If you I had pgp/spd twice (or more)....

[SquedgieBeckenheim]

Did you get physio the second time? If so, what did they do for you?
I'm nearly 16 weeks with DC2 and struggling with pelvic pain, but also struggling to get a physio referral. I'm following all the usual advice as best I can with a 2 year old at home. I also have my support belt for last time but not sure there's any point wearing it yet as I don't have a bump yet.
I just wonder if I did get a physio appointment what would they do that I can't do. Maybe it's just coz my last physio only gave me a support belt and exercises! Should I keep pushing or carry on as I am?

I did with my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I bypassed physio and paid for fortnightly sessions with an osteopath.
It was so worth it! He made the last three months of both pregnancies bearable.
I didn't bother with the physio as my consultant was completely useless and decided that I could wait until the 8th month for an NHS appointment.

Hope someone wiser will come along, but for me SPD got worse with each, and by the 3rd, the only thing I could do was not go out. At all. I was stuck indoors for 9 months (although to be fair it was 5 months of HG that stopped me for the first bit, the last 4 months or so was down to SPD)

I had physio but it didn't do anything. Walking and stairs aggravate the condition, and that's impossible not to do with a toddler (or living life in general!). With number 2 I pushed and pushed on and was in agony and on crutches by the end. With number 3 I had a lot of help from DH at home, and I was prisoner at home for the 9 months. But it was a lot better.

You need to ask for lots of help if you have that available. Don't be afraid to ask. SPD is a crippling condition. I only had DH (no family, none on his side either) but if you have other family/friends, get as much help as you can. Rest is your only option IMO.

I really hope someone can help you with the pain and any ideas. Good luck, I know how awful this condition is

Thanks for replies, it is definitely worse this time! I barely had any pain at this stage with DD, but suffering already. I got stuck on the bed yesterday and couldnt move at all till DH physically lifted me. DD likes to be carried, but we're working on that.
Sadly we don't have much help. Parents are all 6 hour drive away (on a good day), DH works shifts so is often gone 12 hours. He does a lot when he's home and let's me rest. We haven't been here long, so have acquaintances rather than friends and I feel awkward asking for favours.

With dd1 I was signed off work from 26 weeks as I couldn't walk, sit or stand for longer than a few minutes!

With dd2 I felt twinges early on and saw an osteopath every month and kept it a bay. We used to go out in the mornings no carrying dd1 or pushchair and had lazy afternoons!

Now 8weeks with no 3 and have got the familiar twinges and my si joint at the back is going out of line. Much harder to take it easy with school run every day and a dd2 who will not walk there and back so I have to take the buggy!!

Agree with pp, as soon as I got the pain with dd2 booked in for osteopath. Saw him at first every couple of weeks and was then able to stretch it out. Didn't need to make any appointments for about my last 2 months. He did tell me that it's beneficial to go after giving birth or before planning next one, but I never did

Definitely chase a physio appt. I have had PGP all 3 pgs. I had physio the first time and tbh, what made a difference was the gentle massage, rather than any exercises. My pain is mainly concentrated in my right sacroiliac joint; left groin pain joined the party in the 2nd pg and my tailbone obvs felt a bit left out so is making its presence felt this time too. I get fast track physio at work but am trying to manage the pain with regular foam rolling sessions atm. If you have lower back/rear pelvis pain I really recommend this, however best to see a physio first for proper instruction.

Thanks. Will ask again for physio referral at next appointment next week. The pain is mostly SI joints, with some pain in the public bone. At times I can almost feel the joints moving when I walk. I cannot go off work before I hit 34 weeks, so can't afford to get worse!

If you do have to go off early they can't force your mat leave to start until 36 weeks. So check out your sick policy I meant I was signed off from 26-36 weeks on full pay as sick leave then on mat leave from 36 onwards.

I can't go off work till 34 weeks as I'm doing a course and it doesn't finish till then! If I have to go off work I may not finish my course which would totally screw things up for me! Once my course finishes I'll go off if I need to.

Can you not self refer to Physio? Our midwifery team don't do referrals, they get you to do it yourself. I was seen within 2 weeks.

that makes it harder!

You have prompted me to contact my osteopath so thank you. I have been ignoring the pain as I am only 8 weeks and had a miscarriage earlier this year at 10 weeks! But my si joint and pelvis are both so sore tonight!

Nope, no self referral to physio. I'm consultant led care and midwife says consultant needs to refer me, but consultant says midwife does it. I asked if I can do it and they said no.

GPs can refer to women's physio here. Worth a try? Your GP should certainly be able to refer you to regular physio. Women's physio is better, because pelvises are all they do, but any physio is better than none.

I echo those saying seek treatment ASAP by whatever means necessary. Sadly I think provision varies wildly so getting referrals can be tricky. I had one session with a private physio as soon as I started getting twinges this time and when she recommended getting a referral for NHS treatment I mentioned that last time my help from the NHS was pretty non-existent. She explained that past a certain point there isn't a lot they can do apart from providing advice on how to minimise pain and give a support belt etc. At my early stage she was able to prescribe exercises to strengthen and help stabilise which should hopefully slow progression of any pain. I have been doing them regularly and my pain is now minimal. Been inspired by this thread to seek out an osteopath too just to be on the safe side.

I had it with dd1. With dd2 I was on crutches from 23 weeks. I went to an osteopath which helped a little but not much. After dd2 I did postnatal pilates. With ds I did pilates (followed dvd) three times a week, went to McTimoney Chiropractor about once a month and dh massaged me when in pain. We got a cleaner in. I was still able to walk over 4 miles a day (school run and playgroups) the week before he was born.

I had a good physio last time, from about 18 weeks. However we've moved area since and I'm getting the run around! I've found a place that does prenatal massage (and acupuncture, not sure if that'll help!) so I'll make an appointment with them. I had a massage last time which helped, never went to my second appointment as DD made her exit rather early. So hoping it'll help this time. And I'll keep pushing for physio.

Would you consider an osteopath? I was sceptical on first pregnancy as knew nothing about them but it's a bit like a targeted deep tissue massage. They should also give you all of the exercises that the physio will recommend. This time around mine got me to use a foam roller every day between appointments. I'd heard everyone tell me that second time around spd can be much worse but I think because I went early and got it treated rather than just for pain relief, mine was a lot more tolerable in second pregnancy even though bump was much bigger too. Hope you sort something soon

The foam roller is a bastard but it does so much good! I am not in the habit of using it every day but I must.

Stupid question but what bits are you foam rolling? I have one but can't picture how I would use it in this case.

I am rolling my lower back down to my pelvis, so sort of lying/leaning back on the roller. Am also doing my right gluteal muscles, so sitting on the roller with right ankle crossed over left knee, and also rolling side of right hip/thigh.

Thanks gumboots that's really helpful. On my foam roller right now so going to try those