02/2016 20:20

TheFairyCaravan - thank you... but I didn't want to hear that!

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 26/02/2016 20:24

I know long term PGP sufferers are in the minority, but there are actually quite a lot of us chanderlier.

The point I'm making is it's really unhelpful, as well as not factual, to tell women they will get better because sometimes they don't. It's disheartening and very upsetting when you've been in a wheelchair, or bed bound or on crutches hanging on to the fact that once your baby is here you'll be fine again, baby is born and you're not. I know that feeling because I've experienced it.

Puppymouse · 26/02/2016 20:24

Basically the others kept manipulating it and doing weird manoevres on me. Every time I had pain they told me to stop X or y activity.

This new physio did loads of tests and just said there was nothing physiologically wrong with me it was just weak because I'd been favouring it so much for so long. She very kindly told me to go and get fit. Apparently a bit like muscle memory your nerves can "remember" pain and they sort of need retraining sometimes to tell them they're being ridiculous.

Not saying that will be the same for others - I clearly don't want to give anyone proxy medical advice and suggest flinging crutches out the window and swimming the channel while your baby sleeps but thought it might help and Pelvic Partnership were lovely to deal with.

llhj · 26/02/2016 20:26

I had agonising pain for months when pregnant and saw several different therapists etc. It disappeared entirely after giving birth immediately. I can't say I walked away from the labour room pain free but that's because I had a third degree tear...it didn't materialise in subsequent pregnancies either.

RandomMess · 26/02/2016 20:30

Mine improved massively post birth quite quickly, even more so a few weeks after stopping breast feeding (the hormones add contribute to the instability).

There are still things that I need to be careful off over a decade on.

My issue is due to have naturally too tight soft ligaments/tissues so they were pulling on my pelvic cage. I suffer with back issues because of it and will always need osteopathic treatment, doing exercises etc.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/02/2016 20:35

Breastfeeding doesn't affect SPD. It has no impact on the stability of your pelivs and won't make it heal quicker if you give it up. That's another myth.

chandelierswinging · 26/02/2016 20:36

But Fairy, the OP isn't bed-bound/in a wheelchair or even on crutches, so it is actually rather more unhelpful, on a thread where she has asked for positive stories, to give her a "worst case scenario".

I was given similar advice to Puppy. DH is a physio so I am lucky enough to have live-in treatment on tap! And someone to nag me for crossing my legs without thinking about it!

TheFairyCaravan · 26/02/2016 20:42

It's less helpful to give her advice that's not factual chanderlier and not every longterm PGP sufferer was on crutches, in a wheelchair or bedbound.

Chelsea26 · 26/02/2016 20:46

I was the same as PP, walked in on crutches and out with no problem three days later, it went almost instantly.

And another positive bit of info - I got pregnant again very quickly (17months between DC) I was terrified but it didn't come back and I was fine second time round

Good luck!

Chelsea26 · 26/02/2016 20:46

I was the same as PP, walked in on crutches and out with no problem three days later, it went almost instantly.

And another positive bit of info - I got pregnant again very quickly (17months between DC) I was terrified but it didn't come back and I was fine second time round

Good luck!

chandelierswinging · 26/02/2016 20:49

I realise that Fairy- no need to patronise- but in your post you mention all those things; the OP didn't. And I didn't give advice. I have the OP my own account. I am on my third pregnancy with PGP. It eased both times soon after delivery.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/02/2016 20:56

I'm not patronising. It's not fair to tell pregnant women that something will get better, when it might not. You did do that as did others. All I was suggesting was that people were a little more cautious with their words in future.

I hope you get some relief with a chiropractor or Physio strangerjo. Good luck with the birth.

scaredofthecity · 26/02/2016 20:57

Another one who couldn't walk without crutches and was pretty much bedbound who then walked out holding baby. The relief was fairly instant. I do still get occasional pain a year later but it just tells me I'm doing too much and doesn't stop me in my day to day life.
I am however pretty scared about having another child!