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!

Oh that’s hopeful @nighttimenope thank you for posting! I’ve been feeling really down at potentially having to choose to bottle feed as I know I can cope with this for months and months afterwards, as selfish as that sounds!

I had it really bad in two of my pregnancies :( I had crutches and then a wheelchair with each of them.

I hope you get some relief. Take it easy and rest when you can and move when you can. I found too much of either was painful.

Yes it is horrific. I am currently on crutches and signed off work bevause of it. I am virtually housebound too.
I can't stand for longer than 30 seconds and I feel like my whole back an d pelvis are on fire. I'm constantly cramping in my legs and the pain in general is awful.

Hi OP, I feel your pain, literally! I’ve got PGP, first pregnancy and 27 weeks so wonder sometimes how I can possibly cope with it for so much longer.
I was referred to physio and they have been wonderful, they gave me plenty of exercises to do to keep mobile.
The advice I got also was walking is okay but walk very slowly and never for longer than about 20 mins; I can’t face it every day but just go for a slow stroll around the block!
I also do a pregnancy yoga class twice a week - the instructor teaches PGP safe and I feel wonderful after that. I do wonder how much longer I can keep that up though as driving there and back is less fun!

That’s the frustrating thing @heismyopendoor there’s no real happy place that doesn’t end up causing pain!
It’s really shocked me to be honest, I was really fit when I fell pregnant, running a LOT etc and then got sickness and had to stop everything and then this started. I think I had a naive assumption that due to being quite fit I would be okay ish, feel like my body has completely given up!
Seven weeks to go... (pray I don’t go over)

@MrsEG I’m so pleased you’ve found some things that work for you as it’s really depressing and isolating, I’ve found it’s really getting me down.

Your physio sounds good! I had one session in a class that told us about the feet together etc but didn’t give any stretches or anything - I’ve had a look online but I’m a bit worried about doing more damage as there’s a mix of them out there and I’m not sure what’s best. Are the ones you’re doing online anywhere?

@Bellasblankexpression how many weeks did you start noticing it? I'm concerned I am in the early stages of SPD. If I am wanting to try anything I can now to try and help in the early stages!! I'm currently 15 + 1 but last couple of weeks seems to be getting worse. Xxxx

Hey I'm 39 weeks tomor and I have had this so badly for most of my pregnancy I can barley move but nothing has helped me my consultant said to be induced an now there telling me they don't no if they will for spd so waiting for a phone call today I hope u don't go over an it goes after u have ur baby this is my thrid am I didn't have it with the other to but there telling me it can stay after I give birth aswel xx

I think I started getting it around 25 weeks but didn’t realise what it was at first as it was mild, but it’s got progressively worse since.
I didn’t realise it could linger after birth, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for me and everyone else affected we don’t suffer from that!

I was very much like you describe from about 12wks pregnant. Mine turned out to mainly be a slipped disc - once it went back in my pain lifted massively (after over a month of barely being able to get out of bed).
I still have SPD at 27wks but it's a lot less painful. I hate the grinding feeling but the lower back/bum/sciatica pain has finally gone.
My disc had been slipping for years and according to the consultant, most people over 30 have some form of slipped disc. But most don't have an issue with it until it touches a nerve.

my bf (i was her brth partner) was in agony on crutches etc physio helped a bit ... the advice at the time from the physio was to try and keep your knees not too far apart whilst labouring....and avoid stirrups interesting heated discussions with some of the midwives at the time who keep pushing her legs apart!
so would make sure you get up to date advice from physio nearer teh time and that your birth partner is briefed....
her symptoms massively improved almost immediately - and she BF all mobility recovered shortly after... never heard the BF link before....

Here are the exercises (it’s all crumpled from being in my bag!!) - if you like I can email them to you if these pics are hard to read?

Urgh the crotch pain 😭 I've been suffering since 27ish weeks and still waiting for physio at 32+2... There isn't a localish physio who can help with this so am a bit stuck until the referral comes through. I've got a pair of crutches which helps a bit but found the support bands did nothing to help and have to start maternity early because my commute is so hard at the moment. If I don't start sleeping better, I might have to sleep on the fancy reclining chair downstairs...

Thanks @MrsEG I might PM you with my email. I’m seeing the osteo tomorrow morning now so hanging all my hopes on him being able give me a bit of relief!
Hope everyone suffering finds something that works to ease the horrid pain

I started feeling it at 11/12 weeks during my first pregnancy. I have hypermobile hips apparently...

I went to physio at 21 weeks (useless group session through nhs). Then saw physio one to one at 24 weeks where I was given crutches. Stopped work at 27 weeks and pretty housebound by 30 weeks. The physio and midwife said there really wasn't anything else I could do until after the birth. Mw suggested seeing an osteopath 6 or more weeks after birth.

Pelvic partnership website has good tips.

I had so much relief after the birth. I walked out of the hospital, which was huge for me. My right leg would sort of seize up a couple times a day, so I found an osteopath who specialises in pregnancy/ women's issues. I saw her twice. Cured.

She said if I do get pregnant again that I should see her early on as there is loads they can do to stop me getting to that state again. She was appalled the physio said there wasn't anything else that could be done. I'm hopeful, but need to take all this into consideration before thinking about a second...

My osteopath was my saviour meant I could lean on the pushchair for support rather than use crutches.

Couldn't move in bed without being awake as it was so painful. I want up and down the stairs on my bum.

Frozen peas as an ice pack.

The crawling up and down the stairs is so painfully familiar.
I had a similar experience with group physio and have been told by midwife and physio there’s nothing I can do. Really hoping the osteo tomorrow says otherwise!

OP have a look at www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk - the most important thing you can do is have some form of manual therapy, such as osteopathy. Hoping you find some relief from that! It's a terrible condition to deal with.

Thank you phoenix I will take a look. Just getting ready for my appointment now.

I got out of bed in the night and heard my pelvis do the biggest clunk 🤢