Pelvic girdle pain / SPD - how did you cope?

[PartridgeJoan]

Hi,

Currently 18 weeks pregnant and suffering with suspected SPD / PGP (opinions differ on this!).

From about 16 weeks onwards it's been getting worse each day and I'm now asking work to work from home until this is sorted.

Has anyone had this? How did you cope?

Already tried massages, hot water bottles, paracetamol and pregnancy pillow and am currently on the waiting list for physio.

Feeling a bit useless and conscious that I'm not even half way and already virtually bed bound!

Hi,

I started this time round at the same gestation as you, and am now 33 weeks and I'm sorry to say it really doesn't get easier.

I'm on crutches and having weekly physio and have strong painkillers for bedtime but nothing makes it 'stop' if you will, it's just a case of managing it as best you can.

Have lots of baths and make sure people understand the severity of your pain and don't just pass it off. Don't try to do too much either, if you can't do something then don't, it's not worth it in the long run.

It's truly shit, I feel your pain

I've had it mildly/moderately since about 20 weeks or so. It's now excruciating (34 weeks) and I'm just about to give up and go on crutches. Paracetamol doesn't touch it, and the physio referral hasn't come through yet.

I suffered with not my pregnancies. NHS physio recommenced a pelvic belt which helped by didn't eliminate it. I just worked out how to do things in an easier less painful way. It's all doable though. Even crutches with a 22 month old running around.

I had really bad PGP around 28 weeks when DH was away for a week. Almost to the point of not being able to walk. I was referred to a women's health specialist physio and that sorted it out to a manageable level within days between exercises I was given and the manipulation the physio did. The referral was super quick too (days rather than weeks before I saw someone) but it was through midwives not GP. If you can afford to get a couple private physio appointments with a women's health specialist if the NHS is taking too long, I'd highly recommend it. I'm more comfortable now at 40+5 than I was at 28 weeks!

I had it bad around then up until about 29 weeks (now 31+3) and I went to a physio group and they recommended exercises and also a birthing ball, which I now have and sit on whenever I feel uncomfortable and move my hips round in a circular motion, it seems to have massively helped me! x

Thanks everyone! I've ordered a birthing ball and will make an appointment with a private physio - anything that could help!

I've been prescribed co-dydramol but I'm a bit worried about taking it as my midwife wasn't keen, has anyone else taken this?

Glad to hear it isn't unusual to feel it this early on but sorry to hear that so many others are suffering with it

Not that it helps you now, but I used a ball for most of my labour which helped ease things massively. I couldn't imagine how the SPD would stop after my pregnancy and fully expected to be on crutches forever, the day after my baby came I suddenly realised I had forgotten all about the pelvic pain and I've never been effected since. Have you tried a body stocking thing? Kind of like those elastic bandages when you hurt your knee/elbow

I had PGP both pregnancies. In my first it started at 20 weeks. I did the exercises suggested by the physio and did yoga but was really struggling by the end of pregnancy and afterwards. With my second it started at 16weeks and I could barely walk. I found an osteopath through the Pelvic Partnership website. She was a miracle worker. It was so much easier manage the pain this time and I was so much more comfortable at the end even when I was two weeks overdue. Also 8wks post partum I haven't had any twinges.

I had this both pregnancies and I'm that 1% who still have it now 6 1/2 years after DD1 was born so I'm a bit of an expert on that delightful feeling like you've been repeatedly kicked in the crotch by someone wearing steel toecap boots by now.

Best thing I found to help getting going in the morning was just to stand in the shower with the warm water over me and gently do a hula hoop type movement to just get everything warmed up and moving a little bit. Pillow between the knees when you're sleeping - basically try to get your legs to run parallel to each other rather than slope downwards. Less glam - but sit on a carrier bag in the car so you can pivot your legs around and get out easier - you're aiming (yes laugh at this) to get out almost "film-star at movie premier style with legs together" than my more usual "get one leg out, other leg seizes up and fall out like a sack of spuds" manoeuvre.

Avoid pushing heavy supermarket trollies - that can still make me cry now with the forces it puts across your pelvis trying to make an unruly trolley behave.

I ended up on crutches both times (I still occasionally walk with a stick now) and I'm still affected now - but that's a tiny tiny percentage (didn't get the same bloody odds with lottery tickets hrumph). It's a fucking awful ailment and there's no way if men had similar it would be as ignored as it is - they'd have charity singles and an awareness month (Crotchtober anyone?) and all sorts!

I'll be honest - the NHS physio I saw wasn't much use - just trussed me up in that many elasticated things like tubigrips and belts that I felt if I sat down too fast I'd catapult myself upwards into orbit.

Feel your pain. I'm 33 weeks now and can barely walk. Had it in my previous pregnancy but no way as bad as this time. I can't pick up my 17 month old anymore. I was prescribed co-codamol which I have been taking and helps. Also having hydrotherapy every week and physio. If you can get into hydrotherapy- it works well. Night time is the hardest for me and I find pillow between knees makes pain worse. I rely on painkillers at night and being careful how I move.

I had it from 36 weeks moderately till 38 weeks when it became severe, I could just about shuffle along on crutches very very slowly by the end. I was induced 1 week after due date as midwife felt it cruel to let me suffer any more. Nothing midwife suggested helped unfortunately. Only comfort I can give you is literally as soon as I gave birth 95% of the pain went away and I was able to walk again easily. It took around 6 months for the strength in my inside leg to get better & be 100% pain free. Currently 18 + 5 Weeks and praying I don't get it with this pregnancy (not holding my breath though :-( )

Bowen therapy can be incredibly useful for this. I have seen it work like magic. I am not a Bowen therapist so have no vested interest, but have been on the receiving end of this therapy. It is both gentle and effective.

Oh love, you poor thing. It is awful, and I really feel for you.

Listen to your body, don't try to power through because you will make it worse. And don't be too brave either, let people know it hurts so they can help you, be that your midwife or work. Any woman that has been through this will know - women stopped to sympathise with me when they'd just seen me walking a few steps.

I found pregnancy yoga helped but you must make your teacher aware and they should adapt the class to you. Again, if it hurts, stop.

It does get better afterwards in the vast, vast, vast majority of cases - I needed physio after giving birth for a few months but there was an almost instant improvement on getting that baby out, and now it's totally gone.

I had it really badly with DS2 and could barely walk by the end. (sorry). I was referred to maternity physio and through them hydrotherapy which was bloody brilliant. About the only thing (plus the support bandage) that got me through the end of the pregnancy. Good luck - mine went away immediately after birth.

I had this badly with my first pregnancy and was so scared for my second pregnancy. However a combination of seeing a decent anti natal specialist osteopath and daily Pilates (from a physio) kept it at bay until the last two weeks of my second pregnancy.

Keep your knees together always, sleep with a firm pillow between them. No hoovering. Swing out of a car seat with your knees together. Go upstairs one step at a time and walk with small strides.

Oh god you're all terrifying me. Wish I hadn't read this 😱. I'm 29 weeks and have taken a real turn for the worse over the weekend - crotch is so sore. I'm waiting on a physio referral but am getting tempted to look into a private treatment. Did anyone find whether a physio, chiropractor or osteopath was best?

acupuncture! was bloody amazing for it. A few sessions really helped.

I used to use a v pillow for between my kegs when l was lying down, walking l used to take much smaller steps, also the birthing ball was a Godsend . Hope you are free of the pain soon OP

Thanks so much everyone, I'm going to try all of the above! I've also found a local physio who was recommended by the Pelvic Partnership so fingers crossed!

I found this www.thesnoozle.com/ really helped me sleep. Also, if you are able to, get a cleaner. PGP is miserable but I found it was made even worse by doing too much. The second time around I had it from 9 weeks but by being careful I managed to get to the end of the pregnancy in a better state than I did first time around.

Definitely sit on a bag for easy swivelling! That was a life saver for me.

I hope you get through ok - later on it's recommended that you test how far apart you can get your legs without pain, measure it with a string, and have it as part of your birth plan that your legs go thus far and no further. Make sure your birth partner knows this and knows that they must, must fight your corner if needs be. Although in the event my midwife in the delivery room was excellent and I was able to labour on my knees, leant over the raised head of the bed, without aggravating my pelvis.

It's hideously uncomfortable, it truly is. Pregnancy is a bastard and a stupid bloody system.

I feel your pain - 6 weeks on crutches here and 1 week of being stuck in bed - but just wanted to add more reassurance that it almost completely disappeared after birth! Private physio and a pelvic girdle band were essential for me, but more importantly, REST REST REST. nothing beats just lying down and putting your feet up. Also lots of pelvic floor exercises before and after birth.

I suggested sitting on a bag to help my mum get in and out of her car after it had worked for my PGP (she's got various mobility problems these days). She clipped me around the ear and accused me of mocking her tena lady habit.

This was me a few years ago, twice over -- the NHS physio was sympathetic but essentially gave me crutches and a belt and told me to wait it out. Then a private women's health physic recommended by the Pelvic Partnership got me off the crutches entirely after two sessions of hands-on manipulation and a few exercises. It was amazing. I saw her at about 24 weeks in my second pregnancy I think, and the outlook was pretty bleak having already needed crutches. It didn't go away of course, but I could get around. It absolutely enrages me that women don't get better help with this as a matter of course, but if you can find the funds to go private I really would. But do get a recommendation from the PP, the first osteopath I saw (not via them) had no specialism in this issue and didn't help it was a waste of money. Anyone recommended by the PP has been actively approved by a fellow sufferer. Good luck

Never ever do anything that means you forcibly part your legs.
By that I mean when getting into a car, keep your knees together.
Don't push doors open with your feet.
You get the idea.
My pelvis never really knitted back together at the front, but I did find the belt that my midwife gave me helped a lot, particularly during car journeys.
If it persists until the time when you are due to give birth, you need to make sure the midwives know about it and don't make you open your legs too wide. Get it put on your records.
Good luck!