When thinking about having children many people associate pain with childbirth. However there are ways to cope with this pain (drugs being the most common option!) as it is short term and its there for good reason: or your baby would never make its entrance! However chronic pain during pregnancy is not something which is publisized or well managed .
One of the most common causes of chronic pain is SPD or pelvic instability. Some 5% of pregnant women suffer from it. Fortunately many only have pain between their legs towards the end of the pregnancy but for some it happens all the way through and can leave them severely disabled. I should know as I am one of these women.
I pride myself on being a positive thinker. When I am stuck I look for ways to solve the problem, learn and move on. However I have discovered over these last 9 months this is very tough to do when I am constantly feeling pain. It grinds me down. My attention span shortens. I dont feel myself. I am unable to go about my normal activities: playing with my son on the floor, walking with the buggy, socialising with friends. My husband might say the positive perspective is that it kept me out the shops this Christmas!
It has given me an insight into what it must be like to be permanently disabled. I am fortunate to know that my condition will get better after the birth. I wonder what it must be like to deal with this day after day knowing it may never get better? What would I do?
One of the biggest frustratations is being constantly told ‘there is nothing you can do’. I dont believe there is ever ‘nothing’ because doing nothing is actually doing something. Thanks to the internet I have found a number of resources that have worked successfully for me and have made a real improvement to my life over the last 5 months.
PINS http://www.pelvicinstability.org.ukis a charity in Scotland who provide a network of people who can offer services to help. These include people to speak to who understand what its like to suffer from this condition. Professionals who are willing and able to treat your symptoms to enable you to be pain free and are willing to try to help. I cannot thank them enough for giving me hope and allowing my precious last few months being pregnant to be ‘realively’ comfortable. Not comfortable enough to do it again though!