PGP

i have got pelvic girdle pain and have the support belt which i find really uncomfortable. i dunno if i am wearing it properly but if i have it over my bump it presses on my bladder and i need to wee all the time. however if i put it lower than my bump it bunches up at my thigh line and is uncomfortable. plus it gets really sweaty. the physio also gave me some basic stretches to do.

after first consultation they asked if i wanted to make another appointment, but i said no cause it wasnt that bad that day. now however it is killing me! when i move my leg, sit, shift positions, stand up, bend EVERYTHING! if i was to make an appointment with the physio what else can they actually do for it?

oh no you poor darling!! I've got the pelvic pain too but its in the front not the back (so although havent officially been told its this, from everything I've read its SPD I've got) :S I'd definitely go to thep hysio, my physio gave me some stretches and things too but said if they dont fix it come back and she'll do some soft tissue work so maybe they can do something like that for you too? I definitely thing its worth it, and also get advise on the problems you're having with the belt!

I think I might have posted a thread about PGP at the same time as you! I went to a physiotherapist today for the pain I have been experiencing, and she diagnosed me as suffering from it. I was given a belt to wear as well - it definitely shouldn't go over your stomach. It's designed to be worn quite low, so if you can imagine wearing it so that the uppermost half is over your pubic bone, that's the place it needs to be. Did the physio show you how to wear it? Perhaps it's the wrong size? It might be a good idea to go back and check this. My physio also told me that it will be more comfortable to take it off when sitting down, and you don't really need it when lying down (unless you are experiencing pain then). The whole point of the belt is that it kind of pushes everything back together where it was before, so that the pelvic bones you have right in the middle at the back and at the front aren't rubbing against each other and inflammed when you are moving about - this is the cause of the discomfort, apparently.

My physio gave me a series of exercises to strengthen the deep abdominal muscles, and told me to stay away from heat packs for pain relief - frozen peas or cold packs are best, as they reduce the swelling at the site(s) of the pain. Did your physio give you further advice about how to get out of bed, how to stand, to keep your legs together, etc? Mine has suggested that I basically lie down for a week (!) to give everything a chance to settle down, and I am going back next week for a different set of exercises. I actually feel like there has been some improvement already - do you feel like your physio ran through everything with you and gave you enough attention? Maybe you should give them a call and talk to them about it - it's their job is to help you feel better, not worse, and if you haven't been shown how to use the belt properly (and trust me, it brings relief!), they really should be helping you with this. I hope you find some relief soon - it's just horrible! On the plus-side, it means your body is certainly preparing for birth!

thanks for the replies. i am gonna see if i need a new referral to see the physio again at my hospital appointment next week. she showed me how to put the belt on but didnt really explain it and i didnt ask cause i thought i would remember, but obviously i cant.

she gave me a list of body movements to avoid and how to do thing, like what you mentioned (getting out of bed, etc). and the only exercise she suggested was the pelvic tilt and pelvic floor, lower abdo ones.

i think i am really bad because i did a low impact aerobic class on tuesday night and then swimming laps on wednesday (i did some breast stroke- silly me) and then was back at work the next day after 2 weeks holidays.

this is really really painful though, i can barely walk. tried the ice pack and it seemed to bring some relief but didnt last long. i wonder if they can massage it or something if i go back.

thanks again.