Success stories for pelvic girdle pain treatment

Approximately two years ago, I received a diagnosis of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) during an urgent hospital visit. Despite being assured by medical professionals that the condition would resolve shortly after childbirth, it persisted. Subsequent follow-up appointments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum also promised relief from SPD, yet I continued to experience symptoms two years after giving birth. 

I observed experts conducting online research on SPD in my presence and even insinuated that I was engaging in self-diagnosis of a non-existent condition. All of this occurred prior to the doctor reviewing my pregnancy records and researching the condition.

I increasingly experienced a lack of ability, with my partner assuming a caregiving role as he assisted me in moving from bed to the toilet, the bathtub, and the couch. My incapacity to attend to my children grew, reaching a point where I could not even cradle my infant due to the worsening severity of SPD!

The NHS failed to provide adequate care for me, repeatedly prescribing tablets without further investigation. Despite my requests for an X-ray to diagnose Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD), they claimed it could not be detected through this method. 

I was informed that there was no specific treatment available, leading me to advocate persistently for alternative options. Ultimately, I was left with a regimen of medications, instructions for strict bed rest, and the suggestion to seek information online. 

Upon further investigation into the matter, it was not until we came across Quentin Shaw at Tunbridge Wells Osteopaths that we finally found relief. It was perplexing to consider why I had been enduring such prolonged suffering, especially when the advice given by professionals did not align with our experiences.

I encountered several remarkable testimonials from female individuals sharing my condition who had been under Quentin’s care, and I was truly amazed. However, to be completely honest, I found it difficult to believe. How was it feasible for this single individual to achieve the seemingly unattainable?

Nonetheless, I was incapacitated, prompting us to explore all potential avenues for improving my overall physical and mental well-being. Consequently, we embarked on a journey lasting between 2.5 to 3.5 hours to visit this purported miracle worker, who undeniably lived up to his reputation. 

Following a single treatment, I successfully regained the ability to walk after an extended period of immobility. I was even able to stroll through Dunorlan Park [a nearby park in Tunbridge Wells] up to the waterfall, a task that was previously impossible as I struggled to even leave my bed or move between rooms.

During one of my treatments, my partner had a delightful conversation with Quentin about his job. Quentin enthusiastically expressed his love and passion for his work, which was evident in his body language and the quality of his work. Witnessing and hearing this filled us with immense confidence and trust in him. 

Even though I still have a few more sessions to go, my condition has already improved significantly! I am beyond thankful to Quentin for giving me my life back. 

I absolutely and highly recommend Quentin; it’s like finding a needle in a haystack to get help with SPD, but if you’re here reading this, I urge you to schedule an appointment with him.

Thank you so much, Quentin!

My SPD was diagnosed five months into my pregnancy by a physiotherapist. By this time I was unable to put my shoes and socks on, stand or sit for any periods of time and I was waddling around like a duck with a swing movement in my pelvis, becoming more and more frustrated and useless. 

I found it difficult to get in and out of bed, climb stairs, climb in and out of the bath and drive the car and was becoming more and more physically disabled. I was given a support belt and crutches by the physiotherapist and told that the restriction in movement and pain would not improve until after giving birth. I continued to experience pain and towards the last month of my pregnancy I was house bound and could barely walk.

After giving birth I continued to experience pain and severe burning in my pelvic area and was now unable to sit at low level or lift my son without assistance. This was very distressing and my mood was very low. My husband was very concerned about me and despite visiting my GP I was not offered any further explanation or advice as to what was going on. 

My body was numb down one side and this got worse at bedtime and after sitting. We found Tunbridge Wells Osteopaths on the internet after searching for further advice on SPD and I was so relieved to find someone who could help me as I was now totally seized up and could barely walk again. 

I saw Quentin for an initial appointment in January and after starting treatment on a weekly basis my symptoms began to reduce and my movement improved. [At the time of writing this] it is now the end of March and I feel a lot stronger and can walk properly again. Also, some old neck injuries were detected and Quentin agreed to work on these as well.

Quentin is a truly remarkable man and I think he is a one-off genius in his field. He was so in tune with my body and helped me with posture and exercises that I could practice between visits. 

Quentin has given me my independence back and assisted me to release pent up tension and negative energy that was so cumbersome and was weighing me down. My mood has improved because I am not in as much pain and my body feels free and it really is exciting to think that I can now play on the floor with my son and lift him without so much strain and anguish. 

It was only yesterday we were dancing to the music on the radio and he was smiling and laughing with me. The Osteopathy has led to bigger changes in my emotional life as well and I am beginning to make some positive changes for myself and my family with regards to work and family life. The treatment has been very transformative and enlightening and I would urge anyone who is struggling like I did to contact the practice for assistance.

I had SPD with my second pregnancy and was fairly disabled by it, but by the time I was expecting my third baby I was very disabled and left having to use crutches and a wheelchair for most of the pregnancy. I was in considerable pain and my life was very difficult on a practical level.

My unexpected fourth pregnancy, just two months after having given birth and the third baby meant that my body had had little time to recover and I knew I would face certainly being wheelchair bound.

One of the most fortunate events to happen whilst I was 12 weeks pregnant with this fourth baby, was a google search on SPD. Quentin’s name emerged as an expert in this problem and I booked my first appointment despite living two and half hours away.

I then became a regular patient as it was immediately obvious that I had found a way of remaining not only on two feet but of being able to function almost normally. Quentin’s treatments gave immediate relief and had a preventative effect. I never needed to use crutches, or a wheelchair during the whole pregnancy.

I would urge any SPD sufferer or indeed, anyone suffering back pain to visit Quentin. His skills as an Osteopath are quite extraordinary. I would go so far as to say he has x-ray vision and from a glance he is able to tell what is going on mechanically with the human body.

I feel profoundly lucky to have found Quentin, and to have been able to visit him so frequently during that pregnancy. His work on me, keeping me mobile, was absolutely miraculous.

I am a personal trainer by profession and deal predominantly with women, pre and postnatally, therefore my knowledge of various pregnancy ailments is pretty good. I started getting pain in my pelvis and down one inner thigh at around 16 weeks with my third child. I’d had two problem free pregnancies so wasn’t really expecting problems the third time round. 

I suspected SPD and saw my GP and was told I could have group physio, although there was about a 10 week wait?!?!

I decided to pay to see a physio privately. I was told in my first session how I should pretty much give up all forms of exercise, walk like I’m wearing a pencil skirt and accept that it’s not going to get any better until post pregnancy and expect to be on crutches in a few weeks.

I wasn’t prepared to accept that and came across Quentin Shaw’s name whilst googling for answers. I first saw Quention at around 19 weeks and felt better both physically and mentally after the first session. 

All advice he gave went against anything I’d read or been told by other health professionals, but I was prepared to listen to the expert bearing in mind nobody else seemed to have anything positive to say about SPD. 

I continued to see Quentin throughout the remainder of my pregnancy and remained crutch free and in little or no pain. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Quentin to other SPD sufferers, I recommend him to all of my clients, just in case they suffer during pregnancy at some point.

[At the time of writing this] my baby is nearly five months old and I have seen Quentin a couple of times since, really just to sort my back out due to poor posture from pregnancy and breastfeeding. The SPD is hopefully a thing of the past now!

I was 33 years old and pregnant with my first child. I was having a fantastic pregnancy; both the baby and I seemed to be healthy and things were going as well as they could. I was continuing to work full-time and attending conferences abroad including taking long haul flights, all without problem or incident.

However, in week 32 of the pregnancy I started to feel a strange pain in my pelvis while walking. It felt like the baby was pushing down and that I needed to open my legs a bit wider when walking. Within just a couple of days the pelvic pain had become much more severe. 

I vividly remember leaving my office one evening and taking a taxi to the railway station because I knew I would not be able to manage the 10 minute walk which until then had been a breeze. When I arrived home, I climbed the stairs to go to my bedroom and I felt something go in my pelvis. Accompanied with that was such incredible, intense pain that I was left in tears; it was agony. 

I thought that perhaps I’d just pushed myself too much so I went straight to bed to rest. It was the following morning when I tried to get up that I realised I could not leave the bed. I couldn’t even walk the few feet to the en suite toilet; I needed my husband to carry me, but even that was excruciatingly painful. We were very scared. I sent a text to a friend about what I was experiencing and she mentioned SPD/PGP. I had never heard of it, but I started searching the internet and from what I read it seemed to me that it could be what I was suffering from.

Being immobile in bed made me feel very low as I was terrified about suddenly being disabled. I started to read stories on the internet of women who were stuck in bed for many months or became wheelchair bound after suffering from SPD, even after giving birth and therefore limiting the activities they could do with their babies.

I got straight in touch with my midwife, desperate for help and she said that whilst it sounded like I had PSD, there was nothing I could do except tie a scarf very tightly around my hips and put up with it! It appears that the NHS don’t really know how to deal with SPD.

My husband thankfully wouldn’t accept that advice and so searched on the internet about SPD and came across two charities, one in England and one in Scotland dedicated to SPD. He contacted them thinking that they might not come back to him until after the Christmas holidays, this problem having arisen a few days before Christmas, but a very nice GP who had herself suffered SPD replied to him from the Scottish charity (Pelvic Instability Network Scotland) giving the details of an Osteopath in Tunbridge Wells who came highly recommended as an expert in treating people with SPD.

I spent one week in bed over the Christmas period as everywhere was closed for the holidays, but as soon as everywhere reopened, we were given an urgent appointment with the recommended Osteopath, Quentin Shaw. To leave the house and get into the car to drive to the appointment, I needed my husband and father-in-law to lift me down the stairs sitting in a chair as I simply could not walk downstairs myself. There was no other way I could get around without crying in pain after just a few steps.

When we were driving to Quentin Shaw’s clinic we decided not to be too optimistic and I was mentally preparing myself to spend the rest of the pregnancy in bed resting. We were also rapidly giving up on the idea of having the hoped for natural birth as everybody was saying that I would need a C-section.

When Quentin Shaw saw me, we had a chat about my medical background and how things had started. Within a few minutes he asked me to stand up and walk around his room. I thought he was mad and had not listened to a thing I’d been saying as until that point I’d been unable to manage a few steps without intense pain. However, within just a couple of steps he stopped me, made some corrections to the way I was walking and within just ten minutes of his help, I was able to walk slowly around his room without any support and with bearable pain.

I left the appointment feeling incredibly optimistic that I could walk again and most importantly, I might not need to be in bed for the rest of my pregnancy. He booked me in for a second session a week later and left me with a lot of instructions for that week. I followed his advice and for the first time since the problem started, was able to walk around the house, go to the toilet, kitchen and so on unaided. Movement was still very limited and quite painful and stairs at this point were still close to impossible, but already I was seeing massive improvement. Keeping the right posture, which was a key part of the treatment, was difficult but with practice I noticed how my balance was improving, the pain subsiding and I could walk a bit further every day.

After just the second session with Quentin Shaw, the improvement had been so great that he discharged me, simply leaving me with some exercises to continue doing at home. Within two weeks of meeting him, the improvement in my walking was unbelievable. My husband and I could not believe how lucky we were to come across Quentin Shaw and we even joked about calling our child ‘Quentin’. We think he is a magician! We genuinely could not believe the progress he made after just one session, and how lucky we were to get in contact with him as soon as I started suffering from SPD. I’d gone from being almost totally disabled, to close to normal within a few weeks.

I have written my story just to send the message that SPD is not something people need to put up with (as my midwife and later GP told me). The proper treatment can change your life. 

Quentin Shaw saved me from spending the rest of my pregnancy in bed with the psychological consequences that would have involved and I will always be grateful. Now, two months on and about to deliver my baby, I am totally back to normal (or at least as close to normal as a full term, pregnant woman gets) and would urge anyone suffering with SPD to speak to Quentin immediately.

I have suffered the after effects of SPD over the last five years, since my first of two pregnancies. In that time I have seen several physio and osteopathy professionals who alleviated the symptoms somewhat, yet never found a cure, or a reason for the ongoing pain. 

I expected the SPD to go away after pregnancy, but continued to get pelvic, hip and sacroiliac joint pain on my right side, which also caused the muscles in my right thigh and gluteal muscles to seize up, and also sciatica.

I really felt old before my time, and it caused me a lot of distress and low moods, as it interfered with my ability to lift and care for my children and made it hard to enjoy fun activities with them.

Having read on the internet about Quentin Shaw being a expert in this field, I went to see him earlier this year, and I’m so grateful I did. After a chat and initial look at my posture and movement, Quentin told me more in five minutes than anyone has been able to tell me in five years! 

He saw the developmental failure in my posture that had exacerbated the SPD, and which has hindered my recovery from it. He was honest about the time it would take to recover, and knowledgeably answered any questions I had.

There was a noticeable improvement within a few weeks, as Quentin gave me treatment and guided me through changing my posture.

I now have fewer episodes of pain, and my recovery from them is much quicker than before. There’s a way to go before my body learns to make the changes permanent, but I feel so positive. I’d given up hope of ever returning to some of the hobbies I love, but I already feel much stronger and fitter again than I thought possible.

I first saw Quentin just before Christmas 2009, a few months after the birth of my second child. At this point I had suffered with SPD on and off for five years and following this second pregnancy was in the most debilitated state. I had been diagnosed with SPD in my first pregnancy and was told it would go away after the birth, how wrong they were.

I had a six-month old baby and a young son who I could barely take care of. I couldn’t walk more than a few metres without agonizing pain and the stairs were a nightmare. I had seen physios, consultants and various GPs with no success. I just lived on a concoction of prescription painkillers that rendered me senseless.

After trawling the internet in sheer desperation, I came across Quentin’s name. Despite being two counties away I thought it was worth a shot. On my first appointment Quentin saw instantly the appalling state my posture was in and set about fixing me. I felt a difference after the first session and we then embarked upon the slow process of rebuilding me.

Nearly many years on I cannot thank Quentin enough for giving me my life back. I occasionally have the odd visit to check all is well but my life is unrecognizable. I am able to do all the everyday things you take for granted like walking your children to school or doing the weekly food shop without a thought.

I cannot recommend Quentin enough and cannot ever repay him for finally taking my SPD under control instead of it controlling me.

When I first consulted Quentin my baby was four months old and I still couldn’t walk without pain. I was still in pain nearly all the time, after an horrific pregnancy with SPD. 

During the pregnancy I’d seen other osteopaths and a physiotherapist but none of them seemed to understand why I was experiencing such pain/so horrible a feeling in my pelvis. 

On his first examination, Quentin diagnosed a forward-tilting hip, explained totally how this and a slight malformation in my spine were affecting my body and what to do about it.

I was better in a few short months and went on. Prior to meeting Quentin I never thought I’d risk having a second child, [and yet during my second pregnancy] Quentin kept me on my feet and with barely a twinge. I am so grateful.

You’ve seen every possible consultant, had guided injections via x-ray, a hysterectomy, acupuncture, chiropractor, physiotherapy and nothing has worked. I suggest you carry on taking the morphine, accept that there is nothing that can be done, and get on with living your life as much as possible

When you have trusted your Doctor for a long time, but he says this to you in exasperation at the age of 40, what do you do? I had a choice – accept this or keep searching. 

The pivotal decision was when I lay in bed for yet another day due to another relapse that had rendered me bedbound. I knew that I couldn’t spend another year moving between relapses and doctors visits, missing out on my life and my child growing up. I had to try (yet again), to find someone who could help me get my life back.

My life was a mess. I was confined to a wheelchair outside of the home and crutches within it. I was on increasing levels of morphine and still in agony, unable to care for my autistic son and needing an army of carers to help care for both of us. I had been forced to give up my job as I was unable to work and it seemed that there was nothing I could do but accept it.

Thankfully a few weeks previously one of my carers had found an article about Quentin on the internet. Unfortunately until this time I had dismissed it due to the distance between us (I live in Staffordshire and the practice is in Tunbridge Wells) but now I knew I had to give it a go.

This was the catalyst to the change in my fortune, because from my first visit I transformed to the amazement of myself and others around me. I would be kidding if I said it was plain sailing and pain free but it has been worth every second of discomfort to see the progress that I have and continue to make.

The only word I can use to explain my first experience is ‘surreal’ as I hobbled into the reception area on my crutches and left with no crutches and no need for them either! The staff in the hotel, where I had earlier checked into (in my wheelchair) and had, on request, been given a ‘disabled friendly room’, could not believe it when I returned without it! Why hadn’t anyone told me/ shown me, or treated me the way that you did? It was incredible – not without pain but it was worth it.

From that moment on my life has transformed – it has and is an incredible journey of me regaining my life and for this I can’t thank and recommend you highly enough. My only wish is that I had found Tunbridge Wells Osteopaths a few years ago, as I would have been on this road so much sooner.

I really feel that it is my duty to spread the word about you so that others too can be released from this debilitating condition that robs people of their life. Please, please anyone who has SPD give Quentin a go. I promise you that it will be the best decision that you will ever make.

Thank you so much Quentin, for being there and supporting me on my journey – here’s to life!

As Quentin is a pregnancy and postnatal specialist, I’ve recommended all of my pregnant and postnatal students to him for many years [I am a yoga teacher].  Some of these women were told by GPs, physiotherapists and midwives that their pain was just a ‘normal part of pregnancy’. 

However, I know this to not be true. The relief they have found through bodywork with Quentin has been transformational for so many of them sing his praises in our weekly classes.

I not only have my personal experience but also have the positive feedback from literally hundreds of women that I’ve recommended to Quentin, which concludes my belief that Quentin is an absolute genius in his field, and I know that many many people agree with me

Read Brigid’s story on scoliosis

It was only after visiting Quentin, I realised it didn’t need to be this way. 

Late into the pregnancy of my first child I started to experience pelvic girdle pain and nerve issues, one of the more surprising benefits of pregnancy I was not aware of.  This was something I assumed and was assured would go away on its own after giving birth.  Although that was not the case. 

After giving birth and adjusting to live as a new mum it persisted.  Waking up every morning not knowing if you can sit, stand or walk and do any of the normal things without pain is scary.  Always being wary of jarring your back as you try to catch a wiggly child or prevent them from falling? 

This fear and anxiety builds up, coupled with the adjustment physically and mentally as a new parent, which is a challenge in itself.  I managed this for two years and saw a chiropractor, but I never felt there was any improvement and even that this had exacerbated the issue.  I then carried on the traditional journey of scans, x-rays and steroid injections, which never identified an issue or resolved the pain, and I was recommended surgery. Keen to get back to my active life I thought this was the only route, but did it have to be? 

Googling pelvic girdle pain and nerve issues in pregnancy I somehow came across an article featuring Quentin. I phoned him and described my symptoms.  He got it straight away and was able to validate what I was saying and what I was feeling in a way I hadn’t had before.  I had found the right person.

I arranged to see him and from my first visit it was transformational.  I hadn’t realised how much my life had been impacted.  I had been managing my back for years and was not physically free. I was worried about making it worse and protecting my back while caring for an active child. This was always in the back of my mind making me feel both physically and mentally weak.  From someone who was active and always on the go this was hard to take, it had impacted all aspects of my life.  

Over the course of 3 or 4 sessions, it was like a cloud of head fog cleared as I saw a glimmer of hope, being able to sleep properly for the first time in what felt like months without worry.  There was a realisation it didn’t need to be this way.  I was able to get back to normal life.  I was able to exercise and travel again without worrying or carrying ice packs everywhere with me.

I have continued to see Quentin on a regular basis to maintain this improvement and ahead of my second child I saw him more to ensure there was not a repeat of the issues during my first pregnancy.  So far so good. 

There are so many things you don’t know as a first-time mum, but being told back pain or pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy is normal is not true. “Just do some physio and take painkillers”, said the GP, “It will all go away when the baby is born.”  This is not true.

You do not need to suffer at any time in life. Masking it with pain killers isn’t the answer if you truly want to maximise your quality of life.  I wish people were told there is a choice. 

If you truly want to address the pain and not mask it visit an osteo and for my money Quentin is the best in the business.  He has an in-depth knowledge of the issues I was presenting and has the experience to solve it.  With a few gentle touches it felt like I was put back together.   Quentin has given me confidence to get back to things I love like exercise. Suffering isn’t normal life or quality of life.

As I said, it doesn’t need to be this way.  If you find yourself in an ongoing cycle of scans, injections and potentially facing major surgery you should visit Quentin.  He can work his magic without having to go down this route.  I am confident my problems are resolved and with minimal maintenance I know how to manage this. 

I now have two active children, and I am able to participate with them physically, something I didn’t think would be possible.  This is all thanks to Quentin.