PGP / SPD My story:

Did You Know There May Be Surgical Options for Severe SPD? 🤔 For years, many people living with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) or Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) have been told that symptoms will improve after birth. For many, they do. But for some of us, the pain never fully goes away. Some people are left with long-term pelvic instability, chronic pain, mobility difficulties, and life-changing disability years after pregnancy. Whilst doing some recent reading, I discovered that surgical techniques have continued to evolve. Historically, severe pubic symphysis instability was treated using metal plates and screws to stabilise the pelvis. However, newer procedures are being explored using specialised suture and fixation systems designed to provide support whilst allowing a degree of natural movement within the joint. These procedures are not routinely offered to most people with SPD and appear to be reserved for severe cases involving significant instability and ongoing disability despite...

From My Bed, I Built a Lifeline: When I ran a helpline during the years I was bedbound, I came across far too many women from all over the world calling me for help, support, and simply someone to listen. Some were pregnant with their first child. Others their sixth or seventh. Many had been abandoned. I listened, comforted, reassured, and helped them navigate systems that often seemed impossible to access. One woman's story has stayed with me all these years. She was pregnant with her sixth or seventh child. Her husband had left her. She was alone, disabled, in pain, caring for multiple children, and had no support network around her. I helped her explore what support might be available, including carers, adult social services, advocacy referrals, and local assistance. I wrote supporting letters and helped signpost her to services that could make a difference. All whilst I was bedbound and housebound myself, living with permanent Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) and Ehlers-Danlos...

After the birth things were not so good, the nurses on this ward didn't understand SPD too much. ONE THING I WILL THANK THEM FOR: They let my husband stay all 8 days I was in hospital with having my baby. He slept on an airbed on the floor, BUT I DID NEED HIM as the staff were not equipped for my SPD and couldn't move me and didn't understand the SPD. When we first went in a lovely nurse said that my husband was there to support me and not insured or authorised to be my carer there and that the hospital were responsible and my care were in their hands. Things went downhill from here. 1st day after birth they made me get out of bed and try and have a shower during visiting times too 6:30-7:30pm when my parents were outside!!! I was screaming!!! Really screaming!!! This affected me really badly and I was in agony. Later on there was nights where I had to have gas and air and really struggled. I worked with my husband to try and get mobile, and all my efforts were not recorde...