Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) Chatter #1

[Kazbah]

I do sometimes sleep sitting up, but that's due to reflux The physio told me that anything that's not either 90deg or straight isn't good for the pelvis - so lying on a jason recliner type chair is bad, as is leaning back - it places too much pressure on the pelvis and spreads it further = pain.

Going to get a couple of wheatbags tonight or on Saturday, must say the thought of icing the front pubis isn't exciting me!!!!!!

Welcome to this dubious club Glenny ... Nickle - I know what you mean, I went to go get a coffee before and it was raining and couldn't hurry cause of the pain, although I hurt so much ... oh yay, oh yay. The people at work are great though, they are taking it in turns to help me put my laptop in the car etc and will buy me lunch so I don't have to walk much ...

This time when I was preggers with Pip I was going bushwalking Lots of bracing walks with long strides ... ahhhhhhhh the memories ...

Have a good day ladies.

[belfie]

Aaah i posted the other day (or so I thought) but it's not here! Darn it.

So belfie I do think you're on the right track for thinking of this in terms of choices. I realized after NMR first experience with SPF that no one will give us a medal for being a trooper and the price to pay in terms of a longer physical and emotional recovery is too high. I see resting as a proactive choice which ensured my recovery will be as short as possible meaning I can get a life back quicker.

I have gone from being in tears four months after dd1's birth because of the amountvof pain I was still in, thinking there was no way I could have another Baby to four days after dd2's birth thinking that purely from a pelvis point of view that a third baby is not out of the question

Well Fiona I think you helped me to see it in terms of choices. And you are SO right about no medals for troopers (or for being in this club for that matter). I was so thrilled to read about your experience post C-S, and I am SO happy for you. I think you really deserve a break! I also told your story to my DH and I think it was a real eye-opener for him.

Kazbah - so sorry you've had to join us . How are you feeling now? And don't worry if you're not feeling the "happy" stories yet... I think it took me weeks to get to a semblance of peace with it all. Also if you want any recommendations, I've got a physio in Ringwood and an osteo in Blackburn/Doncaster that i'm having some success with. Happy to PM you the details as I see you're not far from me (I'm in Vermont). Re painkillers, yes best I've heard is panadol too. If it helps, a friend of mine has just been diagnosed as well - she felt like s'one had taken to her with a baseball bat! She saw both osteo and phsyio and is feeling HEAPS better. So I have fingers crossed that it could happen for you too . I would also reiterate that I was worst at first but then have been able to "manage" it much better and keep my pain levels lower.

nickle730 - I know what you mean about dreading and avoiding. All I can say is... online shopping is a brilliant thing. I think it's really hard when we're doing mental gymnastics to avoid doing these things that everyone else takes for granted... especially when you get ppl saying "oh yeah i'm sore too" but you KNOW they're just living their normal life (grr). I've found that I'm slowly working out the balance of doing my necessities to keep myself sane but also asking for help as MUCH as possible, sending DH out etc etc.

glenny_c - I have to echo Kasbah - welcome to the dubious club (that's the best name for it!). So sorry to hear you're experiencing lots of pain and good luck with the doc and phsyio. Re sleeping up, I haven't needed to do that but I think my symptoms aren't the most classic SPD symptoms in the book (mine are all at the back not front for a start). Good luck with it and keep us posted.

Incidentally, I LOVE sitting with my feet up normally but have rapidly discovered there's too big a price to pay. I wasn't doing it regularly anyway as I know it's not great for baby positioning either... but occasionally I forget... and then get "stuck" in position. Youch. Ah that's a reminder . AFM I have my parents back in town while my DH is away for a week. So have set them to work, rearranging rooms (I actually HAVE a nursery now). Geez did I feel ornamental though. Just directing traffic as they moved everything was enough to leave me stuck in a chair by lunchtime. THank goodness they were here to do it all though. Plus DH doesn't have a great back, so we limped through 2 weeks on our own. We really need to be as proactive as possible about managing our workloads (i.e. housework/DS/on feet time) to keep us both in decent shape. My parents will be going again leaving us with 4 weeks to get through. I'm a bit nervous, as 2 weeks left us both struggling but I think it's just incentive to be as smart as we can be. I'm also hitting up my useless IL's for some babysitting. I had newborn cuddles the other day as a little incentive to remind myself of the reward at the end of all this hard work.

Hope everyone else is going ok... vent away as required!

[glenny_c]

Well- back from the physio and good news guys- no sign of SPD!!! My pelvis and hips are perfectly situated and have good movement. I have a muscle in spasm that runs around both hips and across the back (tailbone) apparently it's from lying on my side all the time and it's aggravated it. I have some bum stretchy exercises to do and back to physio next week for some more torture- I mean treatment. Just goes to show I guess that you shouldn't rely on Dr Google for diagnosis, you should wait until the people who know tell you what's going on.
Oh, and my GP was clueless. I mentioned SPD as an option and he looked at me like I was speaking another language. Told me it was prob baby pressing on a nerve (didn't make sense why I had pain on both sides then....) Decided to try to get into physio anyway as I figured they'd know better- so glad I did!

[Arimeh]

Hi everyone - just a quick one. Went to chiro today and she said my pelvis is still holding well (which we were worried about because I'm getting pain already) but my pubic bone is VERY tender and sore, and she wants me to give it a rub every night, just to make it feel better. And she gave me a belt to wear, a different one from my last one, so this one doesn't press on my c-section scar and make it all ouchy. Yay for me!

[Kazbah]

yay on the belt and the "so far so good" Mel!

Yay Glenny!!!! That's brillo news!!! Enjoy your torture!!!!

Hey Mel, how is the belt different? And did you have the c/s due to the SPD last time?
Is it just me or does the belt roll down and feel like it's cutting into me - and Quoll kicks against it, s/he doesn't like it at all ... Can't wait to get home from work each day to take the belt off ...

[Arimeh]

Kaz, this belt is much softer, and made of umm I dunno, but really soft fluffy type material that goes around your hips first, and then you pull the tight elastic part just around your hips to keep them in place - but it doesn't press into the tummy part. My other one was really hard material and the velcro part went right into the tummy part, so pressed into my section scar.

Oh, and I didn't have a section due to SPD either. I didn't know thats what I had with DD1 until I went to the physio 2 weeks after her birth because I still couldn't walk without extreme pain and hanging onto the walls.

[belfie]

arrgh quick vent. Have my parents here helping do lots of prep for bubba (rearranging rooms, clearing out cupboards - there was a heap of major stuff) plus helping me wrangle DS while DH is away (just for a week). But there is SO much that needs doing, and I'm SO sore and so frustrated that I can't do it. I feel like a frickin' fat garden gnome watching everyone else do the work.
I just so wish I could leap to my feet and do what needs doing arrrrgghhh but then I know I should be (and am) grateful that they can be here to help. Roll on D-day I say.

Mel - yay for the new belt, that sounds heaps better! Hope that pelvic bone rubbing is helping (had to have a little giggle at the visual )

Kazbah - my belt didn't roll, but my belly/ligaments/psoas muscle something? always just cramped when I wore it. I'd end up doubled up from front belly pains, so have stopped wearing it.

[Kazbah]

So we're like a gnome club ... hehe

Mel - sounds good!

Belfie - least all the sorting is happening, all I'm getting here is more and more plaster dust on everything blasted renos. don't see the point of bothering really.

Went out yesterday, ran into Mayaness at the markets, she's given me the names of some therapists who helped her ... will check out at least one of them this week. Then went shopping and way, way overdid it, was pretty much in tears driving home from the shopping centre, I love my manual car but can see it's not the best during SPD! Ended up finally getting to sleep last night when the panadol kicked in (I specifically went to the markets for wheat packs, drove home specifically around lunchtime to put them in the freezer which DH said he'd do cause he was sanding plaster inside the front door.... got home at 5pm yesterday and they were still outside :grrrr: ) and then quoll woke me around 1:15am with massive movements & heartburn, which I sat up in bed to relieve and that just mucked up my hips ...
the front is feeling very "gratey" I think? Sharp pains right on my pubis. Oh joy.

But today was a good day, even went for a walk around the park with my dog, she was running offlead thank goodness and getting some exercise while I shuffled ...

hope everyone has a good day. kaz

[pinkukulele]

Hi all, I haven't been around for a little while but have just caught up on everybody! Sorry to see some people are having such a tough time. The angst over simple things like grocery shopping is something I can relate to really well, it's so frustrating feeling like a stage prop while everybody else does the work.

I'm currently 37.5 weeks along, and finished work at 36 weeks - this was a big achievement and I was probably not super smart about it, as I would get home every night in tears from pain. But at least it's over.

Baby dropped at about 36 weeks and put all of its weight on the muscle that sits right above the pubic bone (not sure what that's called...) and I couldn't walk for a couple of days. It's a bit better now, at the beginning of the day, but by the end of the day I can't walk and I'm moaning like a banshee. Has anybody had this? Any ideas on what I can do? I can't ice/heat pack that muscle because baby beats me up when I try that. Tubigrip helps a tiny bit, and the belt gets beaten up by baby too. Massage helps a little, but that pubic bone is so tender that I have to be super careful. I'd love if anybody could give me some tips.

And then when you combine hte SPD with reflux, it makes sleep time "challenging", as I'm sure you all know! DH is lucky there's still room in the bed for him, with all of the pillows I've got to hold me stable and in the right position!

Oooh, another question - does anybody have any ideas on how I can relieve the swelling in my feet? Normally I'd like to put them up but the pressure on my pelvis is too much - is there a magical position that I could sit/lay in with them up to relieve the swelling? Or any other methods?

I really appreciate your help and support, ladies!

[belfie]

Baby dropped at about 36 weeks and put all of its weight on the muscle that sits right above the pubic bone (not sure what that's called...) and I couldn't walk for a couple of days. It's a bit better now, at the beginning of the day, but by the end of the day I can't walk and I'm moaning like a banshee. Has anybody had this? Any ideas on what I can do? I can't ice/heat pack that muscle because baby beats me up when I try that. Tubigrip helps a tiny bit, and the belt gets beaten up by baby too. Massage helps a little, but that pubic bone is so tender that I have to be super careful. I'd love if anybody could give me some tips.

Oooh, another question - does anybody have any ideas on how I can relieve the swelling in my feet? Normally I'd like to put them up but the pressure on my pelvis is too much - is there a magical position that I could sit/lay in with them up to relieve the swelling? Or any other methods?

Pinkukelele - congrats on finishing work, sounds like a battle to the end - you must be relieved. Re your questions... um feet swelling - can you get comfy lying on your side propped up? I agree it's getting harder & harder to find comfy positions! I'd also check with your doc and if you're seeing a physio or something similar? They might have some great ideas. I'm also using the tubigrip but I find sometimes I just can't tolerate it by the end of the day. Also is it worth putting up with the baby beating to try get some relief with an ice-pack? I find sometimes bub goes a little crazy with a heatpack but then settles down, plus I try to keep it away from her as much as possible... right on the edge of my belly IYKWIM. My physio also really stretches out my hip flexors and ab/psoas muscles cos I tend to be really tight through there... so maybe getting some stretches you can do as well would be worthwhile? Sorry I can't think of any other suggestions right now.

Kazbah - i'm a pretty good gnome, not that tall hehe. I'm impressed that you're doing renos, omg! Glad to hear you've got some therapist recommendations and what a bummer on overdoing it - I know that feeling only too well. My mum has spent the last 10 days yelling at me to sit down and then telling me off for overdoing it when I'm hobbling by the end of the day. I'm feeling the love lol... but seriously she was a fantastic help and I feel a lot more organised. Plus I know that DH and I could NOT have got it all done on our own, so I got through my whingey sunday and then felt a bit better about the world. I have a nursery now woo hoo!!! I'm impressed by your park shuffle! I hope puppy appreciated it. My dog has an off-leash run every weekend, so I waddle down there and sit in a chair like Queen Muck while she runs around with all the neighbours' dogs.

glenny_c - I'm glad to hear you don't have SPD and hope you can get your sore muscles sorted sooner rather than later

Arimeh's Eden - how are you going now? Hope the massaging is helping.

AFM well I decided I was being stupidly pig-headed on the crutches thing and did use them the other night (toilet trips) when I was catching badly. They did help, so figure I've gotta be smart & use my resources. DH is back from his trip... and we're waiting to get his cpap machine (sleep apnoea - think roof-raising snoring!!!), so tonight I'm on the sofa bed (he doesn't fit - too tall) and it's in a sunk lounge. Those stairs could be interesting for toilet trips, so I have my fingers crossed (as opposed to my legs ha!). Am in a better head-space again (geez this SPD thing is a roller coaster!) and am hoping to maintain it for a while ha!

Hope everyone is travelling (or sitting!) ok!

[Kazbah]

heys Belfie, how's it going now? wonder if the PP & SPD are linked?

pinkukulele - that's no good with the pelvic floor. Have you tried a frozen wheat pack, it's a less "instant" cold and lasts longer, doesn't hurt. Well done at finishing at 36 weeks! I plan on going that far too .. or by then I might be working from home too!

Me - well I went downstairs today for the first time in a week, and DH has been going downstairs every day. Looks like every drawer he's been looking in, he's just turfed stuff out onto the floor, so there's a mess everywhere, and my niece is coming over to stay next weekend downstairs, goodness knows how I'll be able to get it tidied up. Oh yeah, and not just a drawer, but a cupboard as well has been emptied, and ARGHHHH I was almost in tears. I was doing some cleaning today, cleaning that involved standing only, no bending etc and that was OK - the windows look good!!!! but the thought of bending over is horrid.

I hate the slow moving, it's so ... demeaning! This time last pregnancy with Pip I was still bushwalking. *sighs* ah well.

to all

[Arimeh]

Kaz... it is hard when you compare how your body was at that same time in your last pregnancy, but if it makes you feel better - I felt better with Eden's pregnancy than I did in Mehkelti's

Quick one from me - gotta go cook dinner. So far so good with my pelvis, not getting any actual pain there, except when the chiro rubs on the ligaments though -oooooch that hurts!!!!!!! However, if I sit too long on the couch at night, as soon as I stand up I get immediate shooting pain through both of my hips, makes me stop for a few minutes then I can keep walking - but ooooooh that HURTS!!!!

Be interesting to see how I go on our trip away, sleeping in different beds and so forth - PLUS - no chiro appointments for 2 and a half weeks. Think I'm gonna be back in a few weeks with a big whinge!!!! lol

[nickle730]

Evening ladies,

Quick question, has anyone worn the SRC pregnancy support shorts? I bought some today. They were expensive, but I'm desperate!! I'm reaching the point where I am dreading having to walk even short distances. Will keep you updated as to how I find the shorts, but am hoping someone else will have positive reports for me!!

[nickle730]

Ooops... double post.

[Kazbah]

good luck with them nickle ..

Well it's 3.8deg at the moment and I'm icing my groin. Oh joy.

[belfie]

Kazbah - oooh I'm feeling that iciness from here I reckon! How are you travelling generally? Re the demeaning... that is SUCH a good word I can totally relate to that. I really struggle with feeling somehow "feeble" which is just foolish. Interesting that you were so much better last PG, bushwalking wow! I have fingers crossed that it will improve for you. As for your question re PP and SPD... well I have heard that bubs are more likely to be positiioned oddly with SPD, so maybe that does impact the placenta too? So saying, my bubba girl is pleasantly head down atm, so it hasn't impacted us in that way.

Arimeh's Eden - GL with the trip away and different beds

Nickle730 - I haven't tried the shorts sorry. My physio has suggested I buy some big cheap "support" shorts from Target or Kmart for after the birth, but hasn't suggested them for now.

Has anyone tried using a TENS machine? I'm looking to hire one for labour and I noticed it has electrodes for pelvic instability/back pain (as well as for actual labour) - my two physio's are conferring on whether it would be worthwhile to try... but was curious if anyone else had looked into this?

AFM we're hobbling along. I'm still doing very little, and basically organising lots of playdates to keep us sane. My DH's back/hips are also really bad at present, so evening housework activities are a "pain-off" as to who hurts more, or who has more difficulty with which movement. My DH is now limited to 15 min walks (more than me HA!) and no other exercises, rest as much as possible. So we're just limping through until my parents are back in town next month (prior to the birth). I must admit, I can't WAIT until bubba is here. Ppl keep threatening me with all the hard work... sleepless nights, trying to feed... but honestly I can't wait until all this is done!

Belly rubs to everyone

[Kazbah]

Belfie - strangely enough, I was looking at the TENS machine - there is a poster for them up in the treatment room at the hospital physio

I did use one for my labour with Pip, now sure how it would work with SPD? What's happened with your DH? Mine is still not doing much to help me, although he is heating my bed for me

[belfie]

I did use one for my labour with Pip, now sure how it would work with SPD?

Yeah me neither, but I figure some is good, more is better and I can't imagine it would hurt with SPD given you can apparently treat SPD with it as well!
Re DH... ah he did s'thing to his back last year... took 9 months to get better (like PG ha!) - basically a weird combo of some architectural problems (L4 and L5 like to lock-up) then muscle spasms and an inflamed disk (or was it bulging - i forget). So he had about 6 weeks of no lifting last year plus a few more months of minimal lifting (great fun for me - renovations, baby, expressing hmm). Anyway, it finally improved in Dec, so we went... woo hoo lets get PG.. but since then it just keeps flaring up everytime he tries to get fit/do more etc. Physio doesn't know if it's bulging disk now, plus "lots of kilometres on the clock", no cushioning, some osteo-arthritis and seems to get injured at ANYTHING (once he put his back out chopping strawberries!!!!). Basically the physio said rest it as much as possible... (who is supposed to lift the 14kg toddler now!?!?!).... so hence my parents are truly gifts to us (when they're in town), and we're just having to pay ppl to do anything that we cannot do (which seems a lot at present!).

On the bright side... I am MUCH more sympathetic to him than I ever was before (I know really understand how you can overdo it without meaning to) and he is equally sympathetic to me (who has never had significant back/hip problems before). We are a household of heat/icepacks, back massages and physio/osteo/chiro appts lol! And the poor darn dog is getting NO walks whatsoever!