Has anyone had or got SPD? Need some advice!

[Ros2023]

Could those of you that have had or have got SPD explain your symptoms to me please?
my pubic area hurts so much when I’ve been on my feet that sometimes I struggle to walk.
it aches, feels sore and bruised. To the point now where I’m struggling to work (my job is really physical and I’m on my feet all day) I have my 28 week midwife appointment coming up so will mention it to them but wondered what your experiences were like with it? And if this sounds similar to you?

Yes it does and you need to take time off work. The only treatment is rest and not doing what aggravates it.

Osteopathy really helped me but please take action now as by the time I sought help and stopped aggravating it I was in agony, couldn't lay on my side, couldn't walk up steps, couldn't carry my existing baby.

It's agony. I couldn't walk, get into the car or go up stairs.

Your midwife can refer you for obstetric physio or you may be able to self refer. Where I live you could. Using a birthing ball can help a little bit too. A lot of the exercises I got from the obstetric physio required one.

In the interim look on the Pelvic Partnership for their listings of osteopaths. I saw a brilliant one when I was pregnant and she really helped more than absolutely anything and just seemed to magic the pain away!

With my 4th pregnancy it started super early but because I looked after myself properly and didn't do the things I shouldn't it never got severe.

I cannot implore you enough to rest now, take time off work now to get it manageable. If it gets severe the pain is excruciating and there is little you can take that actually helps.

I was given crutches and sent away with "one stair at a time" when I had already told them I had to take the stairs on my bum.

I’m suffering with luckily relatively mild PGP, started at about 20 weeks and honestly I did panic when it began as it can get incredibly bad, as others have said you can be almost bedbound with it. Mine feels like I’ve been smacked in the pubic bone with a bat, almost like it’s cracked, plus a bit of soreness in my hips and lower back for good measure.

For a bit of hope though I’m now 27 weeks and it’s roughly the same, so I’m hoping to keep on top of it. It is manageable and I can live my life, with some adaptations. I’d second others saying don’t push through the pain, you need to get on top of it now and that means not standing for long shifts. Get signed up for physio - I’ve started and it is helping, my trust offers on the NHS but long waiting lists so if you can go private, do, it’s worth it. Main exercise they’ve told me will help is religiously doing pelvic floor exercises, but I have others to do too based on where they’ve found weakness in the hip and bum muscles etc. I’ve also been resting a lot and pacing my activity, avoiding things like hoovering, carrying my toddler around etc and ‘saving’ difficult motions up for when I have no choice, based on the NHS tips here: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/pelvic-pain/ I’ve also found warm baths ease things off a bit. Good luck and hope you can keep on top of it, it’s really crap.

Thank you all. Last night was awful after being on my feet at work all day and then doing the weekly food shop after. I could hardly walk back to the car!
I need to start listening to my body and rest as much as possible.
I just hope it doesn’t get worse!

If you don't rest and avoid activities that aggravate it then it will get worse.

Seriously take some time off work and let it calm down. You need reasonable adjustments on your job.

It’s a long time since I had it so nhs care might have improved. But if it hasn’t, look up the pelvic partnership who have a list of chiropractors and physios etc who understand SPD. I was unable to walk without crutches for 4 months in one pregnancy and then totally fine in the next with regular treatment from someone who knew what they were doing. Best of luck.

If you can afford to be seen privately by a pregnancy physio the sooner you start with them the better. The NHS physio I'd waited weeks for handed me a leaflet and sent me on my way. A private physio got me walking again after total agony.

Please if you can get you DH to step up majorly! I had to stop work at 30 weeks with both pregnancies and had to use a mobility scooter for the second. I was told avoid housework - hoovering was bad but I can’t remember why.

do you have the massive tubigrip from boob to bump to support your bump? I also wore. Bump band as well. Get yourself to an osteopath if you can avoid it. Also do you have one of these super long pillows to support you in bed?

I still get moments where I can feel the pgp pains but I’m hyper mobile so was warned I was more likely to struggle with spd/pgp.