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....

MaM- am outraged on your behalf. I'd definitely go along the A&E/Walk-in route if you get no joy shortly. This is not a condition you should piss about with 9by that I mean your GP not you.)

7day- definite prize for the longest post but I read every word. Well done you and congratulations on Emily's arrival, being able to walk out of hospital and persevering with bfing. FWIW I spent three weeks feeding DD EBM and ended up bfing until 3 months (when she slept through!!)

Hiya everyone - I was hoping to not have to read or join this thread but at 15 weeks pregnant here I am...

DC1 is now 11 and I had SPD from 30 weeks with him. DC2 is now nearly 9 and I had SPD plus the lovely sciatica from 20 weeks with her.

Back then the health professionals were very unhelpful and unsympathetic so I battled through both pregnancies with very little help or advice and much pain.

I am 15+2 and the pelvic, hip and back pain started last week, although is mild to moderate at the moment and not continual. I have my 16 week appt with m/w next week - what sort of things should I be asking/saying/requesting to get her to take me seriously?

As far as I can tell, antenatal care has changed dramatically since having DC2 so hopefully my m/w will be more helpful than last time!?!

Success at last, the physio department rang this morning, they've had a cancellation so I'm booked in tomorrow morning at 10.30. Result! 7day Not sure if you're post was meant to be funny but there were bits of it where I laughed my head off!! "girlie want epidural" hilarious. Congratulations on the birth of your new arrival.

hi all

well its back with a passion! i am 12 weeks and we are back to clicking, grinding and pain oh the joys!! am due to see the consultant in 3 weeks, so will be getting my referal to physio straight away but am worried about the delivery, this time, as dd1 no spd, ds pain for 10 months post delivery and dd2 pain for over 2 years post delivery! so what to do? any one else had this, and if so what do you do????

x

Congratulations 7day weekend on a great story and on the birth of little Emily. And well done on the b/feeding - I had a really tough time of it on my first baby too....one thing I would say is that if you need to supplement with formula, it really is not the end of the world. When I first gave my DD formuls, honestly I thought I was the worst mother in the world, after a few months I realised it was totally fine and she is a happy and healthy little girl!

I have to say I find this site just fantastic - I am based in Ireland and there is no SPD support sites as such.

Mine started at abt 14 weeks and by 16 weeks I was in hospital unable to walk or go to the toilet - I was on a morphine drip for 4 days and then was given a nerve block and started physio. It has helped somewhat but still on crutches but definitely a move up from the zimmerframe! Although I reckon I will be with a wheelchair within a couple of weeks if I want anything that resembles a normal life.

I have a gorgeous little girl who is only 10months old and I have had to put her into creche fulltime which is depressing but luckily she is loving it and my husband has just been brilliant - doing the shopping picking and dropping her etc.

As someone else here said, you basically have to rest rest rest. As I am usually constantly on the move its so hard but if I so much go for a coffee and walk more than a few yards I am in bed for the rest of the day

I also take sophadol as its the only thing that eases the pain - its paracetmol and codeine - i take 2 tabs a day, altho i hv been told to take more, i just cant as i am so worried abt effect on baby - anyone hv any info on this?

Well I have 5 months to go GULP, so thank goodness for this site!

ARGH !!!!

Just wanted to have a moan - I'm now virtually unable to walk upright unless I take lots of codeine which then makes me loopy, but I've got through the last week by resting as much as possible and by reassuring myself that the promised physio appointment would appear today

This morning I have a letter from the womens health dept at the hospital inviting me to a group physio session NEXT FRIDAY !!!

So it looks like another week of agony or drug induced coma and even then I'm not convinced a 'group therapy' session will be of any use

Oh and 7DW congratulations on the birth of Emily - I'm sure she has made all the pain worth it xx

[waves back!] I'd say it could be SPD, in which case there is a real chance it will get worse, although you only have three weeks to go before mat leave starts and then another two until Dday I'd like to think that it won't get horrifically worse. At this point medical help may be a referral ro physio who, to be honest, would probably give you a suppport belt, a list of exercises and a pair of crutches, along with advice to rest as much as possible. I had this last time and didn't need a c-section. Likewise this time round, I am planning an early induction rather than a c-section. If you read back you will see that whether induction or c-section, most people seem to be back on their feet within a few days.

Annoyed that you've had the issues about mental health. I was a concern last time due to past history and ended up with PND but was never made to feel like that.....

Next three weeks- rest, do as little as possible. Keep your knees together at all times. Keep going with the pillows, don't walk more than you have to. Take your time getting up and down, do one stair at a time. Get dressed sitting down rather than standing to put on your trousers etc. It's frustratingly slow but should slow progression and I guess that's what you want at this point. Take paracetamol for the pain, though you can get stronger stuff it's best if you speak to the GP first.

Too much????

IWCAS It does sound like SPD. You might this website useful: pelvic partnership. The most important thing is to DO LESS, and to be aware of which specific movements trigger the pain. Generally keeping your legs aligned and avoiding uneven weight bearing on your pelvis is a good start, as per P&P's tips.

I would consider a physio referral if you think there's a chance that your hospital has a decent obstetric physio team. While they may not be able to do much that helps with the pain at this stage, their involvement may make some other things easier. I am very lucky in that I have found a hospital with a brilliant assertive obstetric physio who specialises in SPD. Her intervention and communication with other departments made all the difference when my first baby was born, and is the #1 reason I am going back to the same hospital for my second (even though I now live an hour away!). You might be lucky to find someone like this.

If you can find a way to work from home some or most of the time for the last few weeks, do try. The difference between getting up, struggling into the shower, putting on "nice" clothes, commuting carrying heavy work bags, etc, or sitting in bed tapping on a laptop? It will help ease the pain a lot if you can.

Don't worry about c-section. They can't make you! And based on my experience they are more likely to push you to avoid it if at all possible. But water birth? I was told that I wassn't "allowed" one as I was not capable of getting myself in and out of the pool so it was considered too risky. But every hospital / consultant / midwife is different, so I hope you get a chance to discuss the options in an informed way.

Hi

Ive had bby Maisie.. C-section 21/1/10 Op was lovely... very relaxed and I was calm.

Maisie 7lb 1oz 10.06am.

After c-section was able to walk a bit up and down...
BUT then a da after I started to get a shooting pain down my right leg unable to put any weght on it and have been in bed ever since.. Midwife says just to rest..

HELP.. anyone.. any idea?

Completly different type of pain to the SOD.. but also getting a back ache..

Lucyx

Congrats Feta, though about your bedrest. Hope it gets sorted soon but so sooo pleased you have your baby!!

Good news here:
I have officially been booked in for Induction on 12th Feb. That's in less than three weeks. OMFG!!!!

I'm convinced me rocking up in a wheelchair did it, but to be honest I was prepared to cry beg and scream if needewd. I've had enough of the pain and indignity- the stares you get from other pregnant women at the hospital are enough to tip you over the edge, never mind your average person on the street. I thougght they'd be more bloody sympathetic. Oh, and I did scream (and cry), when cons. pressed down on pelvis to check baby's head.....

sorry- very selfish post. I'm just delighted there's an end in sight. Hope you have all had good days xxx

hello everyone, is there room on the sofa for a little one? I have just been diagnosed with SPD and am in massive pain, I have been to the physio today and got a rather sexy looking belt thing, they said if I get worse then I can have some crutches, I hope it doesn't get that bad

Was hoping that I wouldn't have to join this thread but here I am.......

I'll remember that 7DW

welcome hoops. Hoping you don't get to the crutches stage, how many weeks are you?

hello pureeandpearls, I'm nearly 31 weeks, not that long to go but long enough!! The belt thing seems to take the pressure off a little bit

Useful- what else did it say? I have decided to put large print bullet point list on the front of my notes telling them what they should and shouldn't do.

What do you thin?k:

I have had SPD (Symphysis pubis dysfunction) or Pelvic Girdle Pain since early pregnancy.
I am being induced early (at 38 weeks) due to the severity of the condition.
It has the following impact:

? I have severely restricted mobility, and need crutches/Zimmer frame to walk, or a wheelchair for any distance further than a few feet.
? I cannot get up and down from a fixed bed/couch without assistance.
? My legs must be moved together at all times.
? Moving my legs, in particular for examination will cause incredible pain. I will need pain relief for any form of pelvic exam, external or internal, especially with the application of Prostaglandin.
? When a Pelvic Exam is required, please be aware that my Pain Free Gap (how far I can open my legs without serious pain) is currently x cm.
? I will need help lying down and/or turning over if this is required for any reason.
? I will need an Epidural from the beginning of labour.
? As I will be unable to feel pain due to the effects of the epidural, care needs to be taken to support my back, observe my Pain Free Gap and move my legs together during labour.
? If possible, I SHOULD NOT deliver in a lithotomic position with legs/feet on midwives hips, or in stirrups as this will not help my condition. A better position would be laying left or right laterally with someone holding my upper leg.
? If an assisted delivery is needed, please could I opt for a Ventouse delivery, as I understand this can be done laterally?

 
AFTER DELIVERY

After the birth, if I need stitches, please could this be done without the use of stirrups? If stirrups have to be ?used? please ensure that my knees be supported to prevent further damage to my pelvis.

I would like, a pelvic support belt to wear postnatally to help stabilise my pelvis.
I may also require enforced bed rest and would be grateful if my notes made this clear for the staff on the postnatal ward.

I would like to see a Physiotherapist whilst in hospital to discuss treatment and modification to standard postnatal exercises. I would also like a referral for follow-up physiotherapy action while I am still in hospital, as I WILL NEED this help to fully stabilise my pelvis following birth.

Thank you for taking the time to read my plan. I hope it does not offend your professionalism in any way. I realise things do not always go to plan but I wanted to make you aware of my condition, and the pain I am in.

Hi there,
Can anyone tell me if you can still be categorised as 'low risk' if you have SPD?
Mine is quite mild atm (33 weeks) and I'd love to continue with my plan of giving birth at my local miwife led unit, however they'll ony allow me to do this if I'm low risk...
Any advice gratefully received! Thanks.

I was low risk last time....I think it depends on the severity of your SPD and your unit's policy, though 7DW (or was it Feta?) was planning a home birth until last minute and her SPD was quite bad. They only let you have a home birth if low risk. So I would say it shouldn't affect your risk status (non medical opinion naturally!) HTH