SPD Sofa - support and advice offered at no extra charge!

[pumpkinpureeandghostlypearls]

I am suffering SPD (for the second time) and just need to vent without driving everyone else on my pregnancy thread mental. Not that they aren't supportive but I still have 20 weeks to go and I don't want to ruin their pregnancies by talking about mine!

Please come and join me so I don't feel so alone, and feel free to share tips if you have any....

[southernbelle77]

No tips sadly but am now 36 weeks (tomorrow) and desperate for baby to arrive as I'm in agony!

Have you been to physio and been given crutches or anything?

[pumpkinpureeandghostlypearls]

Had physio and the lovely support belt (still have the full range of sizes from last time). Turned down crutches as have a dog and a 17 month old DD, but it's been getting steadily worse over the last couple of weeks. Only 20 weeks in so not that thrilled.

FWIW last time I had a 'lengthy discussion' with consultant and was successfully induced at 38 weeks because SPD pain had made my life impossible. Midwife recommended I speak with him. Might be worth a shot.

Congrats on getting to 36 weeks (should have said that first!)

[ErikaMaye]

Am 35+4, already had ME/CFS and SPD as well now. I'm glad the consultant agreed to induce you early last time (am praying I don't go overdue, I don't know how I'd manage) and agree with your midwife

Have you tried going to the swimming pool? Obviously not actually swimming (Or if you do, NOT BREAST STROKE, I made that mistake winces ) but the water is fantastic and takes the weight off everything

[echops]

Hi Pumpkin - this is just the thread I'm looking for! Have SPD (first baby, am currently 20 weeks) and have been signed off work which is making me feel terribly guilty.
Spend my days staggering around the house trying to find a comfy position to sit in.
Don't really have any tips except to say that my Physio visit at the local hospital pretty much saved my sanity as I was surrounded by women who all hobbled about like me!
Like ErikaMaye I'm thinking of going swimming too as have a local pool which has easy steps to walk down. Will let you know how I get on (if I ever make it that far!).

[ErikaMaye]

Most pools have a chair lift they'd be more than happy to let you use

[BellasYummyMummy]

I think I have SPD but havent had it diagnosed officially. With my first pregnancy I was fine, then after the labour I found my hips were never the same again and it was agony just to lie down (felt like they weren't clicking in place). Saw an oteopath who said my hips were disaligned from the labour and i had a few sessions to help things. Then pregnant with number 2, and since 12 weeks my back has been getting worse and worse. I am now 20 weeks, and feel like my legs have been pulled out of the sockets, getting an achey pain across where my pubic bone is. I couldnt even walk up the stairs last night, and turning over in bed is awful.

I have a 17month old DD which i dont think helps at all, especially when everyone tells you just to rest! you're like 'how am i to do that?!'. Difficult with work as well as i am on my feet all day.

Do you need to see your doctor or midwife about it to get some advice/support? My midwife told me not to even bother booking until i was 24 weeks PG, and they havent even returned my calls from this morning as i was worried about this achey feeling. rubbish!

[pumpkinpureeandghostlypearls]

Bellasyummymummy- sounds like it might be SPD- if your midwives are no help (and they bloody well should be) get an appointment with GP. That's what I did last time. This time MW referred me at 12 weeks to physio. A friend just had a baby who recommends acupuncture to treat, though this didn't work towards the end. OUr DDs must be almost the same age; I'm trying to talk DH into getting a part-time nanny as I don't think I'll be able to manage a lot of the baby-ralted stuff for too much longer.

Erikamaye- swimming requires swimwear but did not know they might have stannah stair-lifty thing. Might investigate.

Echops- sorry you are off work with it. I'm trying to hold out until 27 weeks (end of Nov) when I plan on getting Maternity Allowance (I think you can claim from 26 weeks) Sucks though. But you can't feel guilty (says she who does, al day every day) as there's nothing you could have done to prevent it. Especially first time.

[BellasYummyMummy]

thanks pumpkin, i have just booked to see my GP who is booked for 2 weeks as I dont think ill be able to see the MW before then (how poo!). My DD was born 31 May last year, how old is yours? She goes to a childminder 3 days a week when im at work, hoping we can still afford for her to go when this LO comes along...

Swimming does sound good, i have a swimsuit from my last pregnancy which didnt get any use, so could dig that out. though if i go swimming ill most likely have to take my DD which will probably counteract the benefits of going after i've hauled her there, changed her and myself into cossies etc.

my friend was signed off work for months with her SPD. I think her employer was glad when she finally went on mat leave! i wouldnt mind having a week off to rest! dont feel guilty about it at all, your body is telling you to take it easy which is exactly what you should do! (why cant i take my own advice!)

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Hi - can I join? I was officially diagnosed with SPD (again) on Wednesday, after being wrongly diagnosed with a groin strain at 20 weeks (am now 28 wks).

So I have the support belt and a wealth of information from lovely physio about what I can and can't do and a promise from DH to pay for a cleaner, who starts next week!

I have another two DCs who are now fully engaged in the putting mummy's socks and shoes on routine - it really is shit isn't it?

[ErikaMaye]

Pumpkin - I think one of the ladies on the same ante-natal thread as me said she went in leggings and a t-shirt and they didn't have a problem with it. OH MY GOSH hallow'een smilies

Hey CantThink

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

fantastic advice re satin pyjamas or slip sheet for bed Kyte. My physio advised me not to turn at all in bed but to sit up, move pillows to the tail end of the bed and sleep on other side that way! Trouble is, it's just more proper waking up in the middle of the night isn't it?

So - last night was horrid. Leg cramps started.... leg cramps where you need to jump out of bed v quickly.... that doesn't really fit well with SPD!!!! ouch

[HelishAngel]

I concur, slip sheet and satin PJs, great advice!

Hey folks...looks like I have SPD. PG with kiddie no 4 at the grand old age of 39. Already have a ruptured disc in lower spine so not good. Off to see my GP for a referral back to physio on Monday. Just using lots of pillows and my trusty walking stick at the moment but only 16+2 at the mo...OMG...give me strength, literally! ;)

[ErikaMaye]

Hellish, feel for you!!! Gotta love walking stick, have you named yours?? Both my sticks and my wheelchair have names - yes, I am THAT cool - but haven't thought of ones for my crutches yet...

[skidoodle]

Think I have this too - have had sore groin since I went camping at around 22 weeks.

I'm 27 weeks now and it doesn't sound like I have it as bad as some of you - it's just sore when I get up from the floor or have to get down on the floor, which I have to do a lot as I have an 18mo DD.

Oh yes, turning over in bed is the sorest thing of all. Definitely going to get myself some "satin" 'jamie bottoms from M&S or somewhere.

I'm waiting to hear about a physio appointment. Hopefully I'll get to see someone soon. I think a belt would help, but I'm reluctant to get one until I've been properly diagnosed and advised.

Hope things improve for everyone else. I'll be looking out for more handy tips.

[skidoodle]

Oooh, thanks herbietea. £5 sounds about how much I feel like spending on anything at the moment.

Just have to find an Asda now, not sure where there is one near here.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Hey ladies

Another with SPD/PGP here. I'm 31 weeks with dc2 and have been getting steadily worse since about 25 weeks

Have you all had a look at the pelvic partnership website ?

The biggest problem I have found (speaking to numerous people) is that midwives and a lot of NhS physios seem to think that SPD is one of those pregnancy things that will get better once the baby is out and there is not much that can be done in the meantime. Most physios seem to pack you off with a support belt, some crutches and a recommendation to take things easy but there are some physios who can treat it. They will do hands on manipulation. I went for a session last week and, whilst, I'm not going to be running any marathons anytime soon, I can do so much more and am in nowhere near as much pain.

The physio I saw is an "expert" in treating PGP in pregnancy - that's pretty much all she does and she has lectured/written articles about PGP in pregnancy. I'm happy to recommend her to anyone who is interested. Alternatively, there is a contact address on the pelvic partnership website and they will recommend practitioners local to you

Its so frustrating that so many women are basically being left to suffer when, in most cases, something can be done

Sorry for the long post !

[BellasYummyMummy]

I am getting so worried about my SPD. I have taken it easy all day today and thought the 20 minute walk to the park would do me some good. I could hardly move by the time i got home. Someone recommended to me lying on the floor with legs against the wall- absolute agony. And then i got stuck because either way i rolled was excruciating so I had to get DH to help me.

I am fearing the labour and the effect that is going to have on my poor back/hip/pelvis. Am i ever going to be the same again??? I am hoping to see my doc on fri though i couldnt make an appointment as she was booked, but was told to ring on the day. fingers crossed she can see me or i may just curl up (painfully) and whimper.

[LowLevelWhingeing]

Hello ladies, sorry to hear you are all having such a crappy time with little or no help. I also had SPD from 20 weeks and had brilliant treatment from a chiropractor. It is £££ but as I walked hobbled in in pain and walked out pain-free, the £ was worth it for me.

You have to have a few appointments to maintain the results, but once I delivered the SPD was gone.

I also know of another woman who had SPD and she had great results too.

Good luck!

[pumpkinpureeandghostlypearls]

And I'm back. Had to call DH to get DD out of the bath this evening as I literally froze up....gah how annoying!

Herbietea- thanks for the advice but 13th year? OMG! I'm still holding off on the crutches though after tonight not for much longer. I do have a fab walking stick (though unnamed) from switchsticks.co.uk.

I never managed to get the plastic bag thing to work when getting in and out of the car. But we recently bought a new car with leather seats and that seems to be helping! I'm so going to buy satin pjs though: fab excuse....

Bella'smummy- do not worry about the labour. Do not. You can't. I begged for an induction last time because I really didn't give two hoots by then about how I gave birth, so long as I did. I had an epidural right at the beginning and totally recommend it (consultant recommended also). I went home with the zimmer they gave me in hospital but was walking OK within 48 hours (as much as you can be after labour) But at this point, yu need to focus on one day at a time.

[waves to everyone. Off to watch Strictly on Sky+ so don't tell me what happened!!)

[Mama2b5]

we women really have to put up with some awful pains, while men get away with hardly any!!!!
Lifes so unfair! although love being pregnant not enjoying SPD at all - it came on so sudden and just keeps getting worse and worse daily!
no matter what i do position i sit in!
but everyday i go through brings me one day closer to me having my DB!

I believe life is good and we could be going through a lot worse! give Thanks and be grateful! i have seen some other threads and i cry for what these women are going through!

Be kind to our bodies we only get One! xx

[morethemerrier]

I had spd from about 11 weeks with ds2 , ended up with support belt and crutches on the really bad days. my pubic bone actually cracks that loud you can hear it , was often in tears due to the pain! Now 10 weeks with dc3, and the horrible pain has started! I had hoped that last time was because I was very overweight but having lost over 7 stone last year and now being a size 8 I would escape! How wrong was I! The pelvic partnership is excellent as someone else mentioned, they really gave me the confidence to push for an early referral,I did go to lots of physio sessions to try and realign my hips but to be honest never really felt any better. Agree with all the above, keep your legs together (too late now I hear u all cry!) as much as you can, when getting out of the car or bed or off the sofa put both feet down first then stand. And rest,rest,rest when it's bad no hoovering! And I used a stand to get in and out of the bath/shower! Oh and maybe tmi but for me there's a bedroom manouver that leaves me in agony the next day, so the girls on top position is best avoided! Maybe thats just me! Lol.