HELP! Do I have SPD / sciatic / trapped nerve or am I just 'fussing'???

[helpet]

For 8 days now I've been walking like I'm crippled - can't put any weight on left leg - and the more I do the more it hurts. The pain is in the left thigh, buttock, hip and lower back. I can't think it's SPD as I surely would feel it at the front too?

Am 34 weeks pregnant with DC2. Toddler permanently wants cuddling and picking up so things not easy!

Could this be the result of a VERY VERY long back to back labour (plus stirrups) with DS1. Seem to remember lower back pain postnatally - altho it's all a bit of a blur. Am I over-thinking?

Have been referred for physio - but so depressed I could be almost housebound for weeks - walking is so painful - at least I can use the pushchair as a discreet zimmer frame I suppose.

Any ideas anyone?

Sorry - that should read sciatica!

sounds like spd my dd has that at 33 wks waiting to see a physio

Sounds like your doing the right thing by going to see the physio, she'll be able to tell you what you've got( i hope). If it's SPD you should read the (very long )SPD sofa thread. Whatever you've got I hope you feel better soon.

Hi
SOrry your are going through this, its agony. Definately not fussing!

Sounds like SPD but you might also have just knocked your back out of alignment- I am totally not medically qualified but I had something similar. I got knocked off a pavement by someone rushing past and accidently knocking my backpack (wide laptop one). It twisted me around and it hurt my back. The pain was just like you describe. My osteo sorted that for me and she helped the SPD but it didnt go away really until after birth. Think there is stuff you can do- or not do! My SPD was worse if i lifted anything, pushing a supermarket trolley was out of bounds as was hoovering (it was great- though I still did those things from time to time and regretted it) and sitting down for long periods caused agony when I stood up and tried to walk...

Get a referral and try to do as little as poss. Save any effort stuff for cuddling DC1!

Good luck

I had a similar problem during my last pregnancy. Osteopath said it was because of my ligaments softening and not holding my leg in my hip socket, something to do with the sacroililiac joint. Quite common in pregnancy I think.

Not sure it sounds like SPD.

Saw a physio but wasn't really much I could do. Am starting to get twinges of it again and might just end up getting crutches.

Feel very sorry for you, it really sucks. Hope the physio helps.

Thanks ladies - just really fed up with it. This afternoon I walked very slowly through a nearby village with DH and DS - in tears from the pain by the time we got back from the car! Felt particularly pathetic - especially as we have a family 'joke' that I have a low pain threshold. I don't think I do - but how do you tell - can't make my DH go through several days of labour like I did can I?! Wish I could sometimes!!

Just shows how much we all take mobility for granted until it's compromised.

I just spoke to the MW yesterday at 22week appt on similar problems I've been having. But the only difference is the pain I have down one side comes and goes and so the MW puts that down to how much activity I do each day must be varying as to how much pain I'm in. The less you do, the less pain you'll be in. Avoid stairs if you can! Not qualified to say it's SPD or not, but seeking physio is probably your best bet to help.

Hope things get easier for you! Try and rest as much as you can.

Hi Lovechoc - like me - the pain eases if I rest but, like everyone else, it's just not realistic to put my feet up for the next few weeks - it's not actually that comfortable with my big bump either!! Guess I just need to be sensible and not go mad hoovering (hooray) and use the car for supermarket visits etc. It's awful though as everyone says you must keep active for an easier labour etc ... I'm not even going there - that's a whole other thread.

I'm so sorry yours has started so much earlier - I feel very lucky in that respect as I have read a lot of these pelvic problems often start in the 2nd trimester.

Take care and you rest up too

I thought I had a low pain threshold after my 36hour 1st labour(back labour). When i was in labour with dc2 I rang the labour ward thinking I was having BHicks or maybe an upset tummy and the midwife said 'I do think you need to come in those are pretty strong contractions you're having' and dc2 was born 15mins after we got there. I have spd and have decided that the only realistic thing to do is to put my feet up for the next 3 months. i do the school run (by car) and NOTHING else. Both SPD and sciatica are agony, you really do need to put your feet up.

helpet, I have had sciatica on and off for years due to dodgy sacroiliac joints and "unstable pelvis" and believe me I know how you feel re. the pathetic bit! I didn't even have pregnancy as a reason. I found that some days I couldn't even make it round the supermarket without ending up hobbling. I don't know much about SPD but your symptoms sound very like mine.

I have an excellent osteopath who sorted me out as much as possible (and was invaluable when I did become pg). There are exercises you can do to release the SI joint, hopefully the physio will be able to help out with those, although some won't be possible while pg (too contortionist!)

I very strongly suggest, if you don't already have one, get a gym ball and sit on it as much as you can. It helps to stabilise the core muscles which can make a difference in sciatica. Also, avoid picking up/carrying your toddler as much as you can, but if you have to (I have one, I know) then try to always carry him centrally, i.e. not on one side or the other. If you have a heavy bag, don't carry it over one shoulder. Basically, try and keep your spine as straight as possible and your weight as central as possible, limit the amount of twisting and leaning as much as you can.

Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees as well - that can help sometimes.

Sitting on poor chairs/sofas can be counterproductive to the pain as poor posture can put extra pressure on the SI joints and therefore the sciatic nerve. I know it's a) boring and b) quite hard at your stage of pg but sit as "properly" as you can whenever possible, keep as much weight off the base of your spine as you can by sitting more on your thighs than your bottom.

Sorry it's so long - hope you get some help from the physio.

helenwombat - fingers crossed it disappears like yours did! Thanks so much for passing that on.

thumbwitch - interesting re. sciatica as my Dad suffers from it so could be a genetic weakness - just dug out my gym ball but it has a puncture so must get it mended asap!

LooL00 - back labour is 'excrutiating' so I don't know why I listen to DH for a moment when he suggests I'm a wuss! V interesting to hear about your subsequent birth!!

thanks everyone - felt pretty peed off with everything this eve - so thanks for giving me hope and support

I was also told like thumbwitch to spend as much time on the gym ball (if you have one) and do figure of 8's on it regularly to help with the pain.

Took a lot of will power for me not to do the breast stroke at the pool today, so did a mixture of doggy paddle, front and back crawl. Swimming seems to help it (for me anyway - can't speak in general terms).

Hope your pain eases up soon helpet.