Think SPD is starting at 24 weeks, feeling panicked, help

[systemsaddict]

I had SPD towards the very end of last pregnancy and it was very debilitating. I was on maternity leave by then and barely left the house for the last few weeks, shuffling up and down our 3 flights of stairs sideways in pain. Didn't see physio as by the time it got really bad I was overdue anyway and couldn't face any more appointments, but ended up with damaged ligaments after forceps / lithotomy delivery and had some physio post-natally.

I knew I might well get it again this time but didn't expect it yet. Started feeling groin / pubic pain yesterday at 24+1. I'm feeling really panicked - have a 17 month old who is only just walking, and I work 70% and was planning to continue till 38 weeks.

I am seeing midwife on Wednesday and will try and get a physio appointment then but currently feel very emotional - can't focus on work, feeling very scared of what the next 16 - 18 weeks will hold if I can't do anything. It's not too bad at the moment but I know it's only likely to get worse ...

Need some positive stories after reading lots of internet advice which has scared me further - has anyone managed to manage it better second time round?

It is very heartening to hear from people who managed it so it was less severe second (or third) time around. I feel like an idiot for feeling so upset over what is, at the moment, just a dull ache, but I'm so afraid of being housebound (or even single-floor-of-the-house-bound) for months and unable to look after ds ... So I will stick to being really careful, knees together at all times, getting other people to lift ds whenever possible, and see physio asap, and keep everything crossed that this keeps it under control. I'm ready to weep at midwife's appt tomorrow to get physio referral if I have to - I'm sure this will scare her, till now I have made sure to appear a completely capable person at all appointments!

Rochwen, not at all, you've enhanced the post rather than hijacking it, your questions are mine too.

Systemaddict, if you can afford it go and see an chiropractor. This was what really turned the corner for me. It's the only thing that helped. Even if you can't afford it, ask friends to pay for it instead of giving you baby grows.

Califrau, explain the thing about the pill again. I can't take the pill because of migraenes but I've got an implant, which carries a very low dose of progeterone. Will that help too? Both my physio and my gp seem to think that hormones don't necc continue to cause the problem. I've even had myself checked for levels of prolactin still left in my blood to rule that out too. It's soo frustrating. If I knew mine would totally disappear in two years time too, I'd be sooo happy. With all the treatment I'm much better than I was but I still get twinges and I can't do much sport, and, like I said, I won't have another baby because of it and that makes me sad.

Anyhow, it's such a bastard ! I'd have taken almost anything else but SPD. I still get upset that it happened to me. I can't believe it's not taken more seriously. It's a disabling condition.

Sorry for the rant.

Update: feeling a bit more hopeful today, after a few days of being very very careful to be body aware, keep everything symmetrical and avoid lifting as much as poss, symptoms have eased down quite a lot, so I feel like I may be able to keep the worst effects at bay for a while at least. Also did my Pilates in Pregnancy DVD today and feel very positive about that, I could feel it was developing the right postural muscles to help, so I will prioritise doing that regularly.

Midwife didn't want to refer me on as it's not yet severe, but advised I go to aquanatal and get an informal consult with the obstetric physio who runs that - gotta love the NHS, I can talk to a professional as long as I'm in a swimming costume!! So I will try and do that next week too, and take it one day at a time. She'll refer me if it gets worse and there's only a 3-4 week waiting list so that's not too bad. Will also look into local chiros / osteos with experience of treating this.

Still worried but feeling much better now I feel I have some avenues to go down and at least some possibilities for minimising this.
Thanks all for your experiences and advice!