View Full Version : Symphysis pubis dysfunction-who has/had it?
Hi girls
I'm hoping to start a thread for sufferers of this horrible side effect of pregnancy.
I had SPD in the last 4 weeks of my 2nd pregnancy and very badly from 22 weeks in my 4th pregnancy (crutches, painkillers, etc). I thought it would all end after birth, but not so for me.
I tried pilates, water exercises, physio, osteo, and in the end, after a year of this discomfort, the physio referred me to get prolotherapy injections (a sugar solution that is designed to bring bloodflow to the otherwise fairly immobile pelvis and promote healing). The injections, athough painful, have helped tremendously in healing my symphysis pubis (front pubic area), although my ilio-sacral area is still quite uncomfortable.
We have decided to ttc#5, mainly because my age is not on my side.
I'd love to hear from other spd sufferers. I often wish, when I'm at the end of a very sore day, I could talk about it with someone who knows what I'm going through. And for those who have had it since childbirth, talk about what we've done that's helped.:wave:
I hear you sister! I hear you!
I suffered with SPD from about 20 weeks with #2.
When I fell with #3 though, I was in constant pain from 10 weeks, yes 10 weeks!! In the end I couldn't walk. I had a walking stick to help me when I did NEED to walk. Everything killed! Even when I birthed it hurt a hell of a lot more than the first two times. I couldn't open my legs any further apart then shoulder width. However this didn't stop me from birthing my nearly 10 pound baby! lol
I was still in pain for the first couple months after birth, but now it only hurts when I do too much activity. Even if I've done a bit of walking, I still hurt a lot when I go to bed that night. I just try and make sure I move like the physio taught me to move when I was pregnant, you know, keeping legs together, trying not to put weight on one leg, distributing it evenly through both legs etc etc.
My sever SPD last pregnancy is the reason why we will never have any more children. I figured that if I was in pain from 10 weeks last time, then I would no doubt spend most of the pregnancy in bed if I were to fall again. It's just not worth it to me, having my children be without a mother for the good part of a year. So for that reason, we have decided our three angels are enough for us.
DoulaRobyn
23-03-2009, 19:18
I had SPD with my third pregnancy and it was not diagnosed until I was 23 weeks (even though I had the pain from 9 weeks pregnant). I was out walking at the shops - trying to warm up my pregnancy muscles and ease the pain - when suddenly my body felt strange, I couldn't stand up tall and I couldn't sit either and I felt totally winded.... I shuffled from shop to shop holding onto anything I could find thinking that maybe I was loosing my baby. The pain was beyond anything I had experienced. I couldn't think properly and I couldn't see properly either - think I was blacking out on and off slightly. I shuffled out of the shops and made it almost all the way home. I stood holding onto a tree, stuck in the middle of the main road with two lanes of traffic whizzing past me on both sides. I don't know how long I was standing there. Suddenly one of my friends was there ushering me into a car where I flopped myself over the front seat facing backwards. When we got to the hospital the physios found that my pelvis was 'out' and they 'popped' it back in for me - which was worse than excrutiating. It was then I heard about SPD for the first time - when I was told there was not much you could do for it I cried! From then on I was taped into place twice a week until the end of pregnancy and I did exercises three times a day to strengthen my muscles. I could hardly walk for that whole pregnancy and my husband kept me lighthearted about 'the shuffle' - as he called my walking style. I thought that it would all be over when the baby was born but this was not so. I have found that my body is just not the same.
Seventeen months later I fell pregnant with my last baby and I thought I would be in for the same thing but my muscles were much stronger and I was able to bear the pain well. I bought myself a special belt and kept up with my exercises three times a day. It wasn't until 35 weeks that I became 'unwalkable' (a term my kids made up).
I still get niggles and twinges in my pelvic region - just today I was doing housework and I started getting sore (vacuuming) and had to stop. I thought to myself - must do some more strengthening exercises again. Still do the exercises every morning but make myself do it in the night time as well when I feel niggly and sore and it seems to help the twinges to get further apart - as in not happen as often.
Would be good if more people knew about SPD - would have liked to know what my pain was the first time it came about! Was even hard to find info about it when I got a diagnosis!
Rosebones
23-03-2009, 19:44
:hugs: Hugs to everyone who has posted.
I'm brand new to SPD, it's started at around 20 weeks in this pregnancy, getting worse as the weeks went by before I finally came on here and asked what the heck was up.
It's made every aspect of life difficult. I can really only go out once a week to the shops and even then, I'm hobbling around, groaning. Sleeping is hell, turning over is worse... but I know you all know what I'm talking about.
I'm now having horrible Braxton Hicks - so painful that I've been up to the hospital wondering if maybe 'this was it' but have since been told to grin and bear it all. I do exercises for the SPD but it seems to bring on the pain - I'm in a lose lose situation there.
I can't say anything about after birth yet, but I'll be back.. hopefully in May and not next month. Again...:hugs:
Ah girls, so I am not alone!:yelclap:
Rosebones, my braxton hicks were horrific as well, I never knew when I was going into labour or not. In the end I was induced, my choice, to get rid of the pain and to take away the am I or am I not guesswork. Are you using crutches? Also, get your doc to fill out a temporary disabled parking sticker form from your council. You'll be granted it in a flash and it so helps. I also did a lot of my food shopping online and got it delivered.
DoulaRobyn, vacuuming and mopping the floors are big no no's for me too. It's so frustrating when you have a dirty house (or vomiting baby like I have now) and you can only do so much to clean it all up.
DoulaRobyn and Lunar, give me your opinion on something. I've just given up breastfeeding and this is the first full cycle without it. I'm about 7dpo and for the last 3 I've been aching in my pelvis, which has not ached for over 6 months (due to the prolotherapy injections). I read that relaxin is released in the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle, although it's not bothered me too much before now. I'm wondering if either of you had greater pain during this time of the month when you weren't breastfeeding, than when you were. Or did you get the pain very early in your subsequent pregnancy? The ache is so annoying, not painful but the sort you wish you could put a tens machine on, were there not so much hair down there! I dont mind if this is not the month for getting pregnant for me, but I kinda wish it was as the last thing I want is to have this discomfort EVERY month!
I have had a lot of gyno problems since the birth of # 2. My cycles have never been the same since I gave birth to her 3 years ago. I have had endo removed from uterine ligaments (which was causing me LOTS of pain... felt like I had really bad period pain every single day, and when I actually got a period (which was every two weeks and it lasted two weeks!) that pain was so bad I couldn't move! Panadeine forte (taken 3 at a time every 3 hours) was my best friend.
I have not returned to a 'normal' cycle yet after #3 nearly 6 months ago. Can't answer your question re breast feeding, cos it never worked out for us. I am one of those small percentage that are not able to feed:(
I still sleep with all my pillows that support my pelvis as I did when pregnant. It hurts not to lay without that extra support.
I too was taped up. I went through 3 support belts... nothing helped me after around 28 weeks.
I was induced at 37 weeks for several reasons:
severe SPD
PIH
Baby's size (she was 9p 12 oz born!!:eek:)
Lunar, you sound like you're in so much pain! I was like you a year ago. Have you thought about being referred to a muscular-skeletal specialist? The prolotherapy injections I've been having have not been comfortable by any means, but they (until now) have healed part of my pelvis and made the rest feel much stronger. My coccyx decided to pack up about 6 months ago. The doctor thinks it is because the ligaments have given up trying to support it. Very uncomfortable.
jaesmummy
24-03-2009, 07:19
I just stumbled onto this and really want to know exactly what this condition is and what are the signs of it? I'm 40 next month too and am in such a lot of pain in the pelvic area, hips, lower back etc . I've been whinging about it for weeks to the August mummies. I put it down to my age and that things just aren't as supple as they used to be! I'm 18 weeks. My last pregnancy, only last year, didn't give me this much trouble until about 30 weeks, then it got really painful to walk. I've never heard of this condition. Leanne :bee:
julietv8
24-03-2009, 07:30
I had pretty bad SPD with my last pregnancy that went undiagnosed, I was hobbling and screaming trying to roll over in bed. Im terrified how I'm supposed to look after a 1 year old if it happens again this time.
With my SPD, I have also developed Osteitis Pubis, and parts of my pelvis were so inflamed that bits of bone were breaking away.
The things that I found to have helped were wearing a pelvic support belt, ice,seeing the chiro, and resting as much as possible. I dont know how I will manage to do that this time around, but we will see.
Jaesmummy, symphysis pubis dysfunction occurs when during pregnancy your body release too much of the relaxin hormone and your muscles, mainly around the pelvic area, dont hold your pelvis in place properly. With all the nerves in the area, an unstable pelvis causes incredible discomfort. Some women have continual aches but can still get around, others are on crutches, others in a wheelchair. The classic areas of pain are around the symphysis pubis (front pelvic region) and around the ilio-sacral areas (outer backside). The ilio-sacral area also has the sciatic nerve running through it, so an unstable area here can cause sciatica as well.
It often comes on quite severely and quite suddenly. My physio had me on crutches within a week of the pain. It felt like my cervix was trying to escape from my vagina! The pain was quite intense and I was on panadeine forte daily.
As the girls said, regular physio or osteo helps big time, as does wearing a preggy belly support belt (can get it from most physios, is about $30). And unfortunately you have to rest, not vacuum or mop and try and avoid bending over to pick things up (I bought a great little pick-up thingee from the medical aids store, helped tremendously).
Most women find all or almost total relief within 3-12 months of giving birth. But others, like me, have the ongoing pain after that. It's recommended after birth to do pilates and other core strengthening exercises to improve your muscle tone and pelvis position.
Hope this helps.
Wow girls i don't feel so sorry for my self any more , sounds like you are going through hell . I had this condition with my first , I would collapse suddenly while walking , scream in pain turning over in bed and had to finish work at about 32 weeks as I could no longer get in and out of my car or use the clutch without pain . ( I was in and out of the car most of the day as part of my job ) . I wore one of those stretchy belly supports and a belt over the top to hold me in place . lucky for me I didn't have to use crutches of have any injections , so obviously I could have been worse . After the birth I haven't had any problems with it . With this pregnancy the pain started at about 9 weeks and I was really worried about it . My hubby thought it was funny I was walking like a pregnant women before I was even showing !! I got help with a physio right away and have been exercising and have changed the way I go about everything ( sitting , walking , carrying things etc) . This has made a huge difference for me and the pain decreased and has now settled to be bearable . I am still very sore but I am being very careful not to over do things and rest when I get home from work . fingers crossed things will remain stable for me .
Mundyc, I'm hoping that if we fall preggers in the next few months I too will be able to control the pain with regular physio and being gentle on myself too. I'm currently saving all my gold coins so I can afford a housecleaner when it gets too uncomfortable. Last time I admit I probably overdid it, I'd get up and because the pain wasn't too bad then I'd to all the hosuework, then would collapse in pain a few hours later.
I refuse to let this beat me.
DoulaRobyn
26-03-2009, 09:46
I find that I can no longer lie on my back - in bed and especially not on the floor - I used to like to do pilates and yoga and now I cannot do these things. If it is not the pain that stops me it is the 'something is out of place' feeling that I get - very uncomfortable. I am starting to wonder if I should go to a chiro or something but I am afraid that it might make it worse! I feel like I am just coping with how it is now and would hate to exacerbate the problems to a point where I can't cope.
Here is some general info about SPD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphysis_pubis_dysfunction
Looks like I might just be one of those lucky 7%!
Oh for those who haven't had their babies, I recommend birthing on all fours where you can decide how far apart you can splay your legs.... I also recommend natural birth so that you can keep ligament stretching to a minumum so that the time after the birth is less painful (as in if you have an epi you can strain your muscles more than you would usually and end up in more pain later on as a result of the strained ligaments - does that make sense? I must say that I found birth pain quite easy to deal with in comparison to the day to day pain of SPD!
I am open to questions so please PM me if I don't answer in here - I can sometimes forget to check all the threads I have posted in!
I find that I can no longer lie on my back - in bed and especially not on the floor - I used to like to do pilates and yoga and now I cannot do these things. If it is not the pain that stops me it is the 'something is out of place' feeling that I get - very uncomfortable. I am starting to wonder if I should go to a chiro or something but I am afraid that it might make it worse! I feel like I am just coping with how it is now and would hate to exacerbate the problems to a point where I can't cope.
Here is some general info about SPD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphysis_pubis_dysfunction
Looks like I might just be one of those lucky 7%!
Oh for those who haven't had their babies, I recommend birthing on all fours where you can decide how far apart you can splay your legs.... I also recommend natural birth so that you can keep ligament stretching to a minumum so that the time after the birth is less painful (as in if you have an epi you can strain your muscles more than you would usually and end up in more pain later on as a result of the strained ligaments - does that make sense? I must say that I found birth pain quite easy to deal with in comparison to the day to day pain of SPD!
I am open to questions so please PM me if I don't answer in here - I can sometimes forget to check all the threads I have posted in!
While I agree with the birthing position suggestions... I kinda don't agree too.
With DD2 I had SPD, I gave birth on all fours (well kind of.. I had the bed head put right up and was on my knees kind of leaning over the bed head) and that was the only position I was comfortable in. Although, when it came to DD3 (nearly 6 months ago) I couldn't move at all due to the SPD pain. I laid on the bed, on my side, until my baby was coming out, then I was rolled (screamed in pain SO loud!) over on to my back and was not able to open my legs more than shoulder width apart because of the pain. I really don't know how my 10 pound baby came out! But she came out fast! I would have really liked an active birth, but my SPD was so severe that walking around while I wasn't in labour was near impossible, let alone moving around while my huge baby was making her way into the world! lol
I think you just need to listen to your body at the time. Whatever is comfortable, just do it! One of the midwives made a huge mistake when I was in labour, she grabbed my legs and forced them open and up... I nearly kicked her in the head! But I think my extremely loud painful scream made her realise what a huge mistake she had made. It was then that the midwife who was looking after me explained that I had severe pelvic seperation and she then said to me "Oh, sorry".:rolleyes:
Just make sure who ever is looking after you knows that you have this condition, because if they don't and do a stupid mistake lik what happened to me, it can make things SO much worse!
I had it from about 17 weeks. By the end it was excruciating, i could barely shuffle, rolling over in bed was a major achievement and I'll never forget the agony of trying to get my knowckers on each morning ..even resorted to wearing a robe or dresses with none somedays as it was too hard to do the lift one leg at a time thing..even if sitting. I had severe muscle spasms in my buttocks/hips which I am told was my body's way of compensating for the relaxed ligaments and was the only reason my pelvis/ hips were not dislocating more.:eek:
My baby never engaged (despite three dyas of prelabour/labour). The doctors at the hospital kind of brushed it off, but my Chiropractor suggested that it may have been something to do wiht the severe muscle spasm I was having in my pelvic region that was actually twisting my pelvis. He muttered something about how inflammed my syphasis pubis was and how if the internal soft tissue is as swollen, then there is a possibility that the birth canal would be smaller and distorted. This actually makes sense to me thinking back
Anyhow. I dont think I realise how much painI was in until after the baby was out. (I had a C/S). he relief was fantastic. Though I still 8mths later have pain in my sp if I lie on my side. I also still have a problem at times getting up from a squat or lunge. But its still improving.
hope that makes sense
bf restless bubba, typing one handed..:rolleyes:
I am starting to wonder if I should go to a chiro or something but I am afraid that it might make it worse
DR, we have an osteo only 3 doors away and I felt as nervous as you, although that was before the birth. I saw him after at my husband's insistence and in fact was there 4 hours ago. Bloody marvellous! He realigns me, massages out tightness and gives me relief for up a week. Because of these sessions I had the ability to recommence pilates and do deep water running (highly recommended, no leg splitting, no pressure on pelvis) and I feel so much stronger and in much less pain.
I also recommend getting an x-ray of your pelvis to see exactly where you are out of alignment. That way my osteo and physician were able to know what areas to really target.
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