Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) Chatter #1

Didi, I must have missed your BA... Congratulations on the birth of Nate!! So glad your SPD has gone.

Belfie, the support belt does nothing for me. I find it uncomfortable to wear and it doesn't reduce my pain, so this pg I am not using it. Not to say it isn't great for others.

I have been soooo careful this pg and have not done anything to aggravate my pelvis. I am very careful getting in and out of the car, rolling over in bed, not sitting on the floor with crossed legs.... constantly conscious of my pelvis. And it's working... I still have pain, but nowhere near the same as my last two pg's at this stage. Interesting, usually my SI joints are most painful, but this time my SP is giving me more trouble. It's starting to ache any time I stand... good excuse to lie on the couch I reckon!! Anyway, I know I still have a long way to go, but I am being careful, being positive and hoping to get through without the agony I experienced the last two times!

Someone mentioned clunking? I've just started to 'clunk' a little. I can feel the bones in my SP rub against each other when I roll over... not pleasant!!

heys thought I might join. was also reading the pelvic instability association website. thanks to everyone for sharing your stories.

My pain is (so far) in the left sacroiliac joints at the back which is annoying. Today I've just been moping and reading up on it all, it doesn't look like a fun journey to be sharing with you all.

catch you all soon.

Kazbah - welcome to this dubious club! Sorry to hear you have to join us, but hopefully you'll find some useful information to help minimise it! My pain started Right SIJ but has moved to the left :rolleyes:, so saying, I'm finding that I'm "managing" it far better than I was, so at present am still better than I was at my first flare-up. I have my fingers crossed that you'll be able to help yours too. Have you found a good physio/osteo/chiro? I'm in Vermont, so not far from you if you want any recommendations.

Nickel730 - i'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who doesn't find the support belt any help. You sound like you're managing so well to keep it under control :clap:. As for clunking, i never clunk at the front, but always at the back (I've got clunk in my trunk :lol:)

Fionas - I think you've hit on the dilemma at the heart of this all. For me, this was very mild last time, so I still find it hard to comprehend the thought that it might still be around post-birth. I battle with the "I should just tough it out" mentality (Codral has a LOT to answer for!!) versus the "minimise/manage/ask for all the help you can get" mentality! I'm starting to work out the sanity/immobility balance for me I think... but as always, just when you think you've got it right, it can trip you up. I had a day last week sitting at home feeling SO trapped and not coping mentally at all - compounded by a lot of trouble walking first thing and worrying if I could cope with my toddler. Then another day I "toughed it out" and went to TWO things (one was a BB catch-up lol) but paid for it later in the day... but geez I felt more sane! Sometimes I think I'd rather be sore and keep my sanity... but if it tips over into barely being able to walk then it isn't worth it!

Didi - I'm so thrilled to hear you're feeling good :clap: it gives me great hope! Enjoy your babymoon hun, you deserve it :hug:

AFM - my mum is Back again this weekend (as DH is o/s for a week) so I'm going to utilise her to the HILT as I have a heap of house/room rearrangement to get this place ready for bubba. I've also gotten DS a swing/slide set which Dad is gonna put up in the backyard so I can run DS around much more easily. That combined with a heap of playdates has definitely helped. I'm getting better at asking for help and not turning down help. It's a big learning curve this whole SPD thing, that's for sure!

Fionas - just had to add one more bit, as I woke up at 6am thinking about you (do you feel special now! :lol:). I guess what's slowly occurring to my fuzzy pregnant brain that in SPD as with anything else in life we still have choices. Yes, our choices may be not of our making, or substantially more limited but at the end of the day we can still choose how we react, what we do, what we limit and what we can still do within our limits. Maybe that's why you seem (I could be wrong) much more at peace with your SPD cos you're making active choices, so you HAVE beaten it :clap:. I feel like i'm getting closer to that state of mind and no longer wasting time railing against my misfortune but rather looking at what I CAN do.

So with that profound thought, I'm off to have a fabbo day! I hope everyone else is going well :grouphug:

Urgh looks like I'm going to be joining this group!! Already at this stage my sciatic is just killing me, especially at night. Just waiting for the pelvic pain to kick in right along with it. My chiro told me last friday that my pelvis is already out of whack.

Ahhh its going to be a joyous pregnancy....

Aah that's no good Mel :hug: sorry to hear it's kicking in early (and congrats by the way!). Fingers crossed it doesn't get too bad, sounds like you're on it early with your chiro.

Well I think I was silly this week.. have been tag-teaming osteo and physio, one each week (yeah, cos i wanna be bankrupt soon lol) but was grumpy at my physio cos she didn't get back to me when she said she would... so didn't bother with physio appt this week. Now I think i'm paying for it. I've gone from just having pain/discomfort ONLY if I overdid it to now getting very sore every arvo/evening :(... roll on Monday I want oste'o'clock! Even sitting at the PC is painful now darnit. Only 2 days to get through, and thank goodness it's the weekend.

Belfie, you're a sweetie and I am very flattered thank you! I'm currentlyvin hospital with 4-day old Gabriella so can't write much but WOW what a good decision it was for me to have a Caesar this time around. I'm pretty chuffed. I don't appear to be in any pain from my pelvis whatsoever and the things that were causing me problems immediately before the birth such ad getting out of bed and taking those first few steps without hanging on to a wall, are no longer an issue. Obviously I haven't tried walking very far but all newsxis good at this stage. It was quite funny when the midwife came to help me out of bed and shower me for the first time. She cautioned me to take things slowly as, "the pain can be quit ferocious." I got up, walked towards the shower and beamed at her. She said "Omg you are doing so well." I told her it was a little bit hurty but compared to what I've put up with in the last three years an absolute walk in the park.

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 :)

Oh Fiona I'm so glad you are feeling well - and a 3rd baby ay? Well if it helps at all, my SPD was worse with DD1 than it was with DD2 ;) hehe

Fionas I am so pleased you are feeling so much better. Our bodies are amazing things! I remember feeling the same after DS2 was born, I could have climbed a mountain just minutes after he was born (although I suspect my midwife would have stopped me had I tried :lol: )

Heys ladies,

well i'm feeling rather sad & sorry for myself at the moment, and everything is so painful. Painful in the groin area, painful in the hips, pain in the back. Yesterday I blew my nose and it hurt so much I was crying. Great look at work. Planning my trips around lifts and the like. And there's only 20 weeks left. Oh yay. How do I get out of this headspace?

Also, what painkillers can I take?

Sorry, I'm just not coping. Reading the happy stories on here is good therapy as to what can be, I just can't see it at the moment. I want to be a yummy mummy. Can't see that happening.

Oh Kazbah, I'm sorry you are in so much pain. It's just rotten I know so vent away, we all understand.

I'm assuming you are seeing a chiropractor or a physio? If not then make this a priority. Also ice the painful area. I know it's winter but it will reduce the swelling and ease the pain. Wrap a doona around you whilst you ice if it makes you more comfortable.

You can take paracetamol safely, so don't be afraid to do so. And planning your trips around lifts and access is an excellent idea. I would avoid the supermarket if I could not get parked outside, and under no circumstances would I walk up stairs if there was any way around it. Do what you have to for the next 20 weeks, I know it seems like forever but it will be over before you know it :hug:

I'm aching with you Kazbah, particularly at the front. I'm actually dreading having to do things that involve walking... grocery shopping, going to the post office - those every day things most people take for granted!

I only take Panadol and I try not to use that every day. Don't know if any thing else is safe... I'm averse to taking anything whilst pg!

Hope you are a resting comfortably somewhere!

Hi girls, sorry to say that I think I might be joining you. (nothing personal I promise...:redface: ) I have been having a lot of trouble getting comfy at night for about the last week. My hips, pelvis and legs get really painful and it doesn't seem to matter which position I'm in, I wake every hour or so in pain. I've been doing some reading and SPD seems to describe ALL my symptoms. I'm going to see the doc and physio today to find out for sure and to ask about continuing work (I'm a teacher, primary- so on my feet all day) I've had to take off yesterday and today due to pain.

I guess this is my payback for telling everyone how fantastic this pregnancy has been so far! :ROFL:

Do any of you sleep sitting up? I only ask as I notice the pain seems less when I'm sitting rather than lying down.

I used to prop myself up with pillows in bed and sleep semi sitting, it really helped me get some rest

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.

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

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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 :)

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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 :hug:. 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 :doh:. 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!

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!

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!

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 ...

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.

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 :wall::wall::wall: 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? :dunno: always just cramped when I wore it. I'd end up doubled up from front belly pains, so have stopped wearing it.

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. :hug: kaz

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!

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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?

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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 :hug:

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!

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.

:bellyrubs: to all

:hug: 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

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!!

Ooops... double post.

good luck with them nickle ..

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

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 :bellyrubs:

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 :)

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

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Yeah me neither, but I figure some is good, more is better :rofl: 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!

oh wow, your poor DH & dog!!!!

Is it sad that DH just brought the mail in and it's that cold, I'm considering using it as a cold pack? Just moved the wheat pack off my SP and my hips hurt, and have to wait for the pack to get cold again (or send my DH downstairs to the kitchen to the other freezer)

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to offer an update on the SRC pregnancy shorts for anyone who is interested in them! I bought them last Wednesday and put them on immediately. Was in LOTS of pain, dragging my left leg around and dreading having to walk anywhere. Forked over the $$$ in desperation! Thursday morning got out of bed (the shorts are worn 24 hours a day) and noted a decrease in pain. Continued to improve until Saturday morning but figured maybe I was trying to convince myself to justify the purchase!! Took them off to wash them (recommended that they are washed every 3 days :o Have been wearing knickers and a pad under them!!). By Saturday night I couldn't get myself off the couch, had to have DH pull me up. Huge increase in pain... not happy!! Shorts back on and today I am reasonably comfortable.

I am NOT pain free, I still have discomfort and pain when I sit or move in a particular way. But my pain is markedly less than what I experience without the shorts. Taking them off for the day has convinced me that they are making a big difference. If anyone else is considering the shorts I would happily recommend them. :D

Nickle - so glad to hear that the shorts were effective - ish - any reduction in the pain is welcome.. my pain has only gotten to the point over the past 2 weeks that it is almost unmanageable.. so instead of the preg shorts I was going to get the recovery shorts, so it was good to hear your feedback.

It's been good to read about icing - I didn't think of that, although I did think of physio and osteo. Which is really dumb given I've had a lot of soft tissue injuries from sport and ice is the one thing that always brings relief. I am going to blame pregnesia.

This is going to sound weird, but if the pain is across the pubic bone - that's where you ice right? And do you do 10 mins on and 10 off or what sort of combination.

Hello Belfie - ( we are in the same Belly Buddies thread)......GL friday ... you're right only 2 sleeps to go. Yay!

Hi everyone!

I'm 14 weeks along now, and its so strange, but still no pelvic pain? I get pains in my hips briefly when I get out of the couch if I've been sitting a long time, but that is it?

I'm starting to think this is just a phantom pregnancy!!! No SPD?!!? What is going on...

Arimeh - don't diss the lack of pain!

Hmmm shorts sound good. Where'd you get them again?

My physio has also been pressing on the pubis at the front, and that's causing more pain that night, but reduced pain the next night.

Going to accupuncture tonight, hope that helps.

Icing - well I'm using wheat packs from the freezer, and actually just draping it across my hip to the pubis and leaving it there until it warms up too much.

Kazbah - that's some determined icing in this weather. How is your mobility during the day? Glad the physio has been helping.

Arimeh - wow, fingers crossed your phantom pregnancy continues that way - phantom pain sounds way better than real pain!

Dory - pregnesia here too, had forgotten you were copping this! Thank goodness there's not long to go hey. As for ice, I know my osteo & physio both said to try either heat or ice and see what helped most. Heat definitely sometimes did NOT work for me.

Nickle - interesting to hear about the shorts, wish I'd thought to try them earlier, oh well.

AFM, well bubba girl will be here in... TWO sleeps. Yup, two whole agonising don't turn over sleeps lol, so boy am I counting down! My c-s was gonna be at 39+3 but got moved to 38+5 and I'm much happier... I'm really pretty much over this. Have been on crutches to varying degrees over the last few weeks and can't seem to get this flare-up to settle, plus my already limited walking range (sans crutches on a good day) is pretty much miniscule now. I must admit I'm daydreaming about being able to walk places again... luckily my mum & dad are back in town (came back a bit early once I was worse again and DH's back got worse also), so that's made a huge difference having them around. And I have exercised my "get help wherever and however I can" muscle on numerous occasions.

Amusingly (not sure if that's really the right word) even the darn dog is at the vet, and we've just been told she has a partial tear of the cruciate ligament. And to think I just thought she was copying me when she limped... :rofl:

Oh wow, I didnt even know this thread existed. Over the last 2 weeks I have also been suffering groin and hip pain. The pain radiates down my inner thighs and walking is a nightmare. I already have 4 young kids and 26 preggers with my 5th, and being in the middle of the holidays if I dont get up and do the day to day housework im afraid things could get disasterous very quickly. But in doing this by the end of the day im nearly crying with pain and when i do get up from sitting its like my legs have absolutely no strength and sometimes I come very close to falling down because of this. Its hard because I cant rest because of my kids but even if I do find a moment the pain can still be present while sitting. Sleeping is a nightmare because I cant sleep on my belly anymore :( and if I lie on my back it feels as if my breathing is restricted so i can only lie on my sides - which is no good for the hips. i sleep with a pillow between my legs (but have since my first birth in 01 - Oh so comfy!!)
I havent been to the docs yet so I dont know if it is SPD i have but i do have a midwifes appointment next friday so will discuss this with her then. I dont understand it though because I have fab pelvic floor muscles (4 kids later and can still jump without going "oh dear") played basketball and netball up until 20 weeks pregnant, and lead an active life. (Im a nurse so am on my feet all day at work). I dont know maybe I dont understand this SPD properly. I guess i thought it happened to those who werent active and who already had weak pelvic floor muscles and stuff. Hmm my bad!! Anyways its great to know so many other women have felt what i feel now. It certainly does make things easier knowing im not alone out there :)

Leekee - I think the best indicator of SPD is whether or not you can stand on one leg. I couldn't do that at all when I had SPD throughout my pregnancies. I'd recommend going to a physio, most midwives don't really understand what SPD is, and how to treat it, so your best bet is a physio, chiro, osteo etc.

AFM - well just over 16 weeks now, and still no pelvic pain. I'm sure it will kick in eventually but I'm counting down the weeks for me to be in pain, and its great that it started off at 38 weeks (cos pregnancy starts at 4 obviously and I usually go to 42) so I was prepared to go through 38 weeks of pure pain and misery to get a gorgeous bub, and now its only 26 weeks of possible pure pain and misery - way to go pelvis!! I had my chiro appointment last wednesday and she is AMAZED that my pelvis is holding up as well as it is... so must of been the treatment I had between pregnancies, and throughout this one so far - its kept it at bay (yippee!)

So I think my next chiro appointment is next friday - so lets keep hoping that my pelvis keeps holding! :D