Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) Chatter #1

[Schmickers]

Welcome to SPD Chatter!

SPD (Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction) is a medical condition during pregnancy where elevated hormone levels cause the ligaments that hold the front of the pelvis together (the pubis) to relax. The result is a pelvis that is more mobile, and this can cause sometimes quite severe pain.

This thread is for current and past sufferers of SPD to discuss their experiences with the condition, as well as any treatments that may have helped in the past.

Feel free to join in the discussion!

Also - check out BellyBelly's article and discussion on Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy

[Schmickers]

My DW suffered SPD during all of her pregnancies, and it was quite painful for her (although against the hyperemesis I think it paled into insignificance!). She found a consulation with a physio helped - they gave her a special elastic belt to wear around her hips that kind of compressed them in and supported the pelvis a bit more.

[Traveller]

I used a support belt and regular visits to a physio to help me deal with my SPD. If I was walking with my children I made sure they were in the pram and I was pushing it, as this helped stabilise me and hold me up. On the rare occasions I was out without the kids, and round the house, I used crutches which provided so much support and eased the pain of moving dramatically.

I also avoided walking uphill and upstairs when I could, and slept with a pillow between my knees to stop myself accidentally pulling them apart when asleep. I never did it myself, but I have heard tying the pillow in place with an old pair of tights can be very helpful.

Postnatally I visit a chiro and also regularly ice if I start to ace and that helps heaps with my sore hips. They were heaps better as soon as I gave birth, but do ache from time to time especially if I have been overdoing it at the gym.

[nickle730]

Subscribing... currently at holiday house and no ice! Will try to find an ice pack tomorrow (although it's a tiny country town so I don't like my chances!)

[feeb]

I had it very bad when preg with DS1 I wore a support belt from 26 weeks and was seeing physio weekly, and iceing it regularly as possible, but couldn't do it really on work days.
I really noticed difference if I didnt wear belt, I couldn't walk around at work.

To be honestly physio sessions felt good at the time but give it 4 hrs and it was same again.

When preg with DS2 I started very early on getting up correctly and sleeping with pillow between legs. It actually was more painful early on in preg and eased in last 4 - 6 weeks. I did have many nights of crying in pain as I couldn't move without feeling like my pelvis was going to split. OUCH

[belfie]

Subscribing as well (and celebrating that we have this thread - thanks Schmickers! ).

One of the things that confused me was when the physio said to me that I had pelvic instability - was it the same thing as SPD? According to http://www.pelvicinstability.org.au (mods -pls remove this if I'm not supposed to link it), they say the following:

Pelvic Instability has historically been known by many different names. In Europe it is most commonly known as Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). It is also known by the medical profession as: Pregnancy-related pelvic joint pain; Posterior pelvic pain in pregnancy; Peri partum pelvic pain; Pelvic girdle relaxation; Pelvic girdle syndrome; Pelvic insufficiency; Pelvic dysfunction; Pelvic arthropathy; Pelvic osteoarthropathy; Pubic symphysis instability; Symphysiolysis; Sacroiliac joint syndrome or Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

AFM - I had it mildly last PG and so far have it worse this PG. As the others have said, support belt, ice (and/or heat - I've been told both!?), don't walk up stairs/hills/uneven surfaces. Avoid heavy lifting, twisting, bending, turning, doing things standing on one leg, vacuuming, shopping trolleys (they are the PITS!). I've been getting osteo treatment weekly and am about to try physio also. I also have stretches and exercises to do, including pelvic floor (very important!). I've also got pelvic floor nerve damage on one side (it's at half strength) - and surprise, surprise, that side is my bad side pain-wise too. Oh and I love my body pillow (actually more than my DH at present - he's very jealous ). Apart from that, desperately hoping i can manage this for another 3 months... atm my best treatment is my mum visiting from interstate!

Toddler-specific issues: I'm about to move my toddler into a bed (cot is too hard atm), minimise car trips with him, no lifting for cuddles (he snuggles my bump anyway), changing nappies - both floor and change table are difficult (too high OR too low) but am going to try the sofa. Toys - I'm going to start sweeping them up. Snacks at a kiddie table & chairs rather than in the high-chair. Dressing him - try to plan ahead so I'm not bending over to add extra layers before we go out (bending over to do zippers up is painful!)... maybe more hoodies/simple clothes.

Sending big to everyone else suffering this also, and thanks for the wisdom from those who have suffered it before.

[didispunk]

#1 pregnancy I had nothing.. and I was 30kg heavier

#2 pegnancy was bad.. and i was about the same weight as #1 pregnancy I carried a MASSIVE belly with a prem baby.

#3 pregnancy this has been an absolutly nightmare.. just all the sudden it has come on bad... ice is fantastic, so i do hot shower or bath and then cold ice, I have been to chiro and physio and I have to say has made no difference. I am using crutches at times around home and found that does help but with 2 little ones makes it tricky. I have slept with pillow between legs, I keep knees together, I dont do steps unless I HAVE TO and cant get there any other way, I have still the 2 other children to tend to..

I can now see why people get family etc to help out.

[belfie]

Didi - honestly I don't know how you're doing it plus looking after 2 little ones . I know it must be hard when you don't have family here to help out, I wish I could clone and loan my mum!

[~clover~]

Just subscribing for now. ill be back when I get time to join in the discussion. Been sitting here too long & need to lay down!

[LionsandBears]

Definately get panadol. Also grab an ice pack. The pain truly sucks. I hope you feel better soon but I'd take it easy over the weekend. Don't push through it.

[Kazbah]

waking husband impossible, I just tried to get him to roll down the doona and he couldn't wake enough for that.

[~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*