Pelvic pain - from SPD to SJP

[LionsandBears]

It's over 8 months since my last birth. I had severe SPD with DS1. It got better between pregnancies then worsened with DS2. Since then, it has improved but is still noticeable. I can't run. I cant do yoga or belly dancing I notice it after a walk. If I slip on a mat, it kills. It also seems to hurt more around ovulation.

In the last week, the pain has moved to the sacrum and sitting bones. I literally have a pain in the bum, making sitting painful. Standing & walking hurts too. I get stabs of pain in my hips. So my pelvic girdle pain is no longer discriminatory. It all bloody hurts. Apart from me just having a whinge, this post is to ask, has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do about it? I'm not pregnant. I can accept it as part of pregnancy, but this lasting months later is really frustrating and debilitating.

Though according to wikipedia, PGP takes on average 6.5 years post partum to resolve. Lucky me

Anyway, I'll go back to the osteo. I'm doing clinical pilates to strengthen my core. I'll see if acupuncture can do anything. I also realise this ties in with my diet and needing to remove things that are inflammatory to my body. Any other ideas? Apart from pain killers?

Anyone relate, understand or wanna give me a sympathy hug?

[nothing2lose]

Sorry, all I have are sympathy hugs... But you can have two

[Rouge]

I got plenty of hugs too! And what is SJP? I was wondering if you had a sudden urge to buy expensive shoes... Coz yanno I'm weird like that. Big Loves xx

[Lisa]

Wow! What you're describing is exactly what I have. I had terrible SPD with DS2 and since then my pelvis clunks right over my pubic bone. I squeeze my legs together to put it back in so it stops hurting. My hips hurt so bad, as does my back, still to this day. It is so bad that if I walk too far for too long, I break out in a pain induced sweat. It makes exercising very difficult right now. I'm hoping by losing the extra weight that I am carrying it will help the pain.

[toomanyshoes]

I can offer you a hug gorgeous lady hope someone with more wisdom on the subject comes along!

[~clover~]

My SPD didn't resolve between DS & DD3. He was almost 2 when I conceived her.
DD3 is now 16 months & I still have pain. Especially when I'm tired.

Mine is worse in my pubic bone, but I still get pain in my hip joints & lower back. I haven't had that clunking/clicking happen since she was born though.
Its improving. Slowly... but 6 years? I have been dealing with it for 4.5 years now I guess. Thats scary!

[Arimeh]

I'm like clover - but mine improved a little bit between 3 and 4 and during the last pregnancy but I was having chiro every week/fortnight.

My symptoms are the same though, my sciatic plays up like a biatch these days. I need to go have chiro treatments but I cant afford it, so I just live with it. My pelvis still clunks if I move the wrong way though which sometimes makes me feel like I'm falling apart lol

Lots of hugs here for you.

[AnyDream]

Yes, I'm still having problems and my DD is now 4. My pelvic joint has tightened but the sacroiliac joints are still very sloppy, and I experience this as unilateral lower back pain, pain in the tip of my hip, and also searing thigh pain. It's helpful to remember that pretty much all the nerves run through that area of your pelvis&back, so you can get a lot of referred pain if there's any inflammation/aggravation. I'm seeing a physio now who's working on release the muscle tightness (massage), reducing inflammation in the joints (ultrasound) and also exercises to improve my core strength.

I too haven't been able to return to bellydancing, and in my darkest hour I have wondered whether the flexibility I developed as a result of those years of dancing isn't the reason why I'm having so many problems now. But, our bodies are amazing things and I'm sure that with time and attention there will be healing.

And massive sympathy hugs .

[onthefly]

I only have sympathy That really sucks arse!
I hope you find some relief soon

[Lulliloo]

i obviously haven't experienced this but did have issues with my sacrum last year/year before. i found that bowen therapy really helped a lot, more then anything else.

[Traveller]

I still have pain and my last birth was over 4 years ago. Mainly in my right hip but also in my tailbone at times making it agony to stand up from sitting. It's worse when I am menstruating but can be exacerbated by anything (sitting for too long, wearing high heels, riding rollercoasters, most exercise). I keep my crutches close and it's not uncommon I need them. I have found swimming to be very helpful for exercise without hurting myself, but also for strengthening my core which is helpful for PGP. My chiro is a saint, and will see me daily when I am bad with small adjustments. It is improving over time, although I know when you are in pain it is little comfort, but it is likely to get better.

[Traveller]

I got plenty of hugs too! And what is SJP? I was wondering if you had a sudden urge to buy expensive shoes... Coz yanno I'm weird like that. Big Loves xx

sacroiliac joint pain

[AnyDream]

I didn't know what SJP was either and I have it!! LOL

[LionsandBears]

Thanks ladies. I guess it's one of those things nobody tells you about. I keep thinking of those women in history who had 15 kids without the benefit of chiros or physios. They must have been in agony.

I just spent 3 hours walking around Ikea and now feel the need to sit on some ice - it's not a good look.

Traveller - when pregnant, hydrotherapy was the only thing that took the pain away. I'm thinking I need to go back to it. Swimming can be ok, but I can't scissor my legs.

Rouge - I'd love to spend money on expensive shoes, but apart from being broke, I couldnt wear them anyway. I have some gorgeous shoes gathering dust in my closet. Including my red patent leather stilletos...it's a crime against shoes.

Thanks for all the hugs.

[Jennifer13]

my chiro is wonderful, but I don't have anywhere near as bad an issue as you. That sucks! So another

Hope it doesn't take six years for you.

[black_rose]

My SJ went out of place at 22 weeks with Dd2, almost had to go in a wheelchair but found an awesome physio who kept me going. He couldn't realign anything until after she was born though. I had spd with both girls and that was bad enough but the joint was worse, I had to swing my leg to shuffle along I couldn't walk properly. Walking with an SJ out of alignment makes it worse unlike spd when walking helps. Hope you can get it fixed soon.

[Lenny]

I had SJP (or SJDisfunction my physio called it). Regular physio helped during pg and as my muscle sparation improves, so does the sacrum pain, so i guess that means pilates would help.
I always try to remember to keep my legs together when getting in and out of the car (swing in and out like a movie star with a short skirt) and the same with in and out of bed. And no scissors in the pool - well at least according to my physio.
Have you tried ultrasound? It's meant to help inflammation.
I didn't have SPD. It sounds very painful. You can have all the hugs i can muster, and that's a lot tonight xx

[peanutter]

I've only had it during pg, but I found a chiro who was quite experienced with treating pregnant women (including his wife!!) for SPD and within about 4 sessions, he's kicked it to the curb for me ...

not sure whether a chiro would do anything heaps different from an osteo?

but given the pain levels, may be worth giving it a crack.

in the interim, here is a specially squooshy (avoiding hips) hug

and another!