SPD - Osteopath or Chiropractor?

[mogwai]

Any experience of either? I'm 21 weeks and it's getting bad now but I have no idea which to choose to treat the condition.

I got a referral to physio. When I was at your stage she was able to manipulate things to get my pelvis re-aligned and I had a few weeks' relief from pain but since 30wks I've been in agony again as ligaments are now too soft to stay in place and I've ended up on crutches (sorry, not what you wanted to hear, I'm sure!). As I've no experience of osteo/chiro, I can't be of much help to you, but take a look at the "would it be unreasonable for me to....." thread here, there are lots of recommendations for chiro on it. But why don't you give physio a go first as it might help you, and the best thing about it is it's free!

Physio. There are a few physios who are trained in a special Canadian technique that apparently can really fix it.

A friend of mine had SPD really really badly, ended up in a wheelchair during her first pregnancy, and for a few years afterwards. She finally found a physio in London who was trained to deal with SPD properly, and was fixed. Next pregnancy, she had a few twinges, but no wheelchair or even crutches.

hmm I had physio with my first pregancy and it wasn't much use, though the physio didn't actually manipulate or re-align anything.

Just not sure of difference between osteo and chiro - will google it

Just to add that for me SPD pain peaked in mid-pregnancy and then actually improved somewhat. Obviously everyone is different, but there is hope!

Good luck, I know how horrible it is.

I've been seeing a physio (unrelated problem) who specialises in spd. Her name is Alison Bartup, I've just seen her number listed (among others) on the 'pelvic partnership' website. www.downloads.pelvic-partnership.org.uk/tel_numbers.pdf She has had a lot of success using some new techniques based on recent research. Most physio's are not trained in spd so I'm not surprised you didn't have any joy the first time. Hope you get some relief.

Hi there, as it's already bothering you I would waste no time at all, get your GP to refer you for physio too, but the wait can be a few weeks. So whether you choose chiro or osteo, start paying for it privately ASAP the more it takes hold, the harder it is to treat...

I've had physio and ostepoathy for SPD, but not Chiro. I have found Osteopathy to be the best personally.

Physio wise - the NHS one just gave me excerices and referral to a pilates class but very little hands on relief. The specialist women's physio one I saw privately did give me hands on relief and was quite good, but couldn't get me past a certain point when symptoms persisted for months after my first birth.

The Osteo (who I tried for the first time after my first birth and am seeing now still late in my second pregnancy), was what finally got to the bottom of things and helped me much more, rather than just treating the symptoms. He noticed that my sacrum was twisted after my forceps birth and straightened it through gentle manipulation. I went back to him as soon as I knew I was pregnant again, as last pregnancy being diagnosed with SPD around 6 months by the obstretric physio was the first I'd heard about it. By then it was too late to do much.

He has seen me every 2-3 weeks and yes it is expensive but I cannot put a price on the results.
I was so worried about how much worse it would be this time, (I rang the Pelvic Partnership in panicky tears when I found out I was preg less than two years after my son was born) had been told to leave a good gap, so was thinking I would be on crutches at least, with a toddler to care for, but it has honestly been SO much better for the treatment. It's like he resets me each time. Apart from weakness/soreness at night in bed and going for nighttime wees etc, I really can't complain in comparison to last time. I don't lift my son though unless I am seated so that probably helps a lot too.

The NHS physio I was referred to again this time hasn't been a waste though because she sorted me out a physio/pilates/pregnancy excercise class at the hospital and I think the combo of gentle strengthening excercises along with the osteo has helped.

The best SPD tip from the OB Physio, was always behave as if you have a short skirt and no knickers on (!!)
That way you'll remember to stay symmetrical, ladylike and considered in your movements, especially when getting up from sitting, the car etc.

Best of luck

Getting scared reading posts here about how long it can take to recover from SPD after birth & can even be in a wheelchair "for some years" after. Eeek. I'm on crutches now but can't imagine coping with a newborn in a wheelchair or even on crutches. Help!

Lotster, how long were you recommended to wait before having a second baby? I would have thought two years was quite a long wait and would give time for your pelvis to heal after the first time?? I thought I had read somewhere to wait at least one year.

Hey Pink,

apparently most people find it goes really quickly. They usually say there's an immediate improvement after the birth (unless you allow forceps like me, idiot, forceps and SPD do NOT mix) then it's about 5 months till it's completely gone.
Yes, some people it never quite goes, but I think that's more with DSP sufferers, and probably underlying mis-alignment too from what I've read/heard.

Don't worry too much about thinking your exp will be like mine as I had an unfortunate set of things going on. I had a twisted sacrum that went unnoticed from the birth too remember, and I also have some osteoarthritis in my lower spine that got picked up too in the investigations...
So you may find you get instant relief when baby is born, unlike me. The weight that was in your tum isn't all baby, so caring for him/her after will be a lighter load anyway.

Because of all the stuff going on with my back and pelvis my GP, the physio, and the osteopath all said I should have an easier time if I waited until my son was three to have another, but probably because firstly it took so long for the back stuff to be picked up, and secondly I also had to have birth trauma repair surgery twice, and each recovery period (with no lifting for six weeks) set me back. So when I did get back to caring for and lifting my son who was quite chunky, it
was a shock to the system again.

I didn't plan this pregnancy but we're in agreement it all happened for the best because it turns out I've been much better this time, and I'm really confident about getting my fitness back afterwards. Lots of walking and sit ups/core strength excercises will get me there. And did I mention my osteopath is a life-saver??

I read some interesting research from Norway (or sweden, can't remember!) that said it takes 6 years from the birth to completely recover for some. When I read that it didn't seem worth waiting three years only to start the six year wait again IYSWIM.

The only thing that still confuses me is how people like the Pelvic Partnership, the physio's and the Osteopath, all of whom I respect, can disagree so much on the cause of SPD. i.e. whether it's alignment or hormones.

Those who think it's hormonal would say that as long as you are breastfeeding it can affect recovery, (which others won't accept because of the B/F implications obviously) - but the day I absolutely knew I was (unexpectedly) pregnant, I had all my SPD symptoms, sciatica, pelvic pain, sacro-illiac pain, I just knew... At that time it was so early and obviously no weight gain so it had to be the rush of hormones.
But also I'm not suffering so badly this time, and that has to be from the constant re-aligment from the osteo, so I really think both factors can be to blame.

Anyway, I'm really waffling now but having had this crap blight my life for so long I am just amazed to be 8 months gone and walking unaided and not suffering like before. Did I mention you should try osteopathy??

Lotster , thank you so much for your in-depth replies on both threads and for all the tips re gym ball(yes I already have one & luv it), support belt, osteopathy recommendation (yeah I think u briefly mentioned that! ) etc. Sounds like you went through a terrible time with your pelvis, back, surgeries, recovery periods etc. but glad things are lookin up for you this time round. Thanks again!

Oh no probs, good luck

Hi, I'm 30 weeks pregnant and have inner thigh pain when I walk or get up. It's making me look like a 90 yr old when I'm hobbling around!! My hips and thighs also hurt when I lie on either side in bed but I believe I'm not supposed to lie on my back. I googled groin pain and it came back with SPD but I'm not sure it's that serious. Any advise gratefully received. I've been fine up til now and this pain has appeared very suddenly.

Try reflexology! For me it targeted even more accurately than osteopath who is also excellent.

I used a chiro - she was brilliant. I spoke to her before making the appointment and she had done further training in something - could have been womens' health, or pregnancy or post-natal treatment. She sounded like she knew what she was talking about before I even went to see her.

I was referred to the womens health physio at our local hospital, she was really good. She gave me a belt, crutches etc. I was on the crutches from 21 weeks until induced at 37 because of the pain. I think the NHS help tends to be a bit of a lottery though. I mainly survived on cocodamol TBH, but I know this isn't everyones cup of tea.

I do still suffer now and DD is 2 1/2, but after much moaning and being sent from pillar to post I paid privately for a scan and it turned out not to be the SPD carrying on, but a growth on the base of my spine pressing on a nerve root. It was probably aggrevated by the SPD and the pelvis moving and resettling in a different position, but I think if it wasn't for the growth I would be fine by now.

I aren't planning any more children and the SPD was a factor in this decision, but so was the fact I now have 3 DC's under 7!

HI, this is my first pregnancy and I'm 34 weeks so far. Early on i.e 10 weeks in, I found I had numbness in my legs/hips when lying in bed. I was referred to physio but I could also feel my sacro-illiac (sp?) joints moving around. The physio told me to do pelvic tilts and pelvic floors and eventually I found a comfy position in bed to lay on and not be so numb. That was fine.
Fast forward maybe 6 weeks when I was 16 weeks I started to get the 'pulled muscles/stiffness' in between my legs and I didn't really think anything of it - in fact, I thought - I'd better get myself to the aquanatel, I am seizing up here.
I went to the aquanatel class and that afternoon I was in agony, I could hardly walk . Back to the nhs physio who said, oh, let me give you a support belt, I don't see any pelvic misalignment, if you get worse come back and get crutches.
The support belt I found to make me worse. I was continuing on with my daily routine which is half hour drive to work, 5 min walk into work and then the general office walking around or sitting on my bum. Progressively the pain between my legs became much worse, I had only to think what have I done to myself? as far as I am concerned I was not over exerting myself.
Hobbling when trying to walk, turning over in bed completed agony and the clicking of many bones in my pubic area - not so good.
Back to physio - (note she is hands off, unlike others who seem not to be) She gave me crutches and said nothing could be done until the birth, get on with it basically and rest if I needed to. Midwife told me that being in this much pain is a normal part of pregnancy - surely not????

Doctor signed me off and advised pretty much the same - relaxin was obvioulsy causing my ligaments to go soft and let things move around so I should go home, rest, take it easy. That was 8 weeks ago.

I decided to take matters into my own hands and tried to figure out the diff between osteopath and chiropractor. Both relatively expensive (well an unexpected expense in the attempt of self help) but worth it to see what was really going on. A guy at work recommended a chiro so I just chose that out of ease. Chiro checked me out and advised that one of my hips was higher that the other and this was causing my pelvis to be tipped - thus causing the pubic bones at the front to be out of alignment and overlapping each other. Apparantly pelvic misalignment can cause issues during labour.

At point of typing I've had 4 weeks of (gentle adjustments) treatments (3 a week for 2 weeks then 2 a week for 2 weeks). I had a rescan of my spine and hips etc and the difference has been quite amazing. Although I have been advised that my body won't retain the correct alignment until the relaxin is lessened in my system.
In short (and sorry my post must be about a page long by now) I have found relief - this last week being the best I have been, I can actually walk without limping/waddling, and with less pain.
I did go out the supermarket the other night but I find that after this (and it's not that much walking) the pain in my pubic area is tender and sore. I can still feel the bones moving around and I don't like it.
I have been sleeping upright in bed with silky jammies and mega pillows - in my case I find that trying to sleep on my side just makes everything much much worse and more painful. Can't get in or out the bath. Stairs - take one at a time.
I am avoiding these things. I am pretty much housebound, but I am trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel - but it scares me also to read the experiences of other ladies, but we all have to keep chins up and get through this somehow - and with the support of each other on these forums.

I am fairly disappointed with the lack of knowledge in my area (glasgow) of this condition, and feel glad that people can post up their experiences here to share.

My chiro advised me that if I'd had been treated before being pregnant that there is a chance I may not be suffering quite so much now. However, I believe that I didn't know there was a problem until the hormones went raging through my wee body and highlighted this.

Good luck to everyone xxx

PS Has anyone who has received private treatment have a healthcare plan which has been able to pay for the costs of the treatment?? I was debating this, however lots of them you can't join with pre-existing conditions, or if you can, you can't claim for up to 3 months. Just trying to money save.......

Osteopath - and it should only take 1-2 sessions.

Thanks everyone, managed to get an appointment with an osteopath today and she said I had one leg substantially shorter than the other!! I'm assuming this is a recent thing but she has realigned my back and hips. The leg pain was all linked to this and, although I'm still walking like a granny, I'm confident I'll be ok after another session.
Indigobarbie, glad you're starting to feel slightly better. Sounds like you've had a nightmare. I had Bupa for the first part of pregnancy and I think most things were covered but they definitely won't cover you for pre exisiting problems. I'm pretty sure it'll be the same for other private companies too.

I feel your pain I too have suffered a fair bit but nothing luckily to warrant a wheel chair etc.

Having been to both osteo and chiro I would DEF say the latter!!

Chiro it has been said can be more invasive but I have found this totally untrue and they actually fix your body unlike osteo who only help relieve pain for a short time-that's my experience anyway!

make sure though that your chiro has experience and preferably specialises in pregnant women and babies, they are far more clued up on how to examine you as your pregnancy progresses and will beable to advise on strengthening techniques for muscles etc.

Good luck and hope you get help soon.

I should say, although you may hear mild clicking sounds as you are getting "adjusted" ie your spine and pelvis put back in place-it does not hurt!! It took me about 8 weeks of regular appointment before I felt significantly better as your body takes time to balance out but it will get there just try be patient!!

I had this really badly with my first pg - but despite talking to my gp and midwives about it on numerous occasions (the shooting pain in my pelvis, pelvic pain rolling over in bed, unable to climb stairs etc) they never diagnosed spd and fobbed me off saying it was the baby's head bumping my pelvis which even then I did not believe - it started way to early in pgy for the head to be anywhere near engaged or even in the right position. I read about it afterwards and just knew it was what I had been experiencing.

Second pgy I decided to see a chiropractor before I had any symptoms. My chiropractor was BRILLIANT. I barely had any pelvic pain for the whole pregnancy. He gave me some great exercises and used some gentle techniques to correct the alignment of my pelvis each time I visited. Never having been to a chiropractor before, I am now officially a convert. If I ever have a 3rd, he will be the second phone call I make after my doctor!

I would actually recommend a very good physio and a myofascial release massage therapist. The best chiros often do things that aren't chiropractic - usually physio and myofascial release! But they're not necessarily well trained in those areas.

I had a similar experience to indigobarbie - saw an NHS physio who was useless and wouldn't manipulate so I found a private chiro at 20 weeks and after five sessions I had no pain whatsoever. I had another attack around 30 weeks and hobbled straight to my chiro who fixed me in one session.

I think there are excellent chiros, physios and osteopaths but you need to find one who will treat you manually as a lot of NHS physios won't.

I have no pain in my hips and pelvic region now and haven't had for five weeks (combined with antenatal yoga) I also feel my hips have loosened as previously my left hip was 'stuck' as it were and I couldn't open my legs properley.

Call the pelvic partnership as they have a list of recommened practicioners around the country.

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/

Hope you get help and it is totally treatable!