Treatment for SPD?

[Velvetee]

I've mentioned this problem before and a fellow Aber suggested I may have SPD. I now believe I do have this, as I seem to have all the symptoms.

I went out for the day yesterday, so did loads of walking. After sitting for a while, I stood up and my left buttock, to the left of my coccyx was very painful. Everytime I put weight on my left leg, I got a sharp pain in the buttock. By the end of the day, I could barely walk.

I've heard SPD can be quite serious, unfortunately, the borough I live in, does not provide Midwife led Ante Natal care, so all my appointments are with my GP. I'm concerned he will not take my problem seriously and this could lead to problems during and after giving birth.

What sort of treatment should I be seeking?

Thanks

[Ice.Maiden]

It doesn't sound exactly like SPD to me, Velvetee, since you seem to have no pelvic pain, and that's where the condition's centred. If it IS that, then it's easily treatable, but after the birth of your baby, you need to get back into pre-pregnancy shape if you're considering having another baby fairly soon afterwards.
You don't need a midwife. Your GP should be able diagnose the condition, or a chiropractor.

[zxyvixy]

you should go to your local hospital where you are booked in to have your baby and they will give you the treatment you need.it does sound like the baby is lying on a nerve
an obstetric physiotherapist, and usually your GP or midwife can refer you.
The physiotherapist can give you a pelvic support garment to wear such as a belt or Tubigrip bandage, and crutches if walking is difficult. You'll also be given gentle exercises to help strengthen the muscles supporting the joint and general advice about posture and activities to avoid. S/he will also discuss delivery options and positions with you. If necessary, you can also be referred to an occupational therapist for other aids to make your daily life easier.
Your doctor can only prescribe safe painkillers to take in pregnancy, usually paracetamol.which wont do much good.

[Picky]

Morning Velvetee
I was diagnosed with SPD in my 14th week of pregnancy. I went to my GP who refered me to a obstetric physiotherapist who I had to appointment with 2 weeks later who showed me some exercises, different ways to do things like getting in and out of the car and she also gave me a girdle to wear which does help. SPD is not necessarily in the pelvis, I have no pain there at all, it's all in the small of my back/top of my bum and in my hips. The way she explained it was that the pelvis is like a circle (looking down on it) so any part of it can be affected. I would recommend getting to your GP asap for a definatel diagnosis and refereal to a physio. I had been prescribed paracetemol and codeine for the pain when it is at it's most severe, although I haven't taken any codeine yet (I don't like taking things at all if I can help it!). The one thing she said to try and avoid was hot baths as it can relax the muscles around the pelvis and make the pain worse and the best type of exercise as being pilates as it's all about strenghtening the trans abs muscles (the ones you would pull in if you were trying to get a pain of tight jeans on!). Good luck, let me know how you get on
Px

[redcrx]

velvet, i think i mentioned SPD to you when you had pubic pain. The pain you describe sounmds more like baby is lying on a nerve rather than SPD.
But speak to your midwife or GP and if they think you have SPD they will refer you to a physio who will give you information of how to releive the discomfort and perhaps may give you a support bandage to ease it too.

[annie0000]

I think it is more likely that you have sacroiliac hip disfunction, This is basically caused by the same thing as SPD, but it is in the part of the pelvis affecting the hips rather than the pubic bone.

I had it with both my pregnancies and saw a physio and the gp. Measures you can take yourself are:

Soften up your bed - add a mattress topper or a duvet under your sheet.

Sit on a cushion and try not to sit for too long, especially in a car.

try not to twist especially when getting out of bed.

When you are walking, make sure that you are evenly balanced - dont wear a shoulder bag or carry something in one hand only

Avoid carrying anything too heavy

It may restrict your movements in childbirth and in particular you will not be able to go on all fours. You may find beneifit using a stick or crutches depending if it is affecting both sides or only one.

I had it from about 5 months with my first, but managed to get to about 7 with careful handling with my second despite looking after my little one who was only 13 months when my second was born and working full time. Sitting on the pew at my neices wedding was the killer that time.

The good news is that within days of the birth, the pain totally goes.

[Velvetee]

Thanks everyone. My symptoms generally consist of pain in my pubic area between my legs, which I find is worsened when I stand up after sitting for a while. Then when I start walking the pain worsens. I've been experiencing this since 17 weeks.

It could also be a bit of Sciatica too. I will ask my doctor tomorrow. Are there any tests which he will perform to see if it is SPD?

Thanks

[annie0000]

How did you get on at the docs?