Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) Chatter #1

[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

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

ladies.

not really sure if i have SPD as never had this kind of pain when preg with DD, but after reading through some of the posts on here, especially Arimeh's one about being able to stand on one leg, i *think* this is what i *may* have. i have pain that radiates through my pubic bone and left hip/groin area which is worse after lying down or sitting on my side for a long time. in the mornings when i get up, i have to get up with my legs closed together as the pain of swinging one leg out is excruitating - this pain only started a couple of weeks ago

So for any ladies who live (or know of) a good pregnancy (or SPD) specialist physio in Melbournes Outer Sth East (Narre Warren, Berwick, Endeavour Hills etc) i would be most grateful if you could advise me of who you see.

TIA