What does pelvic pain feel like? (SPD)

[jellycrumble]

Not sure if I have pelvic pain or not... feels like I've been riding a horse or a bike for hours (I can assure you I haven't ) and it really really aches, from my bum, hips, inner thighs and pubic area. It feels very bruised and I'm struggling to walk and get in and out the car. I'm only 27 weeks and work on my feet all day (I have this week off this week thank God!) it literally started yesterday.

Does this sound like SPD? And what on earth can I do to ease it, it's bloody horrible! Many thanks

Yep sounds like it. Welcome to the club! I’ve had SPD or pelvic girdle pain since 20 weeks, I’m now 35 weeks. I had it really bad in my last pregnancy and was on crutches which helped quite a bit. This time round I’ve been determined to stay off crutches and keep as mobile as possible. Try putting a carrier bag on the seat of your car so you can swivel in and out easily. Also silky pjs and sheets are meant to help with getting in and out of bed (I don’t own either of these so can’t say whether they help or not). Try to keep your legs together as much as possible and avoid doing anything too strenuous like long walks or standing for any length of time. I did find earlier in my pregnancy that staying active seemed to help, you could try swimming. Also get a birthing ball if you haven’t already and sit on it in the evenings. You can also get tubigrip or a belt that effectively holds your pelvis together. SPD is very painful, though, and really nothing helps except having the baby. Mine improved straight after the birth of my DD but I still had twinges for a while after.

Sounds like it and some excellent advice from the earlier post above - I also had physio treatment through the NHS (took my hubby along and the physio showed him what to do too so had a private session every evening too!)

Weirdly went away for me once I stopped working (desk job)

Now I do aqua natal three times a week and walk two dogs every day.

Best of luck, it is super horrible

Sounds like SPD to me. Can you get to a chiro? My chiro is my best friend when I'm pregnant. I found the NHS physio a waste of time and the support bands only hope a bit. I still have back pain and feel like I've been kicked in the foof by the end of the day. It went away as soon as DS was born last time, although my back did feel weak for about a week after.

Thank you so much for the advice!! It's absolute agony today, tried a small walk to the shops and broke down in tears, as it feels like my pelvis is being held on with one loose screw and could detach any moment! @MissWitch any reconditions for a band/grip? Loads on eBay but no idea what to go for. A friend at work is going to lend me a birthing ball.

Thank you so much again for the advice, feel absolutely gutted I have it because it's been smooth sailing thus far!

I'm nearly 35 weeks and having this trouble too. I could cry getting in and out my husbands car (because it's low) I'm not so bad getting in and out of mine though.
I'm having to just sit and rest a lot now and try not to do too much walking. Even walking round the supermarket kills me.
Counting down the weeks!

I found weekly chiropractic appts kept mine just about manageable...

Rest rest rest rest and a Osteopath or Chiro qualified in treating pregnant women (not all are)

Serola belts are really really good and I used one after pregnancy too as it's my Si joint that's bad the trigger.

I've found with every growth spurt / getting heavier Its all got worse. Sitting is a bad trigger for me; I wear the belt in the car for longer distances and when working at a computer for longer than half an hour.

A physio who knows Pilates would also be a good option; properly done clams help me.

pelvicpartnership.org.uk

If you can't separate your legs to open them very far (like you need to get in and out of bed/car) then you've got it. Sounds exactly like you've got it.

I had it and cried in the street it was so painful. Then an osteopath did a 40 minute session (trained in working with pregnant woman) and I was sceptical..very sceptical..but lo and behold, a few days later, I realised I was walking without pain. That was at 8 months. Had to go back before due date again once.

If you can't get it seen to, then I heard of people using a ribbon/string/whatever, to measure how far their legs could open without pain. And to try to use that during labour, if you end up on your back with epidural (because then your legs are opened and you can't feel the pain..until the epidural wears off...).

I think I’m developing this too. Been in a lot of pain today and it’s spread round to my back. This sounds weird, but all I wanted to do was hold my vagina, I was out so couldn’t (might have looked a bit odd), but all I could think was that holding it would feel so comforting. It’s like I need to hold everything together.

Yep sounds like SPD, I was signed off at 15 weeks for the rest of my pregnancy due to it! Hip pain, back pain, sciatica, stabbing in pubic area, kicked in the crotch feeling, but worst of all was when I would stand up and feel like my pelvis was going in 2 different directions Osteopath and hydrotherapy helped, Physio not so much. Couldn't get on with a support band as dug in the bump too much, but Physio taping to support bump helped take strain off a bit. Best advise is rest as much as possible, use a support for walking (I used a waking stick - felt silly but really helped) and do not, for any reason, stand on one leg! x

It sounds like it - I had it very badly with my first pregnancy and just thought it was normal pregnancy aches and pains & I had to grit my teeth and get on with it. Ended up unable to walk by week 38.

This time it's kicked in again (am 28 weeks) but am doing everything possible to manage it:

• Serola belt - makes a huge difference. I didn't wear mine on Sunday and was in agony by the end of the day.
• find a physio and/or an osteo who knows about SPD (I am doing physio 2x a week and osteo once a fortnight). Not just exercises but actually massage/releasing the muscles/tendons that are seizing up as well as clinical pilates if possible. Pregnancy massages are a waste of time IMO.
• Avoid stairs at all costs! I work on level 1 and have had to train myself to take the lift up one floor. Feels so lazy but has to be done!
• stay off your feet as much as possible. With DS I thought I should try to "stay active" and kept trying to go for big walks etc. Don't!!
• Swimming is good exercise but NO breaststroke, arms only. Use a pool float to keep your legs together
• Ice packs on groin to reduce inflammation. I also get tendon pain shooting from but bum/glutes & use a wheatpack if it gets painful.
• I also have a swiss ball at home to do various exercises my physio has prescribed, plus a spikey ball to help release tension in glutes.

I also had an ELCS and will be again this time but that was personal preference.

It's worth getting a really good assessment from someone as the triggers can be different eg the si joint or the pubis bone, and then the treatment can be different too.

Only see a physio who has good experience in pelvic issues, indeed anyone who does.

Yes to spiky balls! And breaststroke is the work of the devil!

Read the pelvic partnership website for really good info.

Yes to only seeing people with pelvic expertise - I saw an osteo in the same practice as my (experienced) one who repeated the "stay active, keep walking" fallacy. Luckily I know now to ignore but I wouldn't have first time round.

My Physio told me off for walking 1km to DS' crèche!

Thank you everyone for the advice and your stories and I'm so sorry we're all suffering / have suffered! It's bloody awful isn't it! Drains you. Spent the evening in tears - I'm in agony! My job is very physical and I can't afford to go on sick pay, so I'm really panicking. Especially at the fact we're not supposed to do much walking!

Saw midwife who has referred me for physio (She reassured me they only deal with pregnant women so will try them first and see how I get on) she also suggested seeing GP for stronger pain relief, and recommend a belt/band, a birthing ball and a pregnancy pillow, but as you lovely ladies already suggested these, I've already ordered them.

12 more weeks of this ....

Definitely going to look into osteo too, sounds like it really helped!

Yes do Jelly, if the Physio just gives you exercises it won't help with the pain you're already feeling. Physios seems to vary quite a lot - mine does massage/release work on my glutes and inner thighs which has made a huge difference but I don't think all of them do.

The osteo has done release work on my calves and feet as she reckons the tightness in the muscles is what's pulling my pelvis out of whack. Have no idea whether either (or both) of them are right but it seems to be working so that's all that matters!!

Mine started at 24+5, the early afternoon of the Monday after Christmas. It was really, really memorable, you see, not in a good way!

Only thing to add to PPs is that instant but temporary relief only came when I asked DH to literally squeeze my hips together (him sitting, me standing in front facing him, his hands on my hips pushing them back together). He's quite strong but could only manage a minute or two but my god, the instant relief! I'm not sure if it's medically ok or not (disclaimer!) but it was the only thing that took the pain away entirely, even if just for a minute, until I gave birth, when it instantly vanished but I didn't notice for a few days thanks to other fun stuff resulting from childbirth

Did you have a belt Clara? Sounds like what yor DH was doing was sort of the same principle - stabilising the SIJ/pelvis.

It took me a good 6 weeks and constant osteo for the pain to subside post DS. It is no exaggeration to say my ELCS recovery was less painful than SPD recovery! I'm a total zealot about managing it this time round.

@Gennz18 I did have a couple of different belts (bought myself online after speaking to the physio) but neither was great, they both alleviated some of the pain but not all, and in different ways. I actually wore the tube bandage the physio provided more often as the relief was less than the belts but more evenly spread, if that makes sense.

I wear a belt but it doesn't help as much as I'd like it to. It keeps it at bay for a bit at most.

I've been seeing a different chiro this time from when I had SPD/back pain with DS. Honestly, she is SO much better! For the past week I've been walking around like I imagine a "normal" pregnant woman would. I still can't walk around for long periods, but when I do I can walk pain free! It's a revelation. I think it's the work in the pelvis area she's been doing, and my using an ice pack regularly. Highly recommend seeing someone who is experienced in this area.