PGP/SPD support thread!

[heebiejeebies45]

Hi all, congratulations on your pregnancy!

I thought about making this thread as I'm currently 14+1 with my second pregnancy. I've had AWFUL SPD since around 10 weeks and honestly can't believe it's started so early for me already.

During my first pregnancy I developed SPD around 20 or so weeks. I could hardly walk for longer then 10 minutes (I had a pregnancy belt which helped massively,) I was in extreme pain turning over in bed and walking up stairs was absolute hell.
Now I'm going through all of this again whilst trying to look after a 5 month old🙃

However, this time round I've self referred for physiotherapy and have my first appointment in two weeks. I've also got myself a swim membership as the water helps massively.

I feel like SPD doesn't get talked about much and a lot of health professionals are quite quick to dismiss it as it isn't life threatening or anything along those lines.
If anyone else is going through this, please feel free to vent and maybe offer any advice or exercise that you do that you find helps with the pain x

@Maighread i feel for you, I was doing HIIT and was in excellent shape so thought this time I'd be fine!

Apparently it's to do with your actual pelvis if it's twisted etc. So there's an underlying cause that's exasperated during pregnancy.

This time once baby's here, I'm going to continue seeing my osteopath until the actual problem is fixed once and for all 😊

@zonedoutallnight sorry to hear that it's been so bad :( can you chase your physio appointment?

Have you tried laying on extra duvets etc?

Also if afforable maybe see someone privately while waiting?

They said they'd chase physio when I saw them last night so hopefully it'll come through soon.

Will maybe look into private physio but trying to save money for maternity leave plus spending on Christmas I'd rather not if I can avoid it. If the appointment comes through and it's a long wait then I may rethink that.

@HyphenCobra thanks for the link for this thread 😊

I'm 26 weeks pregnant tomorrow and I'm in agony with SPD it's reared it's ugly head much earlier this time around (3rd pregnancy)
Just wanna say hi to everyone and I'm going to read back on this thread for any tips on how to relieve the pain
Also I have 2 toddlers who turn 2&3 Christmas Day and the 23rd December so resting isn't an option for me unfortunately 😂

Placemarking for when I get a moment to read x

I had crippling SPD at 26 weeks which was focused on my sacroiliac joints and it affected only my right side. I literally couldn't do anything, had to use crutches and get signed off work until I started mat leave early.

I was super miserable as felt like it was never going to end and that I wasn't going to be able to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

I was desperate to see the NHS physio but the waiting list was so long I eventually caved and saw an Osteopath. I didn't feel she was helping so switched to a Chiropractor instead and after 2 sessions I felt 80% better afterwards. My pain had pretty much gone by 30 weeks. I still suffered from pelvic aches and pains until I gave birth, but they were different from the monster pain I had at 26 weeks and manageable by keeping active and sitting as little as possible.

In my case, deep tissue massage around my hip, butt and back muscles (also acupuncture) from the Chiropractor really loosened me up and significantly reduced my pain when it was at its worst. My whole right side of my body had been overcompensating to try to support the instability in my pelvic joints and as a result all my muscles were inflamed, painful and angry.

I didn't want to spend £££ on a private physio / Chiropractor but it was the best decision I made personally. Mentally as well as physically, as I felt supported and as though she didn't brush it off as a "pregnancy pain". I'd 100% just giving it a go with one session to see if it helps you

@Suma2021 that's where my pain is and due to compensation too. However this time unlike previously i also have it loads in pubic bone.

Did your chiropractor crack/click you a lot?

I've found out im hypermobile in hips which is apparently quite common in pgp sufferers and i can't be clicked as could take me too far past furthest range of movement making me worse.

Funnily enough i saw a chiropractor in first pregnancy who was useless so it really is about a good practitioner, be it physio, chiro or osteo 😊

Amazing it helped you so much!!

Sorry @HyphenCobra haven't been on here in a while!

Ouch, hypermobility added to the mix too
No my chiropractor didn't do any cracking or clicking, it was more focused on deep tissue massage, acupuncture and gently moving hips / pelvis around. The term she used was "one sided sacroiliac dysfunction" - aka not moving as it should on one side- so she was encouraging it to move again. She did a test beforehand to see how well it moved and then again at the end and it was already moving more fluidly.

I had the pubic bone pain at the end of pregnancy too and it sucks! The only thing that helped me with that was to stand and keep walking a lot but much easier said that done!

Obviously I'm no expert and can't speak for hypermobility but definitely give another practitioner a go if you can spare the £ - agree it doesn't matter whether Physio/ Chiropractor/ Osteopath but depends on the individual -some are better than others. Hope you get some relief

Hi ladies, would I be ok to join this thread? I had awful pgp with my first pregnancy 2 1:2 years ago, which started at around 15 weeks. They sent me to a group physio session where everyone was having similar issues. Helped to give ideas of how to cope, but I’m kind of worried it’ll be as bad or worse with my second pregnancy (currently 5 weeks)

Hope you’re all doing ok

Just got my physio referral through the post. For 8 weeks time. A telephone consultation. I'll be 39 weeks by then. Genuinely trying not to cry. What is even the point? Looks like I'll be trying to find someone to see privately if I can.

Hi everyone! I'm glad to know it isn't just me suffering with pgp/spd. I've been having issues from 20 weeks ish, and I'm 31 weeks now. I've been finding it getting steadily worse and I'm hobbling around like an old woman! I was kinda expecting to develop issues as I have Hypermobility, but I didn't expect it to get this bad. I feel like I'm disintegrating!

I saw an NHS Physio at 25 weeks, who gave me a belt, some crutches and some exercises to do. The belt and crutches help when I need to go out, but aren't much help when needing to roll over in bed or get off the sofa!

I find that using my hottie helps a lot to ease pain when it's bad:
www.hotwaterbottles.net/
It's microwavable, but safer than gel packs, and I find more effective than the rice pack style ones. Also no boiling water so no risk of leaks or burns!

Hey all, back with another name change
How has everyone been doing/coping?
Hello to the newbies that have joined this thread too, so sorry to hear you're all in a similar situation to us but hopefully some tips we give to each other can help you too!

@zonedoutallnight surely that must be some sort of joke?? An appointment in 8 weeks and it's even a telephone consultant, what help is that going to be?

What area/borough are you in? I'm in London and I'm in Lambeth borough and I was able to self refer on the Guys&StThomas' physio page. I mentioned I was pregnant (as directed by my GP) and I was seen within a couple of weeks. Is that something you're able to look into on your chosen hospital's website or just a hospital within your borough?

If not, do you have any leisure centres that are close by you so you can access the swimming pool? I swear the swimming pool is honestly a miracle. I try to go once/twice a week and I couldn't tell you the last time I had really bad back pain and was completely unable to walk. I hope you're able to access a pool to do some stretches even for 20/30mins as it makes SUCH a difference on your mobility. Try not to get too down about it in the meantime x

Hi all! Am currently 24 weeks, been suffering since around 15 weeks. Had issues with my hips/SI joints pregrenancy due to hypermobility syndrome but this is something else!! Have taken a few days off work and seeing GP on Monday, likely I'll get signed off as I physically can't do my job at the moment. Went to one group physio session and was given support band but think I need to go back for more one to one support.

@21dolly I wish it was a joke. We are in the north west - there's not that many hospitals nearby to choose from unfortunately. There's plenty of private physio clinics about so I'm looking at a few of those to see if they offer anything maternity related. Just lacking the time and energy to research it at the moment.

Fortunately it's eased off a bit compared to what it was two weeks ago. Work have moved me to a room downstairs and near the entrance and the loo so I don't have to struggle up and down stairs which has really helped. I was also given a small supply of cocodamol which helped me get a couple of decent nights sleep and it seems to have been enough to take the edge off for now. I just take a long time to get anywhere now and occasionally have to stop mid journey.

@PigeonPigPie hey:) welcome to the group!
Try your best to rest if you do get signed up, PGP is hell as I'm sure you're aware lol. That's really good you've been able to access physio (I didn't even know group physio was a thing!) defo try and have a one to one session if you can so there's more focus on you and your specific issues!

@zonedoutallnight ah no🤦‍♀️ hopefully you can find a private physio clinic that'll be able to cater to your needs. I can't believe how long the wait is just for a telephone consultation, it's a bit of a slap in the face.
That sounds great, at least work have been able to try and accommodate you and you've been getting a good nights sleep too!
I remember you saying it was really intense a few weeks back so that's good to hear now

Hi all just thought I'd pop back on with an update. I had my DS on 12th November & thanks to the chiropractor I was able to be mobile throughout labour which seemed impossible when I was on crutches at 23 weeks! Also using the TENS machine helped loads in early labour.

I cannot recommend manual therapy for PGP highly enough! Good luck & best wishes to everyone still suffering x

@JackJack84 that's encouraging thank you. Congratulations on your DS!

@JackJack84kJack Congrats!! So glad you were able to stay mobile :)
@zonedoutallnight please phone them and request an emergency in person appointment due to being pregnant. If that doesn't get you anywhere then put in writing a formal complaint. This will expedite everything. Stress how 8 weeks is unacceptable when you are pregnant and how a phone call cannot in any way be useful to you, when all medical advice is to be PHYSICALLY examined!!! Good luck! Look at The pelvic partnership for further advice.

Guys, it's genuinely infuriating me to hear how so many nhs physio’s are not doing any physical manipulation and are just giving out excercises and support bands 🙈😡

I've been in fair bit of discomfort this week as pushed myself with very brief trip to the shops for xmas presents. I am also up to 4 duvets folded in half, so, what does that make it like 8 thick, in bed and still have pain when sleeping on my side 😞 constantly waking up so exhausted

@HyphenCobra I'm back at the hospital who referred me for physio tomorrow so I'm going to talk to them and see if they can do anything to hurry it along.

I "forgot" that I can't walk properly anymore when I got home from work and opened the front door and stepped in as if I was a normal human being and my right leg/hip has just destroyed itself. I have gone from a slow but bearable shuffle to agony just standing. I've taken myself off to bed with a few extra pillows, a mug of milk a chocolate hobnob and a box of tissues to drown my sorrows.

Was also going to say hyphen if you can get a memory foam mattress topper instead of the duvets they work wonders for quality of sleep. Much more supportive than duvets.

@zonedoutallnight oh no!! I did that a month ago, tried to run to hob to stop pan boiling over - silly me!! Of course i can't run, I've been choosen to be one of the lucky ones with SPD 😒 🙄 😑 Hope you feel better soon!! Epsom salt baths are keeping me going 😌

I'll have a look at a topper like that! Would love to reduce my duvets down, its getting to be a Princess and the pea scenario 😁

Team!!! You’re here! I’m not alone. Have had awful SPD since about week 21- couldn’t work it out. I have been so active up till now (even went skiing at 19 weeks- no judgement please, I have been skiing since age 6 and done a few seasons) I was also running, playing squash, climbing... felt no pain and was feeling smug as owt...and then BAM. Went for a 2 mile run at 22 weeks and have had groin/inner thigh pain ever since. Walking and sitting are the worst. A few things that have really really helped me;

• a physio friend gave me tonnes of exercises from “pregnancy and postpartum tv” on YouTube. Honestly not sure how much it’s helping but feels like I need to do something.
• her best bit of advice? “It’s nothing you’ve done that’s caused this”. I was so cross because I’d gone out of my way to do pregnancy workouts, sport, yoga etc etc, determined to keep active. So I’ve been frustrated and sad but feeling much better.
• if you can afford to, self refer to a private osteo or chiropractor. You need manual manipulation, not just a physio who gives you exercises (these are likely to be what’s on YouTube anyway!) I’m awaiting an appt next week.
• yoga with a teacher who’s trained in pregnancy yoga. If anyone’s near Huddersfield, Om in Slaithwaite is a godsend. Both Ellie and Rachel are incredible.
• hot water bottles at work.... Crushed into my crotch like my life depends on it
• The pregnancy partnership website. So much info.

I’m pretty early on with the pain (and only just over halfway through pregnancy... gulp) but just trying to share a few tips and also some honesty... I’ve defo had a “pity party for one” over the last few days because I’m not used to resting up!

Anyone found stomach bands helpful? Any recommended brands? Thanks!

Hi @wellitywell sorry to hear you are suffering too! Must be difficult after being so active in the beginning.

I had my osteo today so pretty sore but he says compared to where i was at it looks good. I am pretty much housebound and use crutches if have to go to appointments so dread to think what it'd be like without treatment.
About 8 weeks left woohoo!!!! Honestly CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

Band wise, yes they can help, but you don't want to be reliant on it. I use it if I'm out for a bit, or if my round ligament pain is playing up 😊

How's everyone coping??

Since baby has gone head down i now have another level of crippling spd, where it feels like my pubis joint will break 😑🥴

I'm finally 36 weeks so literally counting down the days, hours, minutes until i can finally have my body back!!! 🙌 😄