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....

[pureeandpearls]

I had a shocking day- woke in a lot of pain and had to go into London for a handover meeting. I was walking with a stick and carrying several bags and the member of staff would not let me through the disabled gate, even when I showed my ticket. I had to go and stand in a corner and cry for five minutes until I could compose myself enough to try and manage stick, bags bump and ticket through the regular turnstiles. He sat and chatted to his 'colleague' the whole time. I'm so upset and angry in equal measure, but glad that I am now officially 'on leave' until Maternity Leave starts at the end of the month.

Sorry- had to rant.

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Oh P&P that is outrageous. What a jobsworth!!!

I didnt have a great day with pain yesterday. DH was working at home and I took the opportunity to do bugger all and sat around on chair/sofa etc most of day. Trouble is, that every time i did eventually move, I had ceased up so much it was agony and was clinging to walls again!

Have vowed to potter a tiny bit today!

[flybynight]

P&P, that is ridiculous. I don't understand why people treat other people like that. It wouldn't have put him out to let you through after all.

I've not dropped in before. I'm expecting my 4th (currently 16 weeks) and I've had mild (ie bloody painful but not totally debilitating) SPD in two out of three of my previous pregnancies. However, now I'm an old crock of 38 I can feel it starting again. But strangely, and tell me if anyone else has this, I'm not feeling the pulling on my pubic bone but between my sitting bones. Being seated for a long time often brings it on.

Its not at the stage where I need help yet, but would my midwife be my first port of call? (I had the other bouts in Australia where things are done rather differently)

[pureeandpearls]

Thanks guys- DH has gone to get a photo of him and a customer complaints form today...

Flybynight- if you've had it before I'd go straight to the midwife (or even call them) and they should refer you to physio etc. My experience is that physio is fairly pointless but a hurdle you need to jump (lmao at idea of jumping) in order that they tale it seriously enough to notice it on your birth plan....WELCOME

CTOFN- I'm the same as you- too much idleness and I'm screwed. Very annoying as I much prefer being waited on hand and foot (lmao again- now pelvic floor is suffering....)

[BulletProofMum]

P&P - thanks for the referral (we're on the same antenatal thread) and hello to thers.

I'm 21w pg with #3. I had SPD from about 24 weeks with my last pregnancy. It started about a month ago here.

It's been really variable - some days virtually no pain (until I sloach ont he sofa at night)other days I can hardly walk. I find the crutches help even when there' no pain. Yestreday it wan't too bad during the day so I couldn't be arsed to use my crrutches. I paid the price in the evening when it became non weight bearing. DH was away so I had to carry my 4 yo up the stairs (he'd fallen asleeop and I couldn't wak him) then got stuck in the bath.

I've tried the corset but find that if I have it tight enough to notice a diffeence then it makes my bump ache.

I'm finding it easier being at work and plan to carry on to the bitte end! I can easily remember to use my crutches and have a nice ergonomic desk chairs. At home it is difficult to use my crutches and I find myself unable to resist doing chores. I can't get comfy on the sofa and easily get bored. The crutches are impossible when I'm with the boys (2 and 4).

I worry about ending up in a wheel chair as I am only halfway. I've just spent a couple of weeks in Chicago. Initially touristing and then for a work conference and meeting. Because I was on my feet a lot I had to rsort to a wheelchair around the museums and airports. IT is a very strange feeling - I get used to that helpless sensation. I used a motorised one around the conference - that was superb!

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

BPM - sounds like you've already got it bad! Welcome to the SPD Sofa......

I do feel for you with young ones that you have to carry around - I just couldn't imagine doing that. I have 2 but they are 10 and 6 so quite self sufficient and v v useful for putting mummy's socks and shoes on !!

I also totally understand about crutches around the house. I use them when picking kids up from school but in the house, half the time I haven't got the belt on because it's too much of a faff to put on when I stand up, unless I'm going to be standing for a significant time. So I cling to the walls instead once I've been idle for a while!

But travelling and having to get around in a wheelchair - eewwww - that must have been very weird, but motorised sounds cool!

Feeling as though my pelvic bone is splitting apart today - nice! Only 6 more weeks left for me. BTW - where's ErikaMaye? She was due wasn't she and haven't heard from her on any threads for a week or so...

[Mama2b5]

hi all, just thought i would pop in and say
we can make it!!!!
Wheelchairs and crutches - my gosh this is serious!

EM - is she due?? i didnt think it was so soon i thought she had a few weeks to go still!

Went to see MW today all they did was tell me i should really have the GT- because my mum was diabetic - I soooo dont want it done, she booked it for 13th so will see! dont have another appt till 16th dec - wow!
oh well baby fine, apart from spd im doin well so why see me regular i suppose!

[BellasYummyMummy]

hello everyone! how are we all suffering??

i havent had a chance to read your posts over the last few days/week. I got my physio appointment through for next thurs woop!! said i may have to strip to my undies? er???

back in agony as DH away so i did the bedtime routine and it nearly killed me. Like trying to dress an octopus thrashing around. sigh. cup of tea for me, and maybe a sit on the sofa though im afraid i wont be able to get up on my own!!

oh! bonus- i have found my long body pillow has made a HUGE difference to my back! i actually wake up and can get out of bed! recommend it!!

[BulletProofMum]

BYM - i remember using one of those last time.

No idea where it would be now. although whether there would be room in the bed for DH, DS1, occasioanlyl DS2, cat1, bump 3 and a body pillow!

[showmethemummy]

Hi all,
have been lurking on thread but not posting... but here I am! Sorry to hear of all the troubles we're having; esp people who have had YEARS of this!! makes me feel abit to be complaining...but!

This is my 3rd pg; was diagnosed with SPD in both previous around 26 weeks (am now 29+4). And both times got referred to physio speedily and had several useful sessions.

This time however it's taken about a month since I tried to self-refer. And then I got a letter yesterday from the hospital inviting me to attend a 'pain management' class - in 2wks time after which an apt with a physio could be scheduled if it seems necessary!! aaargggh. Not only is the 'class' at a highly difficult time childcare-wise but how likely is it to be useful to me, a third-timer?!! Please tell me I'm wrong on this one.

I'm esp concerned this time around because my symptoms are different, and in some ways more severe. New this time is that 'pulling apart' sensation at the back, and at the front !!! don't get me started on the bruising and swelling in my 'area' which makes it impossible to stand/walk for a reasonable time, and painful to sit down.

I'm sorry this is a rant - I'm sure noone will feel obliged to read all

Any thoughts re attending said class? Any advise re awful awful swelling?!!! i'm spending all the time I can horizontally...

[Mama2b5]

Hi all,

went to physio today nothing new just had to show him how im doin the exercises he gave me and also how to turn in the bed he told me to bring my knees and then turn! but with that all the covers will come off DH! so i dont think he will be impressed much!
I went to tk max and found a 2 sided wedge i tried it out for my 3.40 pm rest and LOVE it! cant wait to sleep tonite!
16 days off work!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

showmethemummy - I can understand the rant. How bloody ridiculous. Pain management and THEN physio on 3rd time? I really think you need to jump up and down (YKWIM) and really create a fuss with everyone you can about it. Someone must be able to see you sooner rather than later to help you.

Have to say, I've been really suffering the past 2 days too. Had some waxing done on Wednesday and the therapist pressed a little too hard on pubic bone when tidying me up! Nearly hit the roof. Then yesterday had a mw appt and the student midwife did the same when trying to measure fundal height. Its kind of finished me off. Have a friend coming to visit today that I haven't seen in ages but really think I need to make an urgent appointment with physio. They put me on an SOS list which means I don't have fixed appointments anymore but if I have really bad problems, I call and they find someone to see me, hopefully the same day, but not guaranteed. This morning, my hip is suffering .

Oh well - onwards and upwards hey ladies!

[pureeandpearls]

Sounds painful CTOFN. I've given up on physio- can't physically get there......

Showmethemummy- rant away. Do (I do!)

I fell down the stairs again last week and have been suffering ever since. I saw the doctor about pain relief and she said that I could take paracetamol with codeine twice a day. As I still feel someone swiped my hips with a sledgehammer I suppose I ought to go back and see them again......

as you say- onwards and upwards!

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

OMG P&P that's awful that you're not going to physio because you can't physically get there. Can they come out to you under the circumstances? I'm now finding my hips are playing up and I wake with them feeling a bit numb/pins and needlish, I think because of the weight of lying on them all night!

We ought to have a pg countdown calendar on here so we can be positive about how little time we have to go!

[Naetha]

Hey folks - can I join you?

I don't know if this is SPD or PGP, but either way I can't walk!

I'm 37 weeks, and after about 6 weeks of having achy hips, it's descended into absolutely debilitating pain whenever I try and put any weight on my right leg. In the last 48 hours I've gone from hobbling, to being completely unable to move. Thankfully DH had some crutches in the garage from when he fell off his motorbike, and these reduce the pain somewhat, but it's tough!

I've been on co-codamol non stop for three days, and looking after 23mo DS is almost impossible alone.

I'm going to ring my MW first thing tomorrow morning (I spoke to her on Friday about it to OK the use of co-codamol), but has anyone got to this stage of immobility and had it get better? Will I be able to ask for an induction asap?

The problem is I can't effectively look after DS (changing his nappy is a fight at the best of times, and it's impossible atm), DH works full time, and I have no alternative childcare (grandparents either live miles away or are currently on holiday in Nepal )). I don't have a clue how I'm going to get through the next couple of days, let alone weeks.

Also, is this actually SPD? Because it doesn't hurt on the pubic bone, it's my right hip and across the back of my pelvis that hurts, and movement is much easier if I twist my body.

Sorry for gatecrashing and being a bit wussy - I've just been taken aback by how quickly this has come on!

[Defluffmyfanjo]

Hello

I'm 30 weeks and was diagnosed with spd about 3 weeks ago. I also have a 5 yr old dd - no spd in that pregancy. Had physio appt last tues which was about 6 ladies and the physio talked of us through what to avoid / using tubi grips / a few exercises. She gave me crutches at the end.

Went to drs on Thursday and was signed off work for 3 weeks. This is likely to extend though until 14 Dec when being signed off will mean my maternity leave will have to start.

Days seem to start off ok but any moving and I certainly start to pay for it. I'm really fed up with it now and bored. Sigh.

Does anyone know if you can request a c section because of spd?

[Mama2b5]

Cant think - im on a 11 week countdown! the thing is i dont think im as bad as the most serious, i have pain but can get through the day its Night time turning which is the most painful for me! i dread it because i know i cant do anything to avoid it! My DH cant do anything to help and laying on your back is not advised! although i go physio he just reinforces the things he has already told me about!
Naetha , Defluffmyfanjo - welcome! i cant wait to hit the 30+ stage because it means my time is coming close! i had never heard of SPD till the pain hit me and i ended up in hospital they thought i was having contractions because of my moans i was doin!

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Welcome Naetha & DMF! Naetha - PGP/SDP - all the same and certainly sounds like you have it. It does vary in location.

DMF - I have a consultant appointment on Tuesday and already talking about c/s but I am going to rant big time about it now because I just cannot possibly imagine going past 37 wks when baby will likely go into pelvis and engage. The thought fills me with horror - how can the pain get any worse? I would certainly request c/s or induction for SPD if I were you.

So - hoping on Tuesday to get absolute confirmation of c/s date of 17 Dec which means 5 1/2 weeks to go - whoopee!

[LissyGlitter]

One week to go till my section! I somehow ended up lying on my side last night, and froze in position, in agony. Luckily DP was there, and he could move me, first on to my back, then pull me up in the bed so I was sat up, then after a few minutes I unfroze and could move myself. As he was moving me I was screaming, it felt like my pelvis was actually coming apart. It was really scary. I am now terrified of it happening while I am alone, as I couldn't even reach my mobile phone which was on the bedside table. I felt sick and in pain for the rest of the night. Luckily I had my support belt and silky pjs on, god knows what would have happened without them.

On a minor note, I have cold feet. I have socks next to me on the settee, but not sure how to get them on my feet...reluctant to get one of the ILs to put them on for me if i can avoid it, but even more I want to avoid seizing up again.

This time next week I could be meeting my baby. About time too, I am getting worse by the day now. Even with the painkillers, I have achy hips and back even when sat still, and I think that the point where I will have to stop being alone at all is getting quite close. I am actually looking forward to just having to deal with the after effects of a section!

Not fair! A month ago, I was just a bit achy and sore (I told the midwife I thought I might have SPD and she just wrote "complaining of general aches and pains" on my notes and sent me on my way) and now I am actually severely crippled. At least I haven't had this all the way through.

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Bloody hell Lissy - I feel your pain. So how many weeks will you be when you have the c/s next week? I'm already worrying about baby moving into pelvis before c/s - cannot imagine what the pain is going to be like

[LissyGlitter]

I will be 39+1. I am pretty sure things started hurting more as the baby engaged. DD never engaged properly (she was breech) so I just assumed it was how all pregnant woman felt at the end, until I couldn't actually walk!

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Ooh my goodness. I have a consultant appointment tomorrow where I hope to agree c/s at 37 wks (or even 36+6). If I go to 38 wks that takes me to Xmas Eve and I really don't want to be in hospital around the Xmas/New Year period through choice. I'm donating cord blood and apparently they don't work on from Friday-Sundy so I'm tempted to ask them to bring c/s forward one day (hence 36+6) so that if emergencies happen and my c/s is delayed by a day, the cord blood can still be collected. I just don't want to go that little bit later too for engagement. Can't they bring you forward?

[LissyGlitter]

Can anyone think of a solution...I am incredibly tired (as in my eyelids keep shutting themselves) but can't get upstairs unattended. If I go to sleep on the sofa I am scared I could seize up again and not be able to move to get the phone. Even if I could reach the phone, my ILs are small and retired, and I'm not confident they could move my huge mass (I'm a normal size, but very pregnant) without hurting themselves.

The only thing I can think of is to use all the cushions etc I can find to prop myself so the phone is in easy reach just in case and set an alarm for in half an hour so I can wake up hopefully still not seized up and have a little walk about before going back to sleep.

This is silly. My baby is fully grown now, and these painkillers surely can't be doing her any good, even if they aren't exactly harming her. I wonder if I rang my community midwife and told her how hard I am finding it, if she could do anything? But then I have been telling her I have been in pain for months and she has just said that all pregnant women get pain when walking, so don't think she will be sympathetic.

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

I suggest you do call your mw and stress that you are not just uncomfortable, you are completely and utterly disabled and in debilitating pain. You have v bad SPD and cannot move. Say that you do not want to continue dosing up with painkillers and do not believe you can mentally or physically cope with another week of the pg. Say that your baby is now fully formed and can you please get your c/s brought forward as a matter of urgency. Although - having written all that, surely with a c/s you would be better contacting your consultant?

In the meantime, it might be worth finding a local private physio and getting a pronto appointment with them to help you with the pain?

[LissyGlitter]

I just rang the hospital physio, who suggested I move about every half hour and use alternate hot and cold packs to wake my joints up if they do seize up. How do I get said hot and cold packs if I can't move though? She said she will "squeeze me in" tomorrow if I ring first thing and have had another bad night. I don't see how I can have a good night if I have to be getting up to hobble around every half hour. She also said I am probably the size of a beached whale by now, and that is why it is hard to turn over. She suggested that if I am in extreme pain, I am probably in labour. I am not in labour. My hips are trying to dislocate themselves and my pelvis is falling apart, that is why I am in pain!