Physio for SPD

[OhBergine]

I'm 30 weeks pregnant with second DC and have moderate SPD. Midwife referred me for physio and the first appointment my local hospital can offer is 2 weeks before my EDD.

If I do the exercises they give me (which I intend to), I'd only benefit from them for 2 weeks, and that's if I saw results straight away, which is unlikely!

I am a bit sceptical as to whether physio will help me in any case as I feel it's the ligaments in my groin which are the most painful (not my back or under the bump), and so not sure one of the support belts would help either.

For those who have been to the physio for SPD - what should I expect from the appointment? Just exercises to provide relief, or anything else? Is there much point in going given it will be 2 weeks-ish before the baby arrives?

Probably not much use so late on but two weeks before edd could still be three or four weeks before baby is here for if you go over. I hate it in both my pregnancies and apart from a couple of useful tips about getting in and out of bed and cars (always keep legs together as much as you can and swivel), there wasn't much I got from the appointments. Best advice I had was carry a poly bag (the crinkly ones like you get a takeaway in lol) with me everywhere and use it for sitting in cars so you can easily swivel in and out.

Thanks - I thought as much. 😩

34+5 here, with excruciating SPD (currently on crutches). My physio didn't even give me exercises, just checked my pelvis was aligned & gave me a list of things to do to stay comfortable

Physio was good for me and I had it bad last time. They actually sort of pushed on my lower back and realigned my spine so it was less painful for a few days.
Also ask about hydrotherapy, that helped!

Physio excercise s did nothing for me. Only hands in manipulation to put things back where they should have been.

It can’t hurt though - worth a try

I was referred to physio with DS and had to wait about 6 weeks for my appointment. During those 6 weeks I ended up in tears daily due to the pain and eventually called in sick. I read on here to try a chiropractor. So I did. By the time my physio appt came round I was walking again and back in work. It didn't go away completely but I was at least mobile for short periods of time! The physio appt was a complete waste of time and I'm so glad I went to the chiro!

This time round I've been seeing a chiro since I started getting pain rather than waiting until it got so bad I was off work and I completely credit her with how much better this pregnancy is going for me. I'm also like how I imagine a 'normal' pregnant woman to be!

It's expensive, but worth every penny!

Disclaimer: I’m a women’s health Physio!
If I was you I would try to get in to see a specialist women’s health Physio privately if you can afford it. At least an assessment, possibly lumbar or pelvis movements, acupuncture and exercises. This should help some of the acute pain and get you back on track.
The plastic bag trick is a good one too! Good luck

A friend has mentioned about trying an osteopath, not sure how it's different to a chiropractor tbh 🙈 but I'm going to try them when I get to that point this time!

My friend is a woman's health physio and she said it takes around 12 weeks to get any real benefit from physio for PGP.

I had hydrotherapy in my last pregnancy for spd. Basically half an hour a week of walking around in a waist deep warm water pool. I'm not sure it helped with the spd but that half an hour pain free each week was essential for my sanity!

I was advised to avoid an osteopath 🙈 isn't it funny how advice differs. I am having accupuncture tomorrow tho which apparently may help take the edge off...everything crossed

what you need is someone to assess what’s out of line, if possible manipulate it back and to give you advice on posture and strengthening to keep it there.

The weird woo stuff about osteo and chiro is all bollocks - subluxations are not a thing in science. You just need someone who understands anatomy and is willing to do hands on work. Basically a hands on physio. Spd is often treatable but you do sometimes need to shove things back in place then keep them there. Bouncing on a ball isn’t going to do it unless it’s just a very mild case of slight looseness that would fix itself anyway.

The osteo I saw was very no nonsense. She gave me a thorough checking, explained what was out of line and then did this (frankly awful) move that I actually felt shift the joint. It feel awful for a day then settled and the difference was immense.

Sympathies OP. If you can afford it - look for a private physio specialising in pregnancy. Or a similar osteopath.
I was crippled (literally) with several of mine and they both saved me.
My NHS appointments arrived after my baby's 6 week checks

I'm had NHS physio for SPD and thought it was fantastic, virtually cured me overnight. It wasn't so much exercises as teaching you what muscles to recruit to support your pelvis when you move and how to prevent further damage. It was a specialist woman's physio in a teaching hospital though.