Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) Chatter #1

[Arimeh]

And soooooooooo... SPD has now reared its ugly head! - FINALLY!! LOL

I'm so happy I've reached 28 weeks before its come, better than 4 weeks like last time. So pretty stoked about that!!! Just minor niggles and not much pain at the moment but at my chiro yesterday, my pelvis was out of alignment for the first time this pregnancy and my pelvic bone was sooooo tender when she was pressing around there. So I've been ordered to wear my belt! Yuk. I can still stand on one leg without pain so I'm glad its not that bad yet (not that I stand on one leg often, but you know, thats a pain I always hated!)

Anyone else still here with me?

[LionsandBears]

I still have it 5 months after birth, but not so bad as end of pregnancy. Really sick of it actually.

I hope it doesn't get to bad for you and you're able to manage it, though I imagine that's going to be tough with the little people.

[Arimeh]

Thanks Tash Between my two girls I was still living with pain, and it was 7 months between pregnancies with them, probably why it hurt from the very beginning, I never really got on top of it. I was having physio last time though - so maybe thats the difference this time? I had chiro when Eden was about 3 months old, and fell pregnant when she was 7 months, so maybe that 4 months of chiro helped more than the 7 months of physio?

[MrsFabuloso]

I'm around too Mel. I try not to whine too much about the pain tho, it's gets me nothing but feeling sorry for myself! That's great that you have managed to be pain free for so long. Hopefully it won't get as bad as it did last time. I know you were in agony...or was that with Miss M...??

For me it's getting to the stage of tears when I stand up and that I'm leaning on the walls to walk by the end of the night. Peeing in the middle of the night is not fun! And I HAVE to go or I will not make it the next time I wake....then it's just more pain in changing clothes as well, lol!! Oh the joys of pg right...?? DH just doe not get it at all and still wants me to be doing stuff with him, like walking around down town and coping with grocery shopping. He doesn't get that after doing stuff like that I am done, that I just can't manage to do more tahn one thing that is a strain on my back. Even though he's seen me in tears after a stressful day or a day of cleaning or shopping. He must just think they're emotional pg tears... I think he's getting it a bit more now though!
I had SPD a little bit after DD was born, with the front of my pelvis actually cracking and audibly grinding when I stood from sitting, but didn't actually know what it was and just put up with it. With DS I had a terribly achey back and probably sciatica (which I have now too) but I don't think I actually had SPD. The pain was different. The worst thing is we don't have the money for me to be going to chiros or physios for treatment right now. Hopefully when bub is born I will be able to do something with myself...least of all will be losing a heap of weight!

[~Stoked~]

Hello ladies!

I wonder if someone can help me. During my pregnancy with DS I had terrible pain in my left hip, just above my left butt cheek (in that little dimple thingy!) which started at 14 weeks and got so bad that some days I could hardly walk. Getting out of bed, or rolling over in bed was the worst! Stretching it aggravated it and even bending to put shoes on was agony. Does this sound like SPD? I was seeing a chiro who never mentioned SPD but said my pelvis was out of alignment and his treatment did help, but I felt as if I needed to go at least twice a week for it to be beneficial to me.
Anyway, I'm 9.5 weeks along now and it's starting again! Eeeekkkkk! I don't know what to do! My chiropractor is an hour away from me and with a 13 month old it's just impossible at the moment! Any ideas?

Thanks so much!

[MrsFabuloso]

I don't think it sounds like SPD (to me anyway!), but maybe an unstable pelvis, or just your hips out of alignment? It might turn into SPD, but SPD involves the symphsis pubis bones, which are in the front of the pelvis, your pubic bone 'joint'. As well as the ligaments and muscles surrounding your pelvis hips and possibly thighs. Usually the pain you get from SPD is in the front, in your pubic bone and/or hips. Some people can hear the lower back and hip joints clicking or popping in and out as they walk or change position (I can and can feel it grinding too-yuck!). You can also experience pain in the lower back, hips, groin, lower abdomen, and legs. It might make you walk with a waddling gait and have trouble climbing stairs, problems with lifting and lowering your legs, pain turning in bed or getting out of a car, pain when carrying out weight bearing activities, difficulties carrying out everyday activities, trouble pushing trolleys or prams and just general day to day things.

[Traveller]

It sounds maybe like sciatica, Stoked, which I have suffered from and it is agony. You poor thing. Often the pain will start where you describe it, and go shooting down your leg. It is basically a nerve being pressed, and it sounds like your unstable pelvis is causing this. Your midwife will be able to show you a simple stretching exercise that your OH can help you with at home to ease the symptoms.

[~Stoked~]

Thanks!
Yes it originally started with sciatica.. But then it changed and by the end sometimes my hip would seize when I was trying to walk. It's agony... It does feel as though my hips are very unstable, like if I stretched it too far it would snap! But the pain has never been at the front. Hmmm I don't know!

[Traveller]

SPD doesn't always happen at the front. It can also be painful in the hips, and in the tailbone. If you are in pain this early then it would be a good idea to start seeing your chiro straight away.

[Arimeh]

SPD doesn't always happen at the front. It can also be painful in the hips, and in the tailbone. If you are in pain this early then it would be a good idea to start seeing your chiro straight away.

Yup I agree. Mine didn't really flare up until now, but gosh my sciatica was terrible for most of this pregnancy. Although now I have the pelvic pain AND the sciatic crap....

10 weeks to go.. 10 weeks to go...

[Kazbah]

Well ladies, I'm now 2 weeks post-birth and my SPD has returned with a vengeance. All I can say is thank goodness I'm not carrying baby weight as I can barely walk at the moment Waiting for the hospital to call me back with an appointment for the physio. *sighs*

[MrsFabuloso]

Although now I have the pelvic pain AND the sciatic crap....

Me too. Totally sucks don't it?? I nearly fell over gettingout of bed this morning because my back just gave way. Lucky one leg still worked ok, or I would have made a pancake of the Heffalump....I haven't had it so bad yet. Getting up and down always reeeaaaaaly hurts, but I have never not been able to support myself. I'm chanting 3 WEEKS TO GO...3 WEEKS TO GO
and god forbid if it's any more than that!

Kaz, sorry to hear your SPD hasn't gone. I'm hoping that's not the case for me too! I did get it mildly after I had DD though, not while I was pg with her...but I didn't know what it was then. Just figured I'd hurt myself during labour with her.

[skybie]

hey girls just wondering if bubs position can affect symptoms?
yesterday he was head down and i was really mobile and got heaps done and today he's head up and i can barely move.

[Traveller]

I found my hips were in a lot less pain once bub engaged, so yes imho position has a lot to do with how you are feeling.

[angelaartsstudent]

No sure but I def know that some days I am feeling able to walk and other's I'm in agony...no idea what position my bub is in though.

[MrsFabuloso]

hey girls just wondering if bubs position can affect symptoms?
yesterday he was head down and i was really mobile and got heaps done and today he's head up and i can barely move.

Yep, I think so too. Some days I can do heaps adn I'm not in too much pain. Other days (like today) I can't even get out of bed on my own. I'm pretty sure if my bub is head down in my pelvis things are easier, while if he's out of my pelvis, things hurt alot more.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

just a quick question ladies - i have spd and have been seeing a physio which is helping. i find sleep the hardest as i literally cannot move once in bed due to to the excruciating pain in my groin and pelvis. anyway my physio has recommend the src pregnancy shorts, so im just wondering if anyone has used these and were they worth the money? $189 seems a lot to spend when i dont have too much longer to go, but id be willing to do it if it means i could get more than 4-5hrs of non-painful sleep!!!

TIA

[fionas]

My physio told me not to buy them and to buy a belt (can't remember price but it's a lot cheaper than the shorts) or tubigrip (around $15 instead). She said the shorts stretch so once you've had the baby, you can no longer use them as they're not snug. Same applies to the tubigrip but it doesn't really matter so much at $15.

Hopefully, your SPD will go away after the birth but not everyone's does.