SPD - Symphysis pubis dysfunction Forum

Posted: 04 May 2008 at 9:44am | IP Logged

thank the lord i'm not mad, i have never met anyone who has had spd as severe as i have. i got it at 10wks and i am still in agony now, milly is 3 now. I was told it would disappear as soon as i had the baby. I admit i could actually walk instead of shuffling but it is still severe. I am in constant pain. Will I ever get better, I have been in agony all week, and am struggling to work. I have a couple of days off back in on thursday and am dreading it as it has been so bad this week. Does anyone have any tips on how to make things easier, or even how to get GP to listen, I have been referred to pain management but not sure what this is, I'm getting to the point were i am starting to think i may benefit from crutches again

Posted: 04 May 2008 at 11:02am | IP Logged

Hiya Mella and a very warm welcome to Madmums!!

Of Course you are Mad - thats why you are here   but seriously, there are a lot of ladies on here still suffering with spd for months even years after the birth of their children, so you are definately not alone hunny.

We do have a buddy scheme, which you can find on the 'community' drop-down menu at the top of this page, which you can talk to your 'buddy' confidentially about any worries that you have or if you just want to unload and get stuff off your chest.

All the ladies and gents on here are very approachable and a friendly community so please do not hesitate to ask.

Looking forward to chatting to you also.

Nikki xxxxx

Posted: 04 May 2008 at 4:55pm | IP Logged

thanks for the reply tsena it really helps, drs seemed to be stumped, i'm on co-codamol, amitriptyline and fluoxetine. Don't feel too bad today but i've been off my feet all day. Last week was the worst i've had for a long time, I had the mirena coil fitted and helped with my periods and pain for a while.

One GP told me it was my head telling me i was feeling pain but i wasn't really, I got up and stormed out in tears. Feel whole lot better knowing i can speak to someone who understands, been on this site all day

thankyou thankyou thankyou

husbands trying to watch football keep shouting listen to this

Posted: 04 May 2008 at 7:14pm | IP Logged

Lol bless you maybe I should warn you now! This site is very addictive! It has also become a lifeline to many members (myself included).

Right now down to business! lol.

i'm glad i was able to help a little.

The pain you have is most defiantly not in your head! Have you been seeing a physio? Have you had any x-rays done??

If so do you know what they found? A chriopractor (one that specalises in pregnancy related conditions) seems to be another popular way forward if you can afford the cost.

I won't bore you with all the meds i'm on, as different ones suit different people. So a pain clinic might be able to adjust your meds or offer alternative treatment.... as gp's seem to be limited on the meds that they can suggest.

As for Docs being stumpted a cause that i have found out that seems to be common in long term spd sufferes is Joint Hypermobility. (physio's work on strengthening core muscle groups)..... i saw rhumetology to get my diagnosis confirmed..... it might be an avenue that you want to look into.... It's basically over flexible joints (if you go to this site it gives some of the key hypermobility traits). It's one reason why the ligaments remain loose.

Try and pace yourself but also try not to aviod things because of pain (doesn't sound like you are) but if you do you'll have muscle loss over time.... taking it steady knowing your limits and being a mum i'm sure those limits get pushed anyway!

Give us a bell if you have any more questions hun..... Glad to hear you've rested up! Chat again soon now doubt! x

Posted: 05 May 2008 at 9:12am | IP Logged

mella, i can only echo all that has been said. you are left wondering if you have gone bonkers because frankly i will scream if i hear one more person ask so why do you think that you feel this way, what exactly is the problem? it should be gone now now. aaaarrrggghhhh! ...that feels better now!

we are all here for you and trust me these girls and guys are good at walking through the dark times with you.

they have given me the faith in myself to trust myself and believe in myself and to know i am not alone.

Posted: 06 May 2008 at 8:39pm | IP Logged

hi babe!

I'm sorry I havent been in touch sooner - I have had a bit of a mad weekend.

I had SPD starting from 8 weeks pregnant and ending with me wheelchair/bed bound and on morphine - my son was delievered by emergancy c section at 38 weeks.

When I had my son my SPD went away and I was ecstatic! However he was 4 months old when it started coming back. It got worse and worse til I was back to walking with aids.

I tried everything i could think of - I fought the system, the consultants, the gps, the physios.

I tried various physio techniques including laser therapy. Had acupuncture. Tried upteen pain medication (amityptaline didnt work for me as the dose i needed to manage the pain knocked me out). Saw a chiropractor who specialised in pregnancy conditions (got me walking upaided again and was fantastic - although I still had pain and it was expensive) and eventually got a referal to a pain clinic. It wasnt easy and it took a long time but its been a big change.

I was diagnosed with hypermobility which was the reason my SPD was so severe. He declared me a mess, but offered me a chance of change - prolotherapy. Injections of a combintation of glucose and steroids to strengthen the area.

Its taken a couple of years to get to where I am today. I now have 2-3 months pretty much pain free in every 4 months. On my honeymoon at the end of last year I cantered up the beach and swam horseback on the sea in St Lucia, something I believed I would never do again. At the begining of this year I began weekly 2 mile cycle rides and started salsa dancing lessons.

I am NOT perfect and when I am bad I am on high dose morphine - so much so that I am currently having to come off it very slowly as I have an addiction! But my consultant Dr Munglani is sure that one day I wil be better - although he has warned me it'll take years to get there.

Just so you know - there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Posted: 07 May 2008 at 8:05pm | IP Logged

oh madz thanks for getting in touch, it has been bad today, the walk to school this afternoon was exruciating, not sure how i will manage at work tomorrow. Did try an make an appointment with gp today but none left. it hurts to sit for long, it hurts to cross my legs and hurts to bend, think i'll try standing on my head. I am on co-codamol 30/500 four times a day and 70mg amitryptiline at night. i have just been put on 200mg of celebrex twice a day also. I was still in pain through the night last night. Really not sure what to do next

this site is a godsend

jackie

Posted: 07 May 2008 at 8:16pm | IP Logged

Hi Jackie,

I understand what you are going through - the worst thing about SPD pain is that no medication really takes the pain away. In the end I ended up on morphine but all that really does is knock me out enough not to care so much about the pain. Its far from ideal with kids though.

Have you tried tens? It didnt work for me but it might work for you.

Try and get a GP appt soon and talk it all through again and get that pain clinic referal

Posted: 07 May 2008 at 8:59pm | IP Logged

thanks i'll ring first thing, they look at you like your mad or making it up though, which is why i didn't push it today but i don't think i can have another day like this though, one doctor told me i definately wasn't spd cos that goes as soon as delivery.

I was bad with it got to the point where i was in and out of hospital, contractions started, had crutches which made the pain worse, an co-codamol every four hours, said i would have to come in for pethadine but would have to be hospitalised, it was 2 wks before xmas and i had been in an out from about 24 wks, wanted to be at home with ella, i'd already missed haloween and bonfire, and was missing her like mad so i decided to grit my teeth. I did beg them to do a  section early but they wouldn't as she was doing fine.

I don't think i could stand all that pain again without relief

cheers jackie XX