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What did or do you do to help with symphysis pubis dysfunction.
I am in some serious pain here, I COULD CRY really really painful and stabbing shooting pains in my groin area, kills me, just so so so HURTING ME!!!!!
I try keep legs together, I just had a hot bath and that has seemed to help, but i am not moving from the lounge except to the bed.
But with 2 toddlers... semi impossible!
PLEASE HELP ME
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease google the pelvic instability association website!! You will feel so understood and find resources there.
I managed mine 2nd time round with early term yoga and osteopath throughout. :hug:
I really feel for you!! I know how icredibly painful it is & to be honest I dont know how on Earth you're managing to look after your 2 littlies while suffering with this condition!! I was lucky my daughter was 3.5yrs when DS was born so she pretty much looked after herself (getting her own food, dressing herself, entertaining herself etc) I dont think I could cope in your position. You should firstly understand what a good job you're currently doing!
I'm really no help as I didnt find anything that helped, the only thing was for the last month or 2 of pregnancy I slept on the lounge through the night sitting up. It killed my neck but I just couldnt lay in bed anymore, not even propped up with pillows. So that may help you get some rest at night?
Wishing you all the best, I'm sorry you have to go through it... it sucks BIG TIME!!! :hug:
Thank you so much. I am doing the best I can... with no family here and friends I dont want to abuse with asking all the time..
Just such pain.
An osteo can definitely help (a good one, anyway ;) ) by getting your pelvis aligned. You may need to have fortnightly or weekly appointments depending on severity of the twist (causedby the muscles trying to stabilise when the ligament decides to go on early holiday!).It's not a matter of strengthening anything (as my partner stubbornly resolved), it's a matter of keeping everything even as possible so that the muscles don't go nuts trying to stabilise the pelvis, thereby 'locking' the pelvis into an unnatural angle...causing pain! Well, that's just one of the ways it causes pain :(
Thanks Mayaness,
I have done osteo, physio, massage bla bla bla...
Has done nothing to help from such a period of time... and cost me soo much $$$ if i saw improvement or any help that would be no worries.. BUT NOTHING!
Don't do hot baths. Get an ice pack and use it every two hours for 20 mins at a time until the pain lessens. Then use it between 1-3 times per day. Avoid walking, bending, lifting. Get a special belt.
I am now in the tailend of my pregnancy and was told at 7 weeks I would be in a wheelchair very soon. I'm now in less pain than I was 12 months post-natally last time because I'm managing it properly. I can only walk 50 metres so have to use a wheelchair for further than that and am consequently pretty much housebound BUT I CAN still walk around the house only because I do ALL the things I mentioned in that first paragraph. For me, icing and rest have been the keys. I was doing clinical pilates up to twice weekly too but have found this is not as vital as the icing and resting. In bed, put a pillow between your knees - honestly, it sounds so simple but it really works.
Good luck!
Thank you so much...
I am 33 weeks today.. so i can see the light!!
Much appreciated.
No worries, I can't emphasise icing enough. I used it about five times in total in my last pregnancy convinced that it didn't make any difference. That was only because the pain had gotten so bad that one lots of ice wasn't going to make any difference. Whereas in this pregnancy, if I've overdone it (we've just moved house so you can imagine how much bending to unpack boxes I've been doing) then I just whack icepacks on and lie down once DD is in bed for three hours straight (changing them when they've cooled down). Then I'm as good as new in the morning.
So please, please, please, keep icing until you feel the pain subside. It may take more than one or two to feel a difference BUT once the pain subsides you'll only need to do it 1-3 times per day after that (unless you've overdone the walking, bending, lifting).
The belt's also absolutely essential for me. Without that, I'm in pain after a few steps (apparently my joints are hypermobile).
Night time panadeine forte. Just enough to take the edge off the pain but still keep functional. Pilates moves to stabilise the core and make sure you stabilise your core muscles before EVERY movement. No lifting is impossible the toddlers - in the same boat there unfortunately but stabilise everything before you lift them. Leave the stuff on the floor. Lie down or stand - it is less painful for me than sitting which increases my pain. I have had to reach the point where self preservation is the key. No grocery shopping - the trolley is a killer.
Trying to get the little ones settled now :rolleyes: which only increases the time I am up and the duration of the pain. No down time to rest it either but I lie on the lounge as much as possible.
Oh I wish I had have known about using ice during my pregnancy. My bub is almost 7 months old and I still get pelvic pain if I walk for too long or over do it.
ubba - you can still ice now. I do all the same moves after pregnancy too. But I got pregnant each time before the symptoms were completely gone so I just keep on going with every little trick that alleviates. This time is very different though for many reasons, not the least the change in our home situation and my level of help / support :(
Full length body pillow at night helps too - tucked between the knees and providing support in a position of comfort.
Didispunk -I feel like I'm following you! You are not having a fun time of it with SPD and GD :(
I got diagnosed with SPD last weekend and I'm also having a lot of trouble :( so firstly big hugs :hug: it just truly sucks. I'm seeing osteo and getting second opinions next week with physios... but atm even with weekly osteo I'm just getting worse and worse. I agree with what the others said, have you looked at the tips on pelvicinstability.org? And have you been fitted with a brace? Does that help?
As my osteo said, unfortunately i"m doing everything "right" but it's still getting worse, and having a little one to look after (much less two!) really doesn't help. I've been told to heat by my osteo and ice by the physio which has totally confused me - reading this thread (sorry to hijack) I think I'll try ice! I'm also seriously thinking of getting crutches for overnight, cos trying to go to the toilet is a killer. Last night I ended up sitting on my desk chair and wheeling myself back to bed... bit awkward but not actually excruciatingly painful!
I'm so sorry you're in such pain :comfort:
And sending hugs to all of you experiencing this pain :grouphug: it's just foul
I used the brace and also a tubigrip (can get from midwives and physios). I had to use crutches a few times, but not as much as the first pg, when I didn't know what was going on and was led up the garden path by physios (who said it would stop with the cessation of breastfeeding...after saying it would stop after the birth...).
I found the osteo didn't 'fix' anything, she just helped me manage it when it got out of kilter again, which it would do between visits, to varying degrees and would never stay in place).
I also found the BellyBra extremely helpful!
This is a copy of a post I did on another forum of all the things I've learnt so far. I agree 100% with pp about ice and rest for SPD. I probably don't do it enough so will increase it.
I've had it since week 21 and have had loads of different therapies, including osteopathy (focusing on spinal alignment), Physiotherapy (focusing on correct posture and positioning - this also include 'internal' pressure which was a very interesting experience but helped. I go to a pelvic floor specialist) and acupuncture. I do exercises my physio gave me and clinical pilates (though I've just stopped this as it hurts too much afterwards). And I use crutches to help me walk (otherwise I can only step about 1-2 inches at a time). The best thing yet has been hydrotherapy - it is bliss - 40 minutes with no pain. I do it with a physio.
A few tips - try to keep your knees together. This helps keep your pelvis in alignment. You don't want one hip higher than the other. Try to go without side steps - it separates the pubis further and just kills.
When getting into bed (or onto a couch or massage table), crawl on with your hands and knees. DO NOT sit and swing your legs over - it puts too much pressure on the pubis. When changing from one side to the other, roll UNDER, not OVER. This means going from side lying to propping yourself onto your hands and knees, then swapping to the other side. When doing that, engage your pelvic floor and keep your knees together. When getting out of bed, start on your side facing the edge, lift yourself up with your hands, keeping your knees together, then lift your legs off. I have a silk nightie under me when sleeping to help me slide on and off the bed.
When getting up from a chair or bed or whatever, 1st engage your pelvic floor. Keep your knees together (as close as you can). Tilt your pelvis BACKWARDS and lean your chest forward, then lift with your knees. If you have to lean on a wall to do so, then go for it.
Put/take off undies, pants, socks etc on whilst sitting down. Don't balance on one leg.
When getting in and out of a car, do it like royalty. So getting in, go in bottom first, then swing your legs together into the car. When getting out, swing both legs together out of the door, then gently lift yourself out. I use a swivle cushion from a health care shop that helps with just this.
For exercises, sit on a fitball or chair and engage you pelvic floor. Tilt your pelvis back and forward about 8 times. Do this this 4 times a day. Do pelvic floor exercises a number of times a day, making sure you release completely at the end of them. Do not move without engaging the pelvic floor.
I also have SRC pregnancy shorts which help with support. They're pretty exxy. I found a belly support belt just made things worse, don't know why.
That's pretty much what I've picked up over the last 10 weeks. I know all the therapy is cumulative, but for me my favourite is hydrotherapy - relaxing weightless in warm water up to my chin with no pain (I also have bad upper back pain)... http://tickers.tickerfactory.com/smiles/icon_smile.gif
Also, I'm now taking panadeine a couple of times a day, just to get through the day.
I've also read for birth, on all fours or side lying are the best positions. You don't want bub coming down towards the pubic bone - apparently this happens with squatting as well - so lying on your back or reclined sitting is the worse. Also to be avoided - forceps, people holding your legs open, caesar and anything that could cause more damage. Apparently it's a good tip to tie some ribbon around your knees which shows the maximum you can spread your legs without pain.... this is all good in theory, but as my midwife said, we'll try to avoid damaging the pubis further, but if there's no other way to get bub out, then sacrifices will be made.
GL with it.
Just another tip that's only taken me three years to learn! One of the things that sends me batty is the dilemma of seeing lots of crap on the floor which I'm not meant to pick up. I should get around to getting a reacher (stick with pincer thing on the end) but in the meantime what I do is tell DP to pick everything up and put it on a sofa/bed/hallway table that I can reach so I can sort it out. Takes him five minutes - would take me an hour and would kill me. Learnt this one when we sold our house a couple of months back and we were having to tidy our house for open for inspections twice a week.
Acupuncture! I forgot that I did this, too - it was lovely! And pregnancy massage. Hydrotherapy pools were my friend :) Body pillow or thigh pillow. Sweeping the floor and even vacuuming is very aggravating - get someone else to do it or hire someone (my partner was a dud on both counts - thought I was taking it too far to go on strike and didn't want to 'waste money' on a cleaner :( )
Those shorts haven't been on the market long...I only saw them recently! No fair!! But now I know they're there and if DP succeeds in convincing me to get pg again I will 'waste money' on them...and a friggin cleaner.
Just in case it's not obvious, horse riding isn't much good at this time ;) Me, the stubborn one, tried to keep going with it and had to bow out ungracefully at 21 weeks :( I lasted till 27 weeks for the first pg with DS. During the ride it was great - all that extra flexibility meant I could really sink into my seat (was riding bareback), but the various muscles movements required for the different movements meant I was adding to the strain on my ligament and my muscles would overcompensate and pull my pelvis 'back' into an odd shape. No, it wasn't obvious to me...I was in denial!!
Traveller told me to ICE and OH MY GOODNESS.. Ice is the best thing ever!!! I feel like I can finally move a little more often.. and when I have ice much better.. when i dont... kills.. but at least getting some relief makes a big difference..
Thanks my pal Traveller!!
Any time :D
While we're talking to/about Traveller ;) (in mod capacity this time) - would it be possible for us to have an SPD/Pelvic Instability support thread, a sticky one? Just seems there's a few threads floating around atm (including mine and Didi's) and it would be great to have all this wisdom in one spot! Pretty pls?
Didi - I'm thrilled to hear the ice has helped. I stupidly did a heat pack this afternoon and definitely felt worse after - so I'm off to ice now.
Oh, ladies I'm with you! My SPD kicked in with a vengeance in the last week or so... ouch!! This is my third pg and third experience of SPD, I have never iced in the past but I'm willing to try anything. Do I ice my sacro iliac joints, my symphasis pubis or both??? I have pain EVERYWHERE, front and back.... TIA.
Nickle, I had pain in every joint too when I was pregnant. If you are in so much pain so early it is quite important IMHO that you see a physio or chiro, and get the appropriate braces or supports, and some crutches. I know I oversell the crutches on here but for getting round the house they were a lifesaver for me, and they also meant I could walk by myself to the shops or to the hospital for an appointment as without my pram for support I could barely stand.
When it comes to icing just put the ice wherever is sorest. I wouldn't ice everywhere at once because the cold sensation will not be nice, but take turns (15 mins on the right hip, back in freezer, 15 mins on left hip, back in freezer, 15 mins on crotch etc etc) but your physio will be able to advise better given your individual situation. I hope you get some relief soon
T
xx
Thanks Traveller! I am seeing a physio, once a week at this point. I have a support belt, which I also wore last pg, but to be honest I don't think it helps at all!! I find the physio assists with the pain in my SI joints, but there is nothing to be done to help with the the SP... ouch! Will try ice.
In my first pg the SPD kicked in at around 20 weeks, but I had no idea it was abnormal and thought everyone experienced discomfort. Ultimately, it became so bad that I couldn't get out of bed or sit on the toilet and so I was induced at 38 weeks. My second pg, I was a lot more aware and began seeing a physio at about 14 weeks when the pain started (I was already keeping my knees together etc. as I had been educated at the end of my first pg when I was diagnosed). So this time around, I was pretty happy to make it to 16 or 17 weeks before it became noticeably uncomfortable! I have read and been told that SPD tends to be worse in each subsequent pg. Has this been your experience, ladies?
It has certainly been my experience, but my last pregnancy (depite being twins) was more managable than my 2nd because i knew what was going and and how to cope with it. If you feel your physio is not reallyy helping would you consider seeing a chiro? There are some excellent ones who specialise in pregnancy and infants.
nickle - if you see a pelvic floor physio, they may be able to help you with the SP. It's limited and not pleasant, but it does help. Mine basically did an internal exam and used pressure on specific points on the inside to help relieve the pain. Also, the SP pain seems to radiate to the abductors, so they can work on them too (really kills I'm afraid)
I second having a SPD/pelvic instability sticky.
We have started a Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction chatter thread here in the Medical Conditions forum.
Yay - thank you so much!