SPD

[mumof2andabit]

Ok So im 30weeks have 2 under 3's but dh who is at home with us all the time at the moment. I have stopped going out everyday, dh now walks ds to pre school all I am doing is staying at home, resting and doing the odd bit of housework and its gettingworse!!!! Its gone from being a pain that comes and goes to being a dull pain there all the time that gets worse on and off. What can I do? Is there really no hope is this it till I have the baby?

Hi just wanted to say I know how you feel. I too have recently been told i've got SPD and for some reason since that day it's got worse and worse despite resting more Are you seeing a physio?

I went to see the physio who said it wasn't misplaced or anything more complicated and that I should rest solidly for 3 days (which I did) then start doing things again gradually (which I've done). She also gave me a belt but said it wouldn't really make any difference and for a while just resting did help but now its back with avengence!!!!!!!!!!!

It should clear up as soon as the baby is born, mine mostly did, although took longer after dts. I found a memory foam mattress topper made a real difference to my comfort levels. dh would put it on the sofa during the day and I couldn't sleep at night without it.

For getting in and out of bed satiny pjs/nighty make moving easier.

A carrier bag on seat of a car can help you swivel in and out easier.

I was given crutches, but could never use them as had buggy to push/ hands to hold.

Do you have a support belt? I was given two types and used both together on bad days.

I had this with my last pregnancy, I'm 18 weeks now with my 2nd and can feel it starting up again.

I found that the best thing was to always be symmetrical, eg. don't cross your legs when sitting down (probably quite hard at 30 weeks anyway!), put a pillow between your knees when you are sleeping on your side, if your standing up stand straight. Things like hoovering and pushing a shopping trolley were killers too.

Oh and although resting i probably good, I found staying in one position for too long made it worse. I gave up sitting on the sofa and sat on a gym ball instead, it seemed to help.

A lot of people swear by chiropractors/osteopaths, if you've got a bit of cash spare you could give them a try?

OK this is what helped me:

• Slippery sheets or slippery nightwear to reduce friction in bed as you turn over.

• Avoiding any pushing of heavy things (lawnmowers / shopping trolleys).

• Resting

• A really good firm long bean bag to lie against and prop one leg on whilst in bed

What I now think would have helped but I didn't get:

• proper physio including deep gluteal massage.

• a support belt

• services of an osteo or physio who was not afraid of treating a pregnant woman!!!

I do hope you are able to manage this. It's not nice. It does clear up after the birth - took about 6 months for my SPD to clear up only to be replaced by a SI joint problem that is only just getting sorted.

Congratulations BTW.

oh, and be assertive about what position you give birth in. more info at pelvic partnership I think.

Blimey herbietea how do you manage?
I do apologise for moaning after only a few weeks your advice sounds very good and I will try to follow it all although I cant help myself sometimes!

Crikey Im so sorry you have been left with such a painful reminder of pregnancy not just a lovely cuddly one. Read your post to dh who is insisting I'm under house arrest apart from the absolutly necassary. I hope the op goes well.

You need to make sure the SPD is in your birth plan, get referred to an Obstetric physio ASAP so that they can tell you what to put in... including a piece of string that shows how far apart you can have your legs without pain (ESSENTIAL if you have an epidural and so can't feel the pain).

Remember to do f-all after the birth as well. I buggered myself up for months pushing a big pram round. This time I'm not even buying a pram, going to use a sling for the first six months.

Your physio should give you a raft of exercises that really help to stabilise the joints and to strengthen your core muscles.

I was really worried when mine started at eight weeks this time, but with rest, care, phsyio manipulation, a wedge cushion, wearing flat shoes and doing the strengthening exercises, I am MUCH better and daring to hope.

Bloody hell herbie tea! I hope the op sorts it! I'm 12 weeks now and have had spd since about 5 weeks. I had it in 1st pregnancy from 30 weeks.
Beware resting!!! How are you resting? If it's in the wrong position it WILL make it worse and if you are being stationary in any one position for too long it will hurt.
I am managing my SPD this time around by getting a cleaner, seeing a chiro, using ice and being super conscious of being aligned and parallel. I can't walk further than about 10 mins without intense pain in my lower back. It seems I have the pain in the front part and in the back. I've got supports in my shoes now too.
I hate it! I really hate being pregnant for this reason, but mine did go after about 4 weeks of having my lovely girl. I gave birth to her stood up with my legs barely parted just 'cos that's how I was. I did have it in my birth plan to watch my leg spread.

Hello girls

Having had a pretty easy ride until now (25 weeks) a couple of weeks ago I started getting all the classic SPD symptoms - pain right in the pubic bone, pains down inside of the legs, etc. I find that sometimes it's fine, even when walking, and sometimes it's agony even if just lying on the settee. I have yet to try a support belt, but find that if I lift my bump with my hands, it hurts in the SP joint itself.

If I were to get a belt, has anyone got any recommendations? There seem to be a lot out there, ranging from simple bands to complicated elasticated set-ups.

I'm also feeling a lot of pressure in the pelvic floor itself - like everything's about to fall out. Don't know if that's part of the SPD, or if I have a prolapse to look forward to as well. I"m getting on a bit (43), and am afraid I wasn't fit enough prior to getting up the duff.

Well the falling out thing you describe sounds like SPD too. I had that feeling from about 10 weeks (my son is 11 months old now)
Guess what though I'm still in pain too....
My GP has been giving me dihydrocodeine since I was 26 weeks and i've been taking that ever since... (when I had my son I was given diclofenac (75mg) and been taking that too for nearly a year. He told me painkillers was all he could do... I asked to be refered to a physio or something but he said it wouldn't help me...
Its so unfair that I have to live like this with 2 boys aged 3 and 11 months...
Maybe i'm gonna get a second opinion...
I'm glad though that I'm not the only one who has been suffering.
Sometimes I've been made to feel like I'm making it all up!!!!
xx

Physio can and will make a difference. I had SPD and SI joint problems while pg wih ds2.

He is 9 months old now and I'd been seeing 1 physio for a few months with no improvemt. Have swapped to a different one and had a great improvement after 2 sessions - I'm going again tomorrow and can't wait!

Are you in South Wales - I'll happily pass on her contact details if you are

Hi,Im new her and have been suffering from spd and si joint problems a year after birth.I live in south wales.Any chance you can pass on your physio details,any advice and what she is doing with you that is helping you?I would be so grateful.This condition is so frustrating.Thanks.Take care.