Pelvic Girdle Pain (for the ladies)- anyone else out there?

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Tasha_Fat2Fit
Tasha_Fat2Fit Posts: 49
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey MFP ladies~

Sorry Guys – you may not want to read about this one..

I have been dealing with Pelvic Girdle Pain caused by a separation between my pubic bone for over 3 years now (condition is called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction or SPD). This was caused by the normal pregnancy loosening of the pubic cartilage (know as the pubic symphysis) , during my pregnancy the cartilage completely separated (yes, there is a 1/4 inch gap there now) and will not come back. This causes pretty bad pain in my hips, pubic bone, and now that I am working out out I've started getting sciatic nerve pain (yay!).

Anyone else with this issue out there, and if so, how have you been managing the pain? Or, if you have been so lucky, how did you realign your pelvis?

I have yet to meet another Lady with this issue so it would be so nice to meet one!

Replies

  • austinl45
    austinl45 Posts: 6 Member
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    My daughter also has this - but she's not on this forum... in the same boat as you - no one else has ever heard of it. I'll have to see if I can get her to log on so you two can talk about it.
  • Tasha_Fat2Fit
    Tasha_Fat2Fit Posts: 49
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    My daughter also has this - but she's not on this forum... in the same boat as you - no one else has ever heard of it. I'll have to see if I can get her to log on so you two can talk about it.

    It's nice to know someone has heard of it! Thank you!
  • thenicksters
    thenicksters Posts: 31 Member
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    Yes I got it after having my son in 2010. My OB sent me to a physical therapist afterwards because I noticed it hurt when I ressumed exercising and I couldnt do sit ups or crunches, they gave me easy (boorrrring) exercises to do in which they strengthen your core to make your body use your ab muscles differently which helps the pain. I still cannot do exercises which use my inner thigh muscles or it sends a pain up my whole crotch area. I also notice I'm sore in that area if I run too much. It got better while I was doing the physical therapy exercises, but they're as boring as doing kegal exercises...so I dont do them as often as I should. Good luck!
  • ncl1313
    ncl1313 Posts: 237 Member
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    I had this during and post pregnancy. Getting in and out of the car was excruciating, moving just slightly the wrong way would bring tears to my eyes. I'd never felt anything like it. And then the sciatic nerve pain started. I thought I was just destined to be in pain for the rest of my life. My cousin had given birth a few months before I did and I was asking her if she was having this same kind of pain. She said no, but that a chiropractor could fix it. She's a chiropractor, so I guess she would know.

    I had never been to a chiropractor before and wasn't sure what to expect. He took x-rays of my pelvis which showed severe misalignment in my pelvis as well as about a 1/3" gap in the symphysis. After 3 sessions, the pain was gone, both in my back and my pelvis. After 6 sessions, he took new x-rays and my pelvis was realigned and there was barely a gap. I haven't had to go back since and it's been a year.

    He did suggest that if I get pregnant again, I should go in once per month for realignment while pregnant (they know what they're doing as to not hurt you or the baby) and for at least another 3 sessions after.

    Hope this helps. That pain freakin' sucks!
  • Tasha_Fat2Fit
    Tasha_Fat2Fit Posts: 49
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    I had this during and post pregnancy. Getting in and out of the car was excruciating, moving just slightly the wrong way would bring tears to my eyes. I'd never felt anything like it. And then the sciatic nerve pain started. I thought I was just destined to be in pain for the rest of my life. My cousin had given birth a few months before I did and I was asking her if she was having this same kind of pain. She said no, but that a chiropractor could fix it. She's a chiropractor, so I guess she would know.

    I had never been to a chiropractor before and wasn't sure what to expect. He took x-rays of my pelvis which showed severe misalignment in my pelvis as well as about a 1/3" gap in the symphysis. After 3 sessions, the pain was gone, both in my back and my pelvis. After 6 sessions, he took new x-rays and my pelvis was realigned and there was barely a gap. I haven't had to go back since and it's been a year.

    He did suggest that if I get pregnant again, I should go in once per month for realignment while pregnant (they know what they're doing as to not hurt you or the baby) and for at least another 3 sessions after.

    Hope this helps. That pain freakin' sucks!

    That is very helpful - I've consulted a few Chiros but they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I'll start checking into that again!
  • kikirichards
    kikirichards Posts: 16 Member
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    I suffered very badly with this while pregnant with my twins. I was crippled during the final weeks of pregnancy and terrified about being in pain once the babies arrived. Luckly once they did the pain eased up a lot but i still suffered.

    I went and saw a chiropractor who worked wonders and she told me to work on my core muscles, (i saw her every 10 days for about 6 sessions) after lots of sessions with the chiropractor i started going to pilates classes and eventually started weight training at the gym.

    This wasn't something i ever thought would be possible given that on bad days i'd consider using my sons potty downstairs instead of climbing the stairs on my hands and knees due to severe pain.

    My advise would be to see a chiropractor, i can be expensive but it was the best money every spent.
  • kikirichards
    kikirichards Posts: 16 Member
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    [/quote]

    That is very helpful - I've consulted a few Chiros but they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I'll start checking into that again!
    [/quote]

    look for a chiropractor that specialises in pregnancy..
  • Tasha_Fat2Fit
    Tasha_Fat2Fit Posts: 49
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    Will do ~ Thank you!
  • cwmomma
    cwmomma Posts: 1 Member
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    If your gap is that wide and it is not getting better you have been diagnosed with the wrong condition. A gap of larger than 10 mm (1 cm) is called Diastasis of the Symphysis Pubis. Anything smaller than that is SPD. (It is REALLY rare for a gap to be larger than 1 cm.) I sustained DSP during the birth of my son and 7 months later still couldn't walk properly. I ended up needing surgery, but my stride is normal again and I continue to improve. Yoga has done wonders for me. I saw a great physical therapist AFTER surgery, but didn't even get an x-ray until about a month before surgery -- I tried my best to wait for it to heal on its own.
    Try alternative therapies first. Others I have met online have had good luck with chiropractic and physical therapy. When my surgery was scheduled last August I started blogging at http://separated-at-birth.com. Who are also welcome to message me anytime.
    Stay strong.
  • coddyette
    coddyette Posts: 1
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    Finally someone that has suffered similar to me!! Mine started 7 years ago with my first child. I then had it with my second child 5 years ago and my symphysis pubis did separate. I managed by chance after constantly harnessing my doctor to find a specialist in Oxford that recommended surgery. I was his worse case ever unfortunately and it's took 3 operations to get the bone to grow and now solid across the front. The first op was 2 years ago and it put me in a wheelchair and it's still no light at the end of the tunnel. The pain is these rat it's ever been and it's spread into my lower back and hips. Now waiting for more scans and a rheumatologist as they think it's a rheumatoid disease as well now. Pregnancy has destroyed my life and my mum has to come care for me and run me and the kids around whilst my husband is at work. I'm on huge amount of pain relief which doesn't help, the physics can't even help any Moore the pain is so great, it's a living nightmare. I can't honestly see an end in sight and it's hard that it's so rare to get to this state and no support and no one to understand what it feels like constantly.

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