That Good Ol' Symphysis Pubis Ligament.

[Seekrit]

:wave:
As the girls in the July thread know, I managed to try to upright a futon on Wednesday and I suddenly felt hurty. Very hurty. To the point where my phrase of the day was "I think I broke my vagina"

Low low pain, very sore when I turn suddenly, drag my feet, try to stand up, just walk.. the works. Sometimes it's fine and I feel nothing, other times I yelp in pain and grimace for a while.. (or email workmates to come and help me stand up)

I saw a midwife yesterday, she suggested that, given where it hurts, it's more than likely the Symphysis Pubis Ligament and being that I'm complaining of the pain on one side I could very well have tried to tear it from the bone. (aren't I clever)

It's beginning to feel better today, it hurts ALL THE TIME however not as much as the previous jolts of pain, if that makes sense - so it hurts more often however with less intensity. And, on midwife's orders, I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow who will probably say "Panadol, Take it easy, Warm compress" (who knows, I might get some sick days out of it) and that'll be it.

What I want to know is, has anyone else hurt their Symphysis Pubis Ligament or had any trouble with it and what worked for you? I was also referred to physio but they're booked up for 2 and a half weeks !! :eek:

Thankies :)

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

:wave:
"I think I broke my vagina"

What I want to know is, has anyone else hurt their Symphysis Pubis Ligament or had any trouble with it and what worked for you? I was also referred to physio but they're booked up for 2 and a half weeks !!


Hi Seekrit - I so there with you - I had this happen at 26 weeks...I was happily bumbling along in the mall with my sisters and DH and all of a sudden I was like bloody hell it feels like someone chainsawed me right up through my vagina and all of a sudden I was walking like John Wayne with my sisters and Dh rolling around in laughter...I was not a happy bunny. I asked my midwife the next week what i could so as I couldnt walk really and was in tears walking from car to clinic...she told me same as you...and that really nothing that can be done!!!!but that I could take a panadeine a day to help relieve the pain...I was referred to a physio but went to the open clinic as they told me I'd have to wait 3 weeks foran appoint - does your place have an open clinic? Anyway the physio confirmed it was inflamed Symphysis Pubis Ligament and maybe torn - reiterated they dont do anything about it - only handful of surgeons in country who would fix and not when pregnant anyway...what she did was issue me with a really sexy corset/belt that holds you in and gives you a small amount of relief...makes it a bit easier to get in and out of bed anywhow...and some fitball exercises...and advice of bed rest and swimming and couple other exercises...I now nearly 37 weeks and it still crippling but I tolerate the constant pain now and am not taking painkillers...just know I cant do much :( and if I do go for a walk or big shopping trip I will suffer! Sleeping at night I bung pillows between my legs and behind my back...they did offer me crutches and something that looked like a zimmerframe! f got unbearable...but my Dh away and I just have to get on with it and figured crutches would make it even harder to do things...oh hot (well warmer baths) help heaps as does a hotwater bottle on the area that sore...I know may not be practical but if you can finish work that helps...I worked for 3 weeks with it before my leave started and OMG the agony esp getting up from sitting down and getting out of car after commuting...at least now I can just go to bed or have a bath when it gets too bad...
The good news is that it usually goes after birth...or at least in the weeks after...its cos you have a too small pelvis for bub and it your bodies way of stretching it....so I was told - so I figured must mean I am having a whopper. I always thought I had child bearing hips so to speak!!:D A lickle fact they purposely split the mothers symphasis pubis in some African countries to get the baby out - buggers the mother though usually kills them...so we could be worse off! :eek:
Good luck with getting to see a physio...jump up and down a bit and at least get them to issue you with a corset...

[Seekrit]

thank you for all of that! It was a bit of a "yay! someone understands!"
My main concern is that it will hamper labour, but I guess everything else will be so sore that a little bit of ligament stretching won't be much!

I have 2 weeks of work left... luckily I only work 4 days a week and they understood on Thursday and let me sorta deal with it at my desk (I'm kinda up to doing "quick gotta do this before i leave" things anyway so I should be right) and I've learnt a new way to get out of the chair! Hooray!

You sound like you're in a bit more pain than I'm in at the moment.. the physio i'm seeing is at th ehospital, part and parcel of being admitted there I think.. so I could pay my own but I don't have that cash. I'll just tough it out!

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

oh by the way - the physio I saw was at hospital too...not paid for...they jsut happen to have a sit and wait clinic which I headed to as couldnt wait 3 weeks! I wonder if your hospital does that too? ;)

[xkwzit]

Hey Seekrit
I know a bit of what you are going through, I found a visit to a physio really helpful, but all she told me really was to use my mucsles to "hold" my pelvis in shape - particularly when you are about to get off a chair or while walking (and def no running :shame: ).

It is pretty normal and is caused by the relaxin hormone making your ligaments nice and soft on prep for the birth. So the ligaments aren't doing their normal job in stabilising your pelvis. (??I was not told anything like my pelvis was too small, DD2 was pretty average size: 8 and half pounds??). So think about each move you make (particularly if you're in a bit of pain - after a week of this, mine was quite controllable):
- Sit up on your bottom bones with your knees together (I know that's so much easier than it sounds - I personally favoured the cross legged buddah sit). But at least put your knees together before you get up.
- Think about holding your pelvis together while you are walking - imagine that you've got an elastic band around your hips, but use your muscles to do that.
- Pull your knees together before you roll in bed (it hurts less).

HTH:)

[Crazyfamily]

Hi,
I know how you are feeling. I have been induced with my last 2 babies due to this condition. My last in particular was so bad a could barely walk. It does ease after birth but mine is still not better.
Good Luck and take care.

[Seekrit]

Yay!
So I went to the doctor, he pulled my legs up and down and stuff, rocked my pelvis and told me it wasn't serious at all and should heal itself in no time! (Because nothing he was doing was hurting)
Hooooray! :smiliedance:

I still feel like queen of the stupids, however less painful stupids now!

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

Thats good news seekrit however i would be open to more pain because in both my pregnancies i have had it and im sorry to say for me it hasnt got better till i gave birth(didnt interfere with birth).I get it real bad to the point where i cant walk i feel my fanny bone crunching when i walk:eek: turning over is a mission and getting out of bed is another story but really know your not the only one and we can sympothise with you;) i hope for you that it is only a temporary thing:fingerscrossed:

[Beany]

Seekrit, I totally empathise ...

I did the same thing and it bloody hurt. A lot. For ages. Because I'm stupider.

I thought I'd just pulled a muscle, you see, so I thought I'd walk it out. By the time I dragged my feet home, I was panting with pain and did it ever hurt to sit down. Or shift. Or stand up. Or breathe. I honestly thought that something or other was dilating and I was going to go into labour.

I rested it for a day and it feels much better today. I even sneezed without having to yell profanity afterwards! :thumbsup:

[wonkyjoints]

Hi All,
You may be interested to have a look at www.pelvicintsability.org.au (www.pelvicinstability.org.au) - we are an Australian support group for this very problem. Most women with this recover with no further problems, but it's worthwile having a look at the site, there is much you can do to avoid aggravating it further, and tips for dealing with it in day to day life.
Cheers,
Kate

[petster]

Hi guys

Just thought I'd add my bit...

I had pubis symphysis (?sp) pain in my first pregnancy from around 20 weeks - although I didn't realize that's what it was until much later... The pain wasn't unbearable, but it was always there, and it especially hurt to move after being stationary...

I'm currently 9 and a half weeks pregnant, and I can feel it starting to happen again!! How is that possible?? The baby is only 3 cm big at this stage! I am already starting to show, which also scares me - how big am I going to get???

Anyway, sorry - got side-tracked.. Just wanted to sympathise with you all - I know what it's like and it ain't fun!

Cheers!

[Seekrit]

Hey Petster, I believe it hurts more from the relaxin rather than pressure, so don't worry about that!!

I should note that my one feels a LOT better, It hurts at times and I have to be careful when I do some things, but really, I think it's healed itself quite well! I won't be going to the physio afterall, I figure i'd free up the appointment for someone who needs it rather than me who can tell it's getting better. :)

[petster]

That's good news Seekrit! Glad it's starting to feel better...

Your point about relaxin makes sense - thanks for that - feel much better and not quite so much like a freak!

Cheers!

[shellbell]

Hi girls,

I too can sympathise with this curse of pregnancy :D . I suffered during preg #1, although didn't know what is was, with #2, it started around 12weeks and got worse (archer's size didn't help - 10lb4oz). I'm now 11 1/2 wks with #3, so maybe I have a few more days to be pain-free :crying: . Oh, but the sciatica is already here, so who knows !

One thing is for sure, it may suck but we all survive. YAY us !!

love michelle

[wonkyjoints]

After having pretty severe pelvic instability in my first pregnancy, a sore pelvis was the first sign of my second pregnancy (less than a week after conception!!!) Apparently you get a hormone surge pretty early on. Some people find that things settle down in second trimester; I have spoken to several women who were really worried and then found that it never really came back as a major problem - others who have completely different experiences. Everyone's different (but don't look a gift horse in the mouth; if it has improved, enjoy it carefully!
Cheers,
Kate

[Beany]

Mine certainly hasn't improved :thumbsdown:

The most painful thing is turning over in bed - it's bad enough that there isn't many comfortable sleeping positions left but to add a cattle-prod-like shock to the nether regions is just cruel!

Stupid mother nature.

[wonkyjoints]

I ended up sleeping in a medical recliner chair that we hired from a medical supplies shop. It was fantastic - I also used it to labour in which worked really well.
Cheers,
Kate

[MrsMiggins]

I had terrible ligament pain in the 3rd trimester of my PG. I am very dsimayed to learn it comes back earlier in subsequent PG's!! (or can do):eek:

[wonkyjoints]

Just thought I should post the link to the Australian support group for pelvic instability (The Pelvic Instability Association) www.pelvicinstability.org.au - there is lots of information as well as coping strategies and details of upcoming meetings.
Cheers,
Kate