PGP / SPD - what's the physio like?

[deliwoman1]

Hi! Has anyone seen a physiotherapist for PGP/SPD?

I'm experiencing it and think I'm going to need a bit of support as things progress. Had it with the first and didn't get help, just suffered. Not this time!! Never seen a physio before and have a bit of a weird dislike of massage and that sort of bodily manipulation - not quite a phobia, but I'm trying to prepare myself. 😳

It would be great to hear from others what actually happens in these appointments! May end up going private as I've been warned by MW that services are not as available as they should be near me 🙄, so I'm interested in both NHS and private experiences!

What does the physio actually do?
Do they give you special exercises to do, and help you with it?
Do they use special kit? I'm thinking whether it'll be like pilates here 😂
Does it depend on your exact circumstances?
Did it make you feel better instantly or later, or not at all (hope not!)?

Thank you for making it less scary!

Rubbish - go to an osteopath instead. The osteopath barely touched me and it was seriously like a magical cure - all gone within a couple of days. Before that, I'd tried a physio and she suggested exercises and sleeping positions that were inappropriate for pregnancy and would only have aggravated the condition. Seriously - try an osteopath.

But just to be clear, neither physio nor osteo massaged or physically manipulated me.

Just to add, in terms of what actually happens at the osteopath, I firstly stood up so they could see how my hips were positioned and things like that, then I lay down on a table (like a massage table) and the osteo gave me some very light touches - so light I couldn't imagine it was doing anything. But it did. So they do touch you, but it's not like they're rubbing you or bending you this way and that.

@MixieMatchie thanks! That's helpful. I thought physios were the go-to folks for this? MW didn't mention osteos at all! Good to know it was 'light touch' too. I'm so glad it worked so well for you!

In my area now it's a group session where they give you all some exercises. They don't exam or touch you.

I seen nhs,group session,useful but wasn't going to cure you.

Went private was great. Full assessment to pinpoint exactly where issues and dysfunction is. Massage,trigger point and manipulation and provided with stretches. Had a lot of relief after about 2 days of recovering from sessions

Go to a specialist in womans pelvic help,nobody else should touch a pregnant lady.

They can also provide tubigrip to support you.

I think that's the old view, though I'm not a expert - I just remember wading through various MN threads at the time, which pointed me to a website called Pelvic Partnership (bit of a weird name 😂) where you can find recommended practitioners. I went private, but it was a single session costing about £50 - best £50 I ever spent, especially considering I'd already spent more than that on (useless for me) physio and belt/corset type device that did nothing!

Your hospital should have a women's health physio team, it's worth starting with them. Iirc they gave me exercises, lifestyle advice and advice on supports/aids. No massage, and limited physical exam.

In general I'm a fan of osteopaths but I'm wouldn't let anyone near me when pregnant who wasn't specifically and formally trained in pregnancy issues, which is why I'd start with the hospital team, especially if you want to avoid massage etc.

If it’s on the NHS, the general consensus is that the experience is ‘sadly lacking.’

Expect some exercises to do on your gym ball and then a spiel about how your state of mind makes the pain worse, so if you do some breathing and relaxation exercises, that will help to realign your pelvic bones.

Meanwhile, if you want a physio who will actually do something to help, visit one who has been approved by the Pelvic Partnership charity - details available on their website.

I paid £100 for my physio session with a women’s pelvic floor specialist at 16 weeks and it was so worth it. My PGP is so much better and only mildly noticeable now at 31 weeks. Usually just when rolling over in bed at night.

I had a one-hour appointment and she took a detailed medical history and review of symptoms. I’d actually had pelvic floor physio before for a too-tight pelvic floor. She then had a look at hip alignment, did some very light massage of my hip area, got me doing some stretches and gave me some Pilates exercises to do at home along with diaphragmatic breathing. She also told me not to do pelvic floor exercises as they would be tightening my already tight pelvic floor. She also explained how birth and pregnancy could affect my pelvic floor, given its existing condition.

So it was well worth it because I got to see her really quickly. Much quicker than waiting for the NHS referral. And when that finally came though, it was a series of YouTube videos on pelvic floor exercises followed by a group session an hour’s drive away, which would have been stretches and pelvic floor exercises not tailored to me (and which might actually have made things worse !).

The NHS one didn’t do much for me as others have said - just some exercises and told me to come back X weeks after birth if my diastasis recti didn’t heal on its own.

I paid for physio privately and there was a lot of manipulation, but it was very controlled - she would absolutely have stopped if I wanted her to. I went quite regularly because I was in a lot of pain but the relief was only for a couple of days so if you really hate the thought then the benefit might not be enough to make it worth it. I don’t think regular sessions helped reduce the pain in a longer term sense though, just short-term temporary respite. Perhaps I should have tried an osteo as others suggested.

Try swimming - I did that and an aqua dance class targeted at older people. Was the only chance I really had to be active as I couldn’t walk far. I used to go to a late night session when the pool was almost empty and walk in the shallow bit with a float. I felt so much better in the water and I’m sure keeping my muscles working helped.

The pain went as soon as the baby came. So sorry you’re struggling with it! I hope you find something that helps!

(Just to add - I found a specialist private physio for women’s health who also does the NHS appointments. I wouldn’t have let just physio do it as others have said.

She said the NHS appointments just aren’t long enough to be able to do anything proper!)

I had dreadful PGP in all three pregnancies. Utterly debilitating. I couldn't drive and couldn't walk. With my first it took three months postpartum for it to subside. I had every useless physio session you can imagine. From exercise advice to uncomfortable and pointless belts. None of it was useful. The Pelvic Partnership was an invaluable website. Pilates was excellent.

I had an NHS physiotherapist when I had it and luckily I had a women’s health physio who had just come from working in a maternity ward in Scotland. From memory she did some gentle manipulation and pressure points on the pubic bone which all helped enormously. I had about 3 sessions in total I think but it didn’t completely go after immediately after birth.

Honestly it will be a breeze.

First pregnancy (Singleton), I saw a private physio who gave me some yoga like exercises which helped.

Second pregnancy (twins), I did an NHS group course and was then referred for 121 physio as I was having twins.

No uncomfortable manipulation, just a personal exercise plan.