please help is this spd I'm in agony

[Courtneybrown]

Hi guys im 14 weeks pregnant with 3rd child large ovarian cyst which Is being watched and a incompetent cervix will have a stitch put in at 20 weeks.

Anyways for the last week I can't walk like I'm crying getting in and out of bed and car walking getting off toilet etc the pain is radiating inbetween my legs back and hips and down my thighs.

I went to midwife today my midwife wasn't available so spoke to someone else.

she said it was ligament pain and just take paracetamol and I will need to go to some class at 20 weeks for 4 weeks before I can even think about physio.

I'm in extreme pain and don't think this is round ligament pain I've tried paracetamol it's not doing anything.

Been like this for a week the women was admant it was and kept trying to get me out the door watching me waddaling away.

so you think it is spd and if so how can I get it diagnosed this women was just bloody rude !!

This sounds like SPD. You may be able to self refer for physio as your midwife sounds very uncaring. I had crutches that I borrowed from minor injuries I think- they really helped so if you can get hold of some do so. Also swimming is good for building up strength alongside physio. Hope you feel better soon

Do you have an early pregnancy unit?
I find they are more understanding, particularly if there's a bit of complex history

The only treatment is proper rest, if you carry on as normal it will get worse and worse! I am serious here you need to not to things that aggravate the pain.

Find yourself an osteopath qualified to treat pregnant women, it helped me so much, I also ended up with crutches.

Keep your legs together (as if you are wearing a pencil skirt) at all times until you get physio help.

Please please please contact a private physio if you can afford it (£40 ish usually). I suffered for months but finally gave up about 32 weeks and she diagnosed sacroiliac joint issues and released my muscles which gave me immediate relief. She also advised me to get a special belt which kept the worst of it at bay after until delivery. I still suffer with pelvic joint issues but just wish I'd been to a professional earlier.

I'm not saying that's what you've got, but still, don't just accept it as part of pregnancy - chances are it can be improved with some proper advice.

Keep taking the paracetamol as there is supposed to be a cumulative effect. A pregnancy belt but worn low down on your hips. Try not to open your legs if you can help it.

Yes it does sound like it - poor you getting it so bad and so early! Physio is the way forwards (and will only mitigate, won't make it go away) but in the meantime try this:

• Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees as this aligns the pelvis (might help to take rests like this during the day too)
• Keep your legs together as much as possible, e.g. When getting in and out of car, or chairs, or bed or bending down. For the car for example, it helps to put a plastic bag on the seat so you can swivel round and jump out rather than side-stepping in and out
• avoid lifting heavy things
• avoid pushing heavy things like supermarket trollies, hoovers etc. It might not directly hurt at the time but it does make it worse
• avoid crossing your legs
• avoid squatting
• when going up and down stairs, take one stair at a time and bring both feet together on each stair rather than alternating steps

All easy to say but difficult, especially if you have other children already.

You can buy belly bands that help support the pelvis but if you can get one properly fitted by a physio that would be better.

If your midwives are not taking you seriously then I would go to the gp and insist on a referral to a woman's physio.

Sorry you are in so much pain , I am pretty uncomfortable myself but at 38 weeks the end is in sight!

Also frozen peas are you friend, wrapped in a tea towel helps bring the inflammation down.

I went in to the osteopath on crutches and managed without afterwards.

I had to do the stairs on my bum the pain was that bad, made my non-walking toddler crawl everywhere, used the pushchair to get her in and out the house to the car.

I second a trip to the physio -it worked wonders for me after just one visit. Best 40 quid ever spent!

I'm 16 weeks and recently bought a support band off amazon because I couldn't wait two weeks for physio! It was only £10 and I'm wearing it lower down, it seems to be helping a bit! Also use a pillow (L shaped) for when you sleep and use paracetamol when you need to. Even if it's just until to you can see someone else about it so it should hopefully help a bit!

Thank you guys for your support I'm going to pay for a physio I think I'm using a pillow just now ..

just really struggiling to sleep because of it yeah I worked it out not parting my legs to much I cried like a baby as I tried to get it the toilet oh the joys 😢.

Does it get easier the further on you are you ladies are so brave dealing with this till the end of your pregnancy If It didn't hurt so much getting up I would be bum shuffling lol x

I do have a early pregnancy unit but I'm not allowed to go after 12 weeks hun I think I'm going to have to go private for physio x

Mine was bad up til the end but greatly improved immediately after giving birth. I still get twinges more than four years later if I move in a particular way (e.g. pushing anything heavy with my foot) and my pelvis will click occasionally but pretty much back to normal. Trying for DC3 now so clearly I've forgotten

Hi I had spd with my 3rd baby, so I feel for you. Try to rest, avoid pushing supermarket trolley, that really hurts, take some paracetamol and visit GP for diagnosis. Unfortunately there is no magic cure, I found sleeping with pillow between my knees and not staying in any one position for too long helped. For me symptoms and pain all disappeared immediately on giving birth. Take care x

I have had SPD with this pregnancy (the third) and self referred to the physio via phone and it was all very quick and saw someone that week. If you can find the number just call them, don't bother with filling in a form.
Anyway it helped a lot just to reassure me of some things like taking paracetamol does really help, and put a plastic bag on your car seat so when getting in with your legs together there is no friction when you turn yourself into the car. And things like taking smaller steps when out and about. She also gave me excersises to do which helped too - so much so I don't consider I have SPD any more, it does not impact me at all. So try these things and also getting lots of rest really helps.
You have my sympathy but it's not something that lasts forever, it really can be managed.

You ladies are a life saver thank you all for your encouraging posts ..

I really did think this was it for all of eternity as with my first I suffers a damaged nerve to my back that has never resolved again useless doctor who kept sending me for scans on my stomach..

I'm a carer working around 70 hours a week and had to currently go on sick leave due to the deliberating pain. Glad to know I'm not going out of my mind will be phoning physio first thing Monday morning x

It's scary the pain we put ourselfs through to have our precious babys then forget how bad the pain was and go on to have more haha !!

All worth it if course my OH says we ladies are very strong and not sure if we're human as it wouldn't be him.

The way he said it men wouldn't ask for another kick in the tender bits but we go on to have more children lol xx

You're so right, we forget about it all after birth mother nature's way I suppose.
Be kind to yourself, get some rest and see if perhaps you could change some of your duties at work.
By the way your employer has an obligation to make adjustment for you whilst pregnant. X

Contrary to what the other posters have said, I wonder if what you have really is SPD. It's very early (even with your additional issues) and your pain sounds very severe. As well as physio, I think it might be worth you seeing your GP again.

It's not too early to have SPD and the pain can be that severe. Mine was, and got worse, I was in a wheelchair by 26 weeks.

Please don't leave it. Contact the Pelvic Parntership they might be able to point you in the right direction of a physio or osteopath who can help you.

I'd get a Serola belt too. There are other cheaper belts available but this one's the best. There's a new belt that goes under the bump over the shoulders to give suopprt but I can't remember the name at the moment. I'll try to find it sometime today for you.

Good luck, it's horrible.

Ive developed spd at week 38 and in agony too so I totally sympathise with you its awful, midwife told me to take paracetamol and cant do anything else?? I have a 2 year old toddler to run after and im exhausted too as not sleeping with all the pain. No other help been offered to me so im gonna see gp tomorrow- even a pair of crutches would help 😖😢

Sounds like SPD to me. Does turning over in bed really hurt? Or near impossible? Mine started at early too at about the same time (I'm obese but don't know if that was a factor). Unfortunately for me it just got worse. Hope it doesn't for you. I ended up on crutches and sleeping downstairs for the last 8 weeks because I couldn't do the stairs

Physio gave me a giant tubigrip thing to wear around the hips which helped a bit. Was also prescribed co-codamol which I was told was ok to have until the last few weeks IIRC.