Refered to physio for SPD... bit nervous, what should I expect??

[Disenchanted]

I dont have to waer a leotard and have some bodybuilder type bloke stretch my legs apart do I??

Seriously, what do they do?

Do you have to get down to just your knickers and top to have the brace fitted??

I don't really want to go but know I have to

x

mine told me there was nothing they could do to help. Showed me how to get out of bed (like I hadn't worked it out) and told me to take the stairs one step at a time rather than stride up - I had already explained how I had to go up on my bum. The gave me crutches and discharged me!

I found myself an osteopath - was fantastic, helped loads.

CG Im not actully struggling with it I can just feel the onset so I suppose they wont do much yet, am only 11+3 weeks x

Forget the physio. Mine discarded me after two treatments saying there was nothing to be done. I would just have to adjust to my new life as immobile.

You need a chiropractor. But you cant get chiropractic treatment on the nhs. If you, or your dh have private health insurance, you should be covered.

But a chiropractor is what you need as they are dealing specially with muscular sceletal parts.

What sort of things did the osteopath suggest? I had this pretty badly last pregnancy, but only from about 28 weeks, I hear it's earlier next time around.

Ho ho, the thought of a roomful of heavily pregnant women in leotards has made me chuckle!

No. They will:

(1) Tell you about correct posture, handling and movement
(2) Give you crutches, heel lifts, wheelchairs etc as appropriate
(3) Tell you to sit on a birth ball
(4) Tell you to come back post partum if it's still a problem
(5) Tell you what things can help in labour.

I went in jeans and a t shirt. They gave me a tubigrip for my bump. It was crap. They gave me crutches (better) and the number for the red cross who leant me a wheelchair (much better).

Oh and ask them about SHOPMOBILITY - tis great - you get a powered chair to do the shopping and free parking! Hurrah!

Gosh, count yourself lucky you get to see one. I had to phone up on a line that was always engaged, and when I did get through I couldn't make an appointment - oh no. I had a 5 minute telephone "consultation" and got sent some photocopies in the post. Most helpful - not.

Twinklemegan - ah now I discovered the way to get round this - you go to the GP and you bug him, then you bug the midwife and then finally you make an appt every three days alternatively to see both of them and within a week, magically, an appt has been found and would you please attend and stop coming to see us because we can't help

Oh and the Pelvic partnership are v good too.

I must be one of the lucky ones. My physio sees me every fortnight, gives me strengthening exercises and does manipulation to realign my pelvis. She constantly changes the treatment to suit my symptoms. I've been so slack this week and can notice it getting worse because I haven't put the effort in to do 5 mins work!!
I agree that a good osteopath is a bonus but don't write physio off, some are very dedicated but you need to ask to see an obstetric physio who will be way more clued up and will not fob you off. When you get to the clinic, make sure you're seeing the right person, if not, book in with them next appointment.

In my next pregnancy although the spd started much earlier it was nowhere near as bad because I new what it was and was careful not to aggrevate it.

My physio was horrified that an osteopath (who had specialist training to treat pregnant women) has treated me whilst I was pregnant! My osteopath mainly worked on my overtight ham strings and various other bits and pieces that were pulling my pelvic cage all over the place. Everyone would have different contributing causes that an osteopath/chiropractor would treat.

A pack of frozen value peas on your pubic area was one of the best tips!

mmmmmm frozen pelvis, I'm loving the sound of that.

Saw obstetric physio yesterday and she was lovely - although told me to walk even less. So, darn it, I'm not allowed to go to work!

Apparently all my joints are level and aligned, probably thanks to the osteopath, but she suggeted not seeing the osteopath again until after my next physio appt, just to ensure we know what we're dealing with. If I get unbalanced again then she'll suggest I see him again to sort that bit out.

In the meantime, prescribed various pelvic floor exercises, an ice pack 4x day, and told to attend the Backs and Babies session at the hospital for lots of other good advice (I have lots of muscle/joint problems before SPD).

Was impressed that I was given an appt in under 3 days, for no more than one week later, just as the midwife said should happen. Even more impressed that the physio apologised for being only 10 minutes late!

I think I have the onset of this. I am 19 weeks and have had a niggle in my back for a while. Now when I walk / move my nether regions hurt, like a dense pain. I called the midwife who says sounds like your pelvis is really softening. Anyone have any tips on what I can do. I am sure it is not muscle strething as yest it reduced me to tears, This is my 2nd baby, my 1st was 9lb. My pelvc floor never fully repaired.

I have to go to school now but will check later.

I think the physios vary a lot, but my experience has been v similar to whomovedmychocolate. Except I haven't got to the crutches/wheelchair stage yet. I found the physio was helpful and the support belt is great - I can certainly feel the difference if I take it off. The pelvic partnership site has lots of info - do take a look around the site koolkat.

My (female) physio did prod around a fair bit which made me hurt, but at the end of the prodding decided my pelvic bones were both at the same level, which was reassuring.

I am jealous of gilly as the physios I have seen don't appear to do much any manipulation, just assume I'll do the exercises religiously and that will help.

But I have been going for regular antenatal massages and they seem to help too. Again though, massage therapists vary so much so you really need to get one with a good reputation and lots of experience with pregnant women. And many won't give you a massage until the second trimester.

Thanks I will look into getting one of those if it persists or worsens.

To answer original question, yes you'll need to strip to pants. I hadn't expected that so at least you know in advance! I kept tops on both times.

They asked a zillion questions, discussed lifestyle (i had a 19 month old so how exactly was I not going to lift?!), suggested exercises (didn't really help) and gave me a support (didn't really help).

SPD is grim, hope it's doesn't continue to get worse.