Symphysis Splitting

OWWWW.

The night before last I woke up 5-6 times in the night when rolling over because of sharp pains in my lower belly. By the time I got up yesterday morning the pain had spread to my entire pelvic region. Now it's to the point where I am literally crippled, I can't take steps properly, just shuffle...my legs are too heavy and sore to put one in front of the other and getting up/down just kills. When I walk I get shooting pains down the inside of both thighs and up my lower back.

I called the midwife and she said my symphysis is splitting - to take panadol, rest, don't do stairs and keep your legs together. This is not good - I am only 28 weeks! I need to decide what to do about this!

My questions are

1. Has anyone else felt this paralyzing pain, if so how did you cope with it?
2. When you started to feel it, did it go off again before birth or do you think I'm stuck with it?
3. Did you have to stop work because of it?
4. Did physio/osteo help?
5. Were you able to birth naturally?
6. Does this affect baby in any way?
7. Is this the same as SPD which I've heard of or is it different?
8. How did you manage day to day living without being able to open your legs (after one day I am finding this very difficult, getting in/out of bed, putting clothes on, getting in/out of the car and tub really hurt)

Sorry for the novel and millions of questions. Next MW appointment is on Saturday but I'm stressing big time...

Thanks heaps Sarah! I was wondering about the value of physio, but I've been referred so hopefully they can help me out (even a little would be good). And I know what you mean about not appreciating the way we put knickers and pants on! And I thought it was bad that my feet seem to have moved further away from my body...took me nearly 45 minutes to get dressed this morning...

We have a shower over bath so I have to lift my leg to get in, that sucks haha but I'm just going to have to figure the best way around that. Doesn't help that we have stairs at home so I'm planning my trips upstairs to get as much done up there as possible before I have to have an adventure back down again.

I'm off to see the GP at 4.15 so I'm going armed with my questions and I'll ask again at my MW appointment on Saturday. I just looked up diastasis and now I feel like fainting - I'm keeping everything crossed it's not that but considering how suddenly it came on I wonder...this is another thing I can ask at my GP today.

I'll keep you updated on how I get on

Hey Rachaels, let me know how you get on at MW & that.

I started getting the same pains as you about 3 weeks ago. Hasn't eased up at all and I will be discussing my options with my MW in 2 more weeks LOL! (What a wait)

Have a flip through the pregnancy forum pages as I found a few topics that covered this.

GL hun, I'm here to moan to if need be, I feel your pain!!!

There is another thread on here about SPD ... sounds like what you have... should be on first two pages.... sounds like what I have.. I have written on the thread.

Basically it means you have to slow right down and do minimal walking etc.... but go check out the thread :o)

Hi Rachel,
I've just come back to the forum after my internet hit snail's pace for a day or so. I've just re-read my blurb. I don't think I took a breath whilst writing. Sorry for the garbling.

I didn't think about a UTI, but that would account for the abdo and back pain and possibly the pain in your thighs. I'd have a see about SPD again once your UTI has gone as it might be masking other SPD symptoms. Hopefully you won't have it, as it's a pain in the well, everything really. And as madiandme said, UTIs are easier to fix.

Let us know how you after your course of antibiotics. Take care hun.
S

Hi ladies,

Thanks to everyone for their advice and support. It's definitely a kidney infection/severe UTI because now I've been on it a couple of days I am feeling human again - I can walk more or less normally and the pain is slowly receding.

I saw the MW yesterday and she's pretty satisfied that a kidney infection is all it is - but we're keeping the maternity physio referral open just in case I start to hurt again badly after the antibiotics are finished.

The antibiotics are really strong and make me really woozy, but they're doing the trick and I'm so relieved! I feel like I've had a lucky escape!