Symphosis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) anyone?

[CookAMH]

I didn't see a thread on this already. I dealt with this in my prior pregnancy and anticipate it occuring again. Anyone else? I just made an appt for next week, at the recommendation of my midwife, with a physical therapist who deals with pelvic issues. I plan to do the exercises she gives me, and also resume webster chiropractic care later on. I'd also consider getting a belly support band or belt to help.

There is a great article here on it http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm

[Marissamom]

I had pubic symphosis pain pain with my first due to a misalignment in one of the S-I joints of my pelvis, and have had some so for with this one too when the S-I joint misaligns. once I actually set an actual appointment up with a midwife I will probably start seeing either a chiropractor or a physical therapist.

[pandora665]

I had it bad from 34-40 weeks with my first one, and a chiropractor got me through the last few weeks. This one, at 12 weeks, I started feeling it (but thought it was bad cramps the first day - SCARY!). I started doing the cat/cow pose, and it's been fine, but I still have my chiro number all looked up should I need her.

[Mrsboyko]

SPD was my first prego sign this time. Talk about early presentation. Anyways, I notice it gets MUCH worse if I am carrying my kids. DS is 19 months and 25 lbs, and DD is nearly 4 and 34 lbs. I can get away with carrying my son sometimes, but if I lift DD more than once in a day, I start to feel it.

What I have learned is that I lack glutes, butt muscles. I know that lots of people preach the advantage of Kegles, but if you already lack glutes, all they end up doing is throwing your pelvic alignment even more off, it pulls the sacrum forward. So, doing squats against a wall (with no weights) and being concious of actually flexing your glutes when you walk helps a ton. It pulls the sacrum back into alignment and everything else follows.

When/if you start to feel the pain, keep your legs together as much as possible. Sleep with a pillow between your knees to keep them paralell, sit on your car seat and swing in both legs together. It really does help. Hope it doesn't get bad this time, it is awful.

[wildnewmamma]

I too had this with my first, so hoping I don't have the problem again, but would be really surprised if not. Thank goodness for my chiropractor, I would have never made it through. For me it was all early on, and right after I would practice agility with my dogs...which I have some upcoming training to do so I'm hoping that doesn't trigger it again. I think for me it was that early on changing of ligaments/alignment and the extra activity would throw me off. It is nice to have the discussion so that folks know about it incase they experience it...my ddc was actually how I found out about it last time.

[CookAMH]

I think I definitely aggravated mine the first time by doing leg presses at the gym, as well as squatting to practice for labor, and also doing the hip aductor/abductor machine at the gym. My chiro told me to stop those things and I did, so it helped. I won't be doing those this time.

A pillow between the legs is good as was mentioned, though I actually needed to roll up a towel to keep the structure all night.

The mention of glutes reminds me of this article. I have always had a flat butt, so I am sure that has something to do with it for me. However, doing any glute exercises once the pain started KILLED. I couldn't do them. So I'll ask my PT about it next week if starting some now will help later.

An excerpt from the article/interview (PF = pelvic floor; PFD = pelvic floor disorder):

A kegel attempts to strengthen the PF, but it really only continues to pull the sacrum inward promoting even more weakness, and more PF gripping. The muscles that balance out the anterior pull on the sacrum are the glutes. A lack of glutes (having no butt) is what makes this group so much more susceptible to PFD. Zero lumbar curvature (missing the little curve at the small of the back) is the most telling sign that the PF is beginning to weaken. Deep, regular squats (pictured in hunter-gathering mama) create the posterior pull on the sacrum. Peeing like this in the shower is a great daily practice, as is relaxing the PF muscles to make sure that you're not squeezing the bathroom muscle closers too tight. Just close them enough...An easier way to say this is: Weak glutes + too many Kegels = PFD

This article is really fascinating.

Here is a link to the interviewee's blog with specifics about the squat for strengthening glutes: http://www.katysays.com/2010/06/02/you-dont-know-squat/

[MamaPhD]

Ugh I had a pretty bad SPD with my first. It started at around 7-8 months preg and lasted (luckily!) for about a month. I couldn't walk and had to work so that was no fun. I was literally taking one step every second or two. I think it just started and stopped on its own but now I know how to deal with it better from the links you guys posted in case I get it again this time around. Thanks!

[Aliy]

yup and it sucks.....

Thankfully my DH is a RMT so he can help out a bit.. it started around 13 or so weeks... some days are worse than others....

[michanders4]

I'm so glad you started this thread! Is SPD the same as pelvic girdle pain? I've been having a lot of pain in my lower back/butt that shoots down my legs a little when I get up from sitting. It seems to be getting worse. I think I need to see a chiropractor. Ugh.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by michanders4

I'm so glad you started this thread! Is SPD the same as pelvic girdle pain? I've been having a lot of pain in my lower back/butt that shoots down my legs a little when I get up from sitting. It seems to be getting worse. I think I need to see a chiropractor. Ugh.

Yes, they have recently renamed it. I guess pubis was too weird to say?

I'd check out the links I posted on exercises, and ditto on the chiropractor!

[VeganCupcake]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

I think I definitely aggravated mine the first time by doing leg presses at the gym, as well as squatting to practice for labor, and also doing the hip aductor/abductor machine at the gym. My chiro told me to stop those things and I did, so it helped. I won't be doing those this time.

A pillow between the legs is good as was mentioned, though I actually needed to roll up a towel to keep the structure all night.

The mention of glutes reminds me of this article. I have always had a flat butt, so I am sure that has something to do with it for me. However, doing any glute exercises once the pain started KILLED. I couldn't do them. So I'll ask my PT about it next week if starting some now will help later.

An excerpt from the article/interview (PF = pelvic floor; PFD = pelvic floor disorder):



This article is really fascinating.

Here is a link to the interviewee's blog with specifics about the squat for strengthening glutes: http://www.katysays.com/2010/06/02/you-dont-know-squat/

I've been practicing the squatting exercises recently because although I didn't have SPD last time, I do have some back and hip issues that can be uncomfortable anytime, let alone during pregnancy.

[Aliy]

has anyone tried a maternity support belt for this?
I'm thinking of getting one

[CookAMH]

I would consider getting one if depsite exercises, I still have pain later on. I have come to regard the cause of the pain as more important than the pain itself, so I am concerned to be resolving the slackness in my pelvic floor first, and if in the meantime, I need the support, I'd get a support belt. That is largely because I am going for a vbac, and I want my pelvis in great shape!

[Aliy]

what are you doing for exercises..

went for a walk today....... it was long we actually took the boys to the zoo.... this was a very very very bad idea..... so much pain... feeling better after dh did some work but very painful....

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Aliy

what are you doing for exercises..

went for a walk today....... it was long we actually took the boys to the zoo.... this was a very very very bad idea..... so much pain... feeling better after dh did some work but very painful....

I plan to do the daily squat that is in the link I posted above. Since I thankfully don't have pain yet, I haven't really started but need to. I also see a PT next week and will see what her exercises are. These I hope to be faithful with to hopefully avoid the pain this time.