a bit embarrassing, but I'm getting desperate - SPD and fanjo pain.....

[kitkat9]

I've always thought I suffered from SPD and it's been really getting worse over the past few weeks - I'm 33 weeks now and the thought of coping with this for 7 more weeks makes me literally weep.

Anyway, last night I decided to have a look down below as I was in so much pain - it suddenly dawned on me that I might have varicose veins down there as the majority of my SPD pain is between my legs, with additional pain in my lower back, bum and hips - but definitely the worst pain is in my ladygarden. It's agony. I didn't see any bulging, obvious veins, but everything did look rather swollen and quite purple. I've never looked there before during pregnancy so have no idea if this is 'normal' - does anyone know?

Don't rule out SPD, and definitely discuss with your care provider, but...

It is quite common to have some swelling in the pelvic region since you are carrying extra fluids and weight, and it tends to 'pool' in your legs and lower body.

Mines actually got a bit worse when I started putting my feet up regularly to alleviate swollen ankles! I now try to get a pillow under my bum when I have my legs up too!

I also feel Like I get a 'surge' of pressure when I get out of bed.

Others have mentioned wearing a maternity pad (and presumably some tight-fitting pants?!) to apply some pressure to the area.

Light exercise (!) and plenty fluids as well shuold kep your circulation working too.

[sympathy]

When I was pg and had SPD, the pain was exactly where you describe, in the pubes area. I kept wanting to put my hand on the area (to support the area and try to lessen the pain) but of course you can't walk around holding yourself!

So it was SPD for me and you shouldn't rule that diagnosis out. I ended up on crutches to help with the pain. Now (unfortunately nearly 6 years on) I still get occasional SPD but now I feel the pain in my thighs.

Mention it to your midwife or GP and get a referral to a maternity physiotherapist.

thanks for replying...I'm in the US and they really don't seem to have a clue about SPD here, bizarrely. I can't get anyone to take me seriously! I have an appointment in 10 days so I will bring it up again and maybe get the MW to examine me.

DG - I do feel like I need to 'lift' up the area as it does relieve the pressure. I have been looking online for some kind of support pad for it but can't find anything - any recommendations? I can order from the UK.

It's def worse in bed at night when I try to turn over. I am so unhappy about it. Told dh I wished I was dead the other night. . I've just had enough. I look at other pregnant women and wonder what it's like to have a pain free pregnancy. This is dc3, you'd think I would've learned my lesson..

Hi also suffering with SPD, am 31 weeks. When I saw physio she advised using a small ice pack covered with cloth on pubic area. I do this when pain bad and does give some relieve. Also can make bed softer and more comfy by lying on a spare duvet and put pillow between knees.

I can't really recommend anything to help with the pain or the need to "hold yourself" but I can offer some advice re sleeping at night. This really did help me at the time as, like you, I found the pain at night very bad and was waking up every time I needed to turn over.

The thing to do is to make the bed as slippery a place as you can! You wear polyester or silk pyjamas/nightie and you put underneath your sheet something slippy (I used an old fashioned eiderdown with the nylon quilted side uppermost). You could try a polythene sheet (you can buy them in DIY shops to cover furniture floors etc when painting) or anything else that is slippy. Then, when you need to move in the bed, you need much less exertion to turn over and the pain is less. It really worked for me and was recommended to me by the midwife/physiotherapist.

I can't believe no-one in the US gets SPD. Have you thought of googling the condition and printing off what you find out about it and showing it yto whoever you speak to?

Oh yes, and second sleepingbags' idea of the pillow between the knees when lying in bed at night although you have to make sure it is not too fat a pillow!

Before the pedants get me: sleepingbag's

yes a pack of frozen value peas are very good for bringing down the swelling.

You do know the best treatment is complete rest don't you?

i'm 37 weeks pg and have been suffering with this from about 16 weeks. Finally had enough at about 30 weeks and my midwife referred me to the physio - haven't really found it much use - they just go through pelvic floor excercises with you and show you how to use a gym ball to do some excercises on - basically sit on it and move hips from side to side. They tell you to sleep with a pillow between your legs and to keep your legs together as much as possible.They suggested sitting on a carrier bag when you are in the car so that you can swing legs round easier, wearing silky bedding in bed to help you turn over and puttin a pack of frozen peas over the area - al things mentioned by previous posters I think. They gave me a huge tuby grip bandage to wear on my belly - that is probably the best thing they did for me as it lifts the weight up from your pelvis area and gives you some relief but the I hate feeling restricted and I pay for it when I take it off cos the baby must also feel restricted when I wear it and she wastes no time in letting me know about it! I have more or less accepted that it it is here to stay - keep telling myself if I can't handle this pain I am going to be rubbish in labour. I hope you find something that helps but there are loads of websites out there with info on it if you find your midwife isn't much help.

I'm having the same problems (glad I'm not alone in having that 'pooling' feeling when I get up in the morning BTLT - takes about 5 mins to go away, and is agony!), and the physio gave me all the same advice as has been mentioned here. She also gave me a few tips for when actually giving birth - make sure the mws know that you have SPD; really try to resist being made to deliver whilst lying on your back (all fours, or kneeling best, followed by on your side), and if you do, do not let anyone hold your legs and get you to push your feet into their hands - apparently this can make the SPD even worse, and cause a much longer recovery time post delivery.
Symptoms will generally disappear after delivery, but it takes a while for the ligaments to return to their full strength (3 - 5 months), so you need to gradually ease back into activity (avoid running, treadmill, cross trainer initially). Make sure you do transverse abdominal exercises once have checked for abdominal separation (wait weeks after section to test, but can do immediately after normal delivery) as these help to stabilise the pelvis.
HTH

thanks again for the new replies...

am just so fed up with it all now. It seems that it's a slightly different part that suffers more each day, ie yesterday it was my hips, today it's more my lower back - it's killing me.

It's astonishing to me that no-one in the USA seems too aware of SPD - I honestly assumed that they would be so up on it and have all these wonderful methods of relief..I had bad SPD with pg 2 and told my 'caregiver' here about it from the early stages of this pg, but she didn't seem to hae heard of it and I had to explain what I was talking about! It's much worse this time, I can't believe that I'm going through all this again. I was so depressed the other night that dh came home to find me lying on the bedrrom floor weeping, and I told him I wished I was dead I don't really, but I can't stop thinking about getting this baby OUT! I can't wait for the relief, and am praying that the SPD symptoms vanish straight away.

Complete rest would be incredible - but is impossible with 2 kids and no friends or family here to help me out....

Will get some 'slippy' pj's - hadn't thought of that and think it would help me in bed at night. Turning over is a nightmare!

thanks agai for all your support and advice. It helps a lot.

Ice packs down your pants! Seriously . Reduces swelling (albeit temporarily). My physio recommended this, and it really did provide some relief.