SPD Support Thread

[leesey]

I've found my knees clicking more often, and my wrists too. It's the excess hormone loosening all our joints, it's just our pelvises that get it worst. I can't remember tweetyfoo, do you know what the cause of your spd is? I know mine is hypermobility (excessive extension of joints) because I have a weird I-can-bend-my-elbows-backwards thing, and I know it can affect all joints. My knees sometimes jar out of place for no reason xx

Hi Leesey, my physio said the caused of my SPD was hypermobility, when she looked at me when I was standing my knees and elbows bend slightly backwards. She also said that people who are very flexible (often because of the hypermobility) can be badly affected and I was a gymnast for many years xx

Gymnastics for me too

I am (was) a gymnastics coach and so was doing it a few times a week right up until last year. Physio said that was the problem with my back, I had that curve that they see so often xx

 

[CARNAT22]

I just want to say I have renewed respect for all you ladies suffering!

I am currently in agony with my neck and I simply don't know how I'd cope with this pain long term

Big hugs to you all

xxxxxxxx

 

[leesey]

I just want to say I have renewed respect for all you ladies suffering!

I am currently in agony with my neck and I simply don't know how I'd cope with this pain long term

Big hugs to you all

xxxxxxxx

xx

 

[Gayle30]

I'm waiting on my mw calling me back. I've not shut my eyes for pains in my foof and hips. I have had it about 3 weeks now and just thought it was baby settling into position and my hips widening, but this is unreal. Getting up to pee 45 times a night is killing me. I've tried what they suggested, 6hourly paracetamol, sitting on heat or ice packs and I've had enough this morning. I've had to phone in sick at work cause I'm in too much pain to walk 25 minutes. I'm going on holiday on Saturday and I'm really pissed off that this is spoiling it.

Reading through your thread has made me wonder if it's the start of SPD, I did ask the midwife at my 25 week check but she said to give it a few weeks to settle and see. I'm at the end of my tether today though. I already have chronic fatigue syndrome so getting no sleep at all is making everything feel like its a million times worse than it is.

Only positive thing is cause I've been up all night, so has baby. I love lying in bed watching my tummy jump side to side! 12 weeks till D day but I can't imagine doing this for that long, it's getting slowly worse.

Hope you ladies are ok today, as far as ok gets you anyway..you know what I mean. Hoping my mw phones me back and says its something else, not SPD but I've a funny feeling it's going to progress. Booooo, hate feeling like a bag of crap. Just want to feel better like I was xxx

 

[1stBump12]

Oh it's just rubbish! Yes I am still working (although at the moment I am home more than working!) But don't think I will be working up to my intended day somehow! Have this week off (holiday) and have managed to do sod all - ordered a few things online and that's about it! I burst into tears last night with pure frustration - I'm so tired from the lack of sleep and I've really had enough of the pain! And now I have chronic heartburn and my MW is on holiday AGAIN!!

No-one has suggested any causes to me?!?

I've just left a message with the physio, as someone has suggested Aquanatal classes or Pregnancy Yoga - Seeing as putting my socks on each day is a struggle I doubt I'd manage either - but I am willing to try anything!!

 

[Zoe20]

It could be spd Gayle, reading your other post (Help) try and take a break as often as poss. Shame you dont live near me I have a heater box that plugs into the cig lighter on the car, it does get very hot I would have let you borrow it. other than that i dont know what else to suggest for the journey :S Hope you mw rings back soon for you.

 

[willowwisp]

Another one with SPD here. I was so hypermobile prior to pregnancy that even your average physio could tell I was mobile just from the way I walked.

I'm in utter agony and have been for weeks. I'm literally held together by tape, SIJ belt and morphine. I'm doing everything possible. Walking is out, I walk more than about 100 foot and I can't actually get one foot completely in front of the other, I'm shuffling along.

Sadly my shoulders are so loose that I can't sleep on my side, nor can I sleep on my back or my tummy, so I'm not really sleeping at all.

Any tips much appreciated!

Out of interest, how many women with severe SPD managed a normal labour?

 

[leesey]

I've just left a message with the physio, as someone has suggested Aquanatal classes or Pregnancy Yoga - Seeing as putting my socks on each day is a struggle I doubt I'd manage either - but I am willing to try anything!!

Being in the pool is a godsend, you feel so light and you can walk without pain. Just don't do any breaststroke or any moves where you separate your legs or stand on one foot for too long xx

 

[tweetyfoo]

She also said that people who are very flexible (often because of the hypermobility) can be badly affected and I was a gymnast for many years xx

This is interesting ... I've never done gymnastics (well ok I tried to start it at the grand old age of 24 but it didn't go well ) however I did martial arts for years, meaning flexibility and lots of damage to my joints ...

The back injury thing is interesting too - I got pulled down a flight of stairs 18 months ago, I tore all the muscles in my lower back and I now have 2 prolapsed discs (this is why I'm seeing consultant, not the SPD) I was unable to walk for 8 weeks back then too ...

I don't think this has "caused" the SPD, but I think maybe my body has just been through too much, added with the distress on my joints from martial arts and its taken its toll?

Its too much of a cooincidence that we all have flexibility and back injuries surely?!

I had a better night last night I managed to get some sleep ... down to sheer exhaustion more than anything I think.

I've found a local beauty salon that does massages at a reasonable price (£30/hr) and is happy to massage me. I just want a leg massage so badly, so going to try and set that up to see if it will help.

My knee seems ok today

 

[leesey]

I've always been flexible, even though I stopped gymnastics between the ages of ten and 22, I've always been fit and sporty. I did kickboxing and stuff in my adult life, and was always one of the most flexible people in the class.

My back injury was caused by falling down concrete stairs in the snow, didn't tear anything but I had had crunchy grindy discs for months and was in agony for weeks, had to bandage myself up to even stand.

I think hypermobility just makes you more prone to injury that's all xx

 

[willowwisp]

I don't have any physical injuries, except dislocating a shoulder a couple of years ago, I think mine is just wear caused by the hypermobility. I think wear/scaring just makes things worse for us as it makes the ligaments even longer.

Interestingly my physio was telling me that lots of people who suffer with hypermobility have stomach/digestive problems. IBS and food allergies are common as well as more complex digestive complaints. They aren't sure why though!

I can't do yoga, I can't hold neutral in my joints to be able to do it. Last time I tried gentle yoga with a hypermobility specialist I couldn't move for about a week!

 

[leesey]

Interestingly my physio was telling me that lots of people who suffer with hypermobility have stomach/digestive problems. IBS and food allergies are common as well as more complex digestive complaints. They aren't sure why though!

Wow! Totally never knew that!! Both me and my SIL have hypermobility and we both have IBS!! That is so weird!!

 

[mrs_bump]

How interesting, I have been treated for ibs too! Xx

 

[willowwisp]

Yes I have digestive problems too! No idea why, but apparently it's noted in quite a substantial proportion of hypermobility cases, I've seen quotes figures from 60-90% when I researched it. One thing I read said 90% of people who are mobile through the hip/back have digestive problems. Where as if it's just your knee's affected you are less likely to have tummy problems.

My shoulders are the worse, they are all over the place and my digestive issues are high up my digestive tract. I have a friend who is not so mobile through the shoulders but is more mobile than me through the hips and her tummy problems are lower down/IBS type issues. So I wonder if it's even where you mobile that's affected.

 

[leesey]

Yes I have digestive problems too! No idea why, but apparently it's noted in quite a substantial proportion of hypermobility cases, I've seen quotes figures from 60-90% when I researched it. One thing I read said 90% of people who are mobile through the hip/back have digestive problems. Where as if it's just your knee's affected you are less likely to have tummy problems.

My shoulders are the worse, they are all over the place and my digestive issues are high up my digestive tract. I have a friend who is not so mobile through the shoulders but is more mobile than me through the hips and her tummy problems are lower down/IBS type issues. So I wonder if it's even where you mobile that's affected.

That's amazing, really interesting! xx

 

[tweetyfoo]

I have digestive problems too! How weird

 

[Zoe20]

hmm very interesting. As too much dairy produce upsets my tummy and when i was 17 i damaged my coccyx.

 

[tweetyfoo]

OUCH

This is me today - thats all

 

[leesey]

Well consultant appointment was useless today
Completely useless, no usual so locum dr, didn't bother reading my notes, asked why I had crutches and who gave me them! Said the usual 'some women just don't feel movement' speech wrt reduced movement and said let nature take its course ie no induction or even sweep. She was horribly dismissive of my pelvic pain and said 'everyone feels that way at this stage' :'( She was surprised when I said I had a physio appointment on Tuesday and asked what for! Horrible useless woman and I feel very frustrated xx

 

[tweetyfoo]

Awww Leesey thats rubbish!