Chronic Back Pain and Work - HELP!

[planner26]

Sorry for the moaning message but I really am at my wits end with this.

Have had back pain (literally starting in my neck and all the way down my back)for the past 5 weeks or so (am nearly 31w). To add to this SPD came on last week so am not sleeping more than about 2 hours straight without waking up in pain and am really struggling throughout the day at work. I am based in the office, 8 hours at a desk and am seriously sat here nearly ready to cry with the bloody pain and uncomfortableness. A chiropractor appointment helped with the SPD last week (and have another tonight) and I had a 'group' physio session at the hospital yesterday, with some good tips. However, my DP works away a lot and I cannot stop working around the house because there is nooone else to do it.

By 5pm I am really really aching and just want to curl up. I just don't know how much longer I can cope with this. Have tried lumbar supports, foot rests, muscle exercises, swimming (not breaststroke) but nothing works. I am supposed to be driving up to Glasgow (4 hour drive) and back tomorrow with work that I can't get out of too.

Can't afford to finish work until a couple of weeks before either so that's out of the window. Does anyone have any pain relief techniques that have worked for them in a similar situation?

Hi there,
Didn't want you to go unanswered.
In my pregnancy with DS I suffered from chronic rib pain from 10 weeks and then developed spd from 18 weeks.
I was signed off sick from about 25 weeks till I started my maternity leave about 6 weeks before due date. The reason for sign off was for the rib pain not the spd tho.
As they couldn't assertain the reason for the rib pain being pregnancy related they couldn't force me to start mat leave early.
I believe nowadays the earliest they can force it is 4 weeks before due date (double check this).

I felt terribly guilty at the time but you know what? I sat there at my desk in pain for 15 weeks by that point.
People knew I was pregnant, and in pain (so had limited pain meds which were rubbish) but not ONE person, not even my manager suggested I go home and rest or see doctor etc.
I was driving home miserable/in tears and going straight to bed. I was almost in tears at work but I have a very strong upper lip...

In the end, I decided enough was enough. I went to my GP and said unless he could offer me some other pain relief, I wanted signing off because I could not cope any longer.

Go to your GP and discuss this with them. It might mean you finish work 2 weeks earlier than planned if they force your mat leave but your wellbeing is more important tbh.

Well done for lasting this long. hugs

Thanks Cazzr for responding to my little wobble. Spoke to DP at dinner and he said the same thing - get to the Doctors and sit down with Manager (same situation - they don't seem interested in my well being and the responsibility for maternity cover is down to me apparantly so I'm getting really stressed out about it).

Looking forward to the Chiropractor later this afternoon!

Your maternity cover is THEIR problem not yours, they may ask you to help train/recruit etc but it is certainly THEIR problem.

Hope the chiropractor went well, I see a McTimoney Chiro would is worth her weight in gold. :)

DO NOT STRESS! If for instance you were suddenly hospitalised or anyone else at your work were run over by a bus, they would deal with it.
They have a duty of care to you and if they are not taking it seriously, you should.

I hope to god you haven't gone on this 4/8 hour trek today....

I didn't go. Told them that it was too much for me ended up having a little cry last night (not like me) when I missed my bloody appointment because a document needed finishing and it all came out. I think a bit of it is my problem for having a tough exterior and not letting on that I'm not doing well. So I told them I'm not doing any more travelling, rearranged my Chiro (she is FANTASTIC!) and didn't get to work until 9:30 this morning...well, it's start!

Also, had a CV in my inbox this morning from a perfect candidate for my maternity cover so fingers crossed!