Can SPD really be this bad?

[Bellasblankexpression]

I posted another thread about SPD a while back but can’t find it.
At the time I was suffering and could mainly shuffle instead of walking but now it’s really progressed.
It feels almost like an intense sciatic pain - ball of pain in my bum and lower back, sometimes down my leg but not always, hurts to sit for too long and can’t get up without pain, hurts to stand for too long, I can barely walk now / hurts to put weight on my left foot, when I do walk it almost feels like there’s a grinding clicking where the pain is in my lower back (also intense pain in my bum).
It’s also incredibly painful to get in and out of bed and to roll over - I wake up nearly every time.
If you’ve had SPD does this sound familiar? I can’t really get a grasp on how painful it can be and what’s normal for it!

Are you being treated? You should be wearing something to support your pelvis. It's not normal to be in that much pain. Please ask to see the physio via your GP. I left mine and left it, and was left unable to walk after my daughter was born (I then spent 6 months hobbling about until it was healed). Yes it can be very bad!

Oh god. My midwife has referred me to a physio and I’m seeing an osteo next week.
I’ve got a support belt that I’ve been using and I also use a massage ball. The only thing that seems to ease it is DH giving me a rather brutal massage on the bum with the heel of his hand.
I just naively assumed it would go once baby was born. It got worse after standing for ages at a Christmas event at the weekend

I really, really feel for you. Yes, it can be that bad. I was exactly the same as you.
I saw a physio, had crutches, a tens machine and an array of braces and support bandages but nothing helped.
I can say though, that as soon as I had my ds the pain was gone. I still have slight issues with sciatic pain and pain in my hips/lower back but nothing like the pain of SPD.
(decaf)

I agree with @Ilovedolly that you need to see a physio. Where I live there is a specialist pregnancy physio the Midwives can refer you to, although she does have a waiting list.

Other options include seeing an Osteopath, which I found did help with the pain, although it was a bit pricey for 1-2 days relief. I would try and book sessions for when I had a few days off together (shift worker) so I could at least enjoy my time off. Other people I know had success with a chiropractor. For both of these you will need someone experienced in PHP and pregnancy stuff.

It is miserable and yes it can get bad enough to need crutches which is why I'd contact your GP/midwife for a physio referral asap

Sorry cross posted there, glad you've got appointments booked!

I agree, it certainly can be that bad. Lots of people have no idea and I worry they think I'm putting it on.

In previous pregnancies, my SPD went away straight after birth. Replaced by other aches and pains, but what a relief to not grind when I walked

Yes it can be that bad and worse. Some people end up in a wheelchair or housebound because of it sadly. Thankfully most of it usually goes soon after birth, so you should so a big improvement then even if it does linger for a while.

Its hell.

I still get twinge sometimes nearly 17 years after last giving birth. Yes, it can be that bad. When in bed, wear slippy fabrics and put a plastic sheet under the sheet. It helps by reducing friction.

Yes it can be that bad. Sometimes I would go to walk and get kind of stuck. The physio manipulated me and I couldn’t lift one of my legs up afterwards so they stopped.
My husband had to roll me over in bed.
I wore a support belt and used crutches. Was also signed off work at 26 weeks and did minimal walking from then, it was just too painful.
Instant relief when my son was born! Although there are still certain moves I do in classes that take me back to that awful feeling and I have to stop.
I know how awful it is. Solidarity fist bump

Definitely sounds like my experience of SPD. The physio I saw wasn’t much help, but did give me a good tight elastic belt. Things that did help were an osteopath, walking and standing as little as possible, no walking on rough ground, keep knees together and don’t stand on one leg (getting out of car, bed, etc) My pelvis still weak, but normally not sore after 2 kids.

Sounds a lot like I had. It's your SI Joint. The move in the video I'm (trying to) attaching is a way to help or see a physio. Mine still comes and goes 9yr later but after physiology manipulation it was loads better.

Other trick is to buy some satiny (can be cheap fake version) pj's and a sheet/pillow set. Use the 2 fabrics against each other as a slide sheet in bed or to twist on car seat etc.

Hope it improved

Last pregnancy I had it and was so bad. When I finally realised it was SPD I was referred to a general physio but I was already way into my 3rd trimestre. Ended up with crutches and support belt and was a bit better. Although it did hurt quite a lot in labour and I had epidural but could still feel my pelvic pain.

This time realised early I have it and asked midwife for referral. I got referred to a physio in the maternity unit. She did with me some specific exercises after examining me, tried a few belts and told me the best to buy. I went away from the appointment in no pain. Did the exercises yesterday and no more pain, did some today and still not much pain. I think getting the right exercises for you at the right level would benefit.
Good you can see a osteo, I heard they can be brilliant.

I was put on bed rest over a weekend for it after being given exercises that hadn't worked. We also tried a belt but that hurt more. In the end I went on maternity at 7 months and was housebound bar 3-5 trips a week to hospital where I struggled even getting to the car and getting in and out was near impossible. At almost five months pp I still get the pain if I've done too much walking, standing, or bending, which with a baby it's quite hard to avoid. We've had to move everything I use regularly to within reach whilst standing up in the kitchen, and I still use a pillow to straighten everything out between my legs at night. I thought it would go as well, but I believe someone on here told me they never really stopped getting the pain. It does ease though, and as long as you try to take it as easy as possible it shouldn't give you too much trouble after baby is here.
I'm also told it will just come back with future pregnancies and will get worse quicker (my symptoms started at about 18 weeks when I had to stop in the middle of the road because of the pain so I'm hoping it doesn't start much earlier!)
Fingers crossed it eases with physio and you're one of the lucky ones that it eases up for once baby is here!

It's agony. I cried every night in pain just turning over. Survived 3rd pregnancy by staying indoors for 9 months as walking aggravated it.

Can do all the physio you want. It’s not gonna make your hips go back to normal. Rest is the only way to stop aggravating it.

I am SO sorry you all had to go through it too. But you’ve made me feel slightly less panicked I really thought I’d done something serious to my back - I know it is quite serious but my thoughts are hopefully it will go away as it’s pregnancy related although it sounds like some of you have had a really rough time.
I’m really hoping the osteo can help and I’m just going to have to accept I have to take it easy I think.
I genuinely had no idea it could be this bad.

Also, I’m up right now because it just took what felt like a 17 step process to get out of bed (and it bloody hurt) and I’m just psyching myself to walk back from the bathroom.
Going to try the skippy sheets and pjs and think I’ll
Move into the spare room as the bed is lower so easier to get into and out of. Thank you for the tips

Yes it was horrendous. 10 months on I'm still seeing physio and struggo. Sounds like you're doing everything right I feel so bad for you. I found heat on my lower back nice and ice on the front.

yes, lots of women have to use crutches/a wheelchair. mine didn't improve until I stopped breastfeeding my first

got SPD at 3 months with my 2nd and saw a chiro straight away and regularly; that and lots of walking,kept me pain free. but you have to catch it early on. not an awful lot to be done later on in pregnancy. have you tried Epsom salt baths for a bit a relief?

Sounds like my SPD. I found it easier to get off a higher than lower bed as the pressure on pelvis is increased when you have to push up than to slide down. Belt, physio - nothing helped. Now 36w and waiting for the DD to be born in hope it will go away and I'll get to roll in the bed without piercing pain in the crotch.

Hi OP, I’m really sorry you’ve gotten this far without seeing a physio! Has your midwife informed you of how to move, knees together, tighten pelvic floor and tummy in before every movement such as in and out of bed/car, standing or sitting, lifting? Support belt is good but did she show you how to wear it? Also without being checked for malalignment it may not be doing you good! The Christmas event you describe sounds like something that should have absolutely been avoided but it also sounds like you haven’t had the proper level of care for this yet. It’s really important to manage your physical output properly to mitigate the pain escalating, and possibly even reverse some of it.
I amn’t a physio- just a mum of 3 with progressively worsening SPD each time. But I’ve seen the difference they make and it’s tragic you haven’t seen one yet!

I has spd in all 3 of my pregnancies. It got progressively worse each time. I ended up on crutches, working from home as driving made it worse.

Thank you everyone. I was told the advice legs together, but I was also told to keep mobile and keep walking so I pushed myself in the second trimester only to see a different midwife who was horrified, immediately referred me and told me to stop pushing myself to walk as I was making it worse!
So I think I’ve probably made it worse without meaning to.
Thank you for all the tips, I am hoping the osteo can help even though I know at this stage it’s probably going to be more short term relief than anything else.
I’m also hoping my physio referral doesn’t take long. My midwife did mention breast feeding might prolong it, which I’m gutted about.

It really can be that bad. I thought it was worse than childbirth! One reason I won't be having any more. Fortunately the pain was gone the morning after I'd given birth.
I feel your pain OP. I used to dread going to bed as that's when it hurt most. Sitting hurts, standing hurts, walking hurts. I saw an osteopatha few times, maybe try to find one who specialises in pregnancy related joint pain.

That’s exactly it @yerroblemom1923 I dread going up the stairs/walking/going to bed etc.
That is a bright side - I will try and focus on that, maybe labour will be easier 🙈
I have managed to find an osteopath that specialises in pregnancy and they apparently have a cancellation today so I’m going to try and get in and see them. I’m desperate!

Don’t worry too much about the breastfeeding prolonging it- I am one of the people who that has happened for but it is so nothing compared to the pain in pregnancy. I basically can’t sit on some surfaces for long periods and can’t run at all or walk for long periods. None of which are integral to newborn mothering 😊 I breastfed my last child for 2 yrs and only found out the pain was related to breastfeeding hormones when I fell pregnant this time! Im sure it’s different for everyone but I’ve never met or heard of anyone for whom it’s been a comparable level of pain to the pregnancy SPD