pain when walking. what to do about work?

[KFFOREVER]

Hi mumsnetters

Im 27 weeks. Since last tuesday ive had terrible hip pain that got worse and so i asked work if i can work from home on friday which they agreed to and as i had no appointments. I thought it would get better but it hasnt. I can hardly go up and down stairs and excrutiating (sp?) pain when walking as soon as i get up. The pain travels to my back too. I had problems with hip pain before but that was when i am trying to move from side to side in bed and never affected my walking until now.

I went gp yesterday who just told me its normal pregnancy pains and i should take paracetamol and i could sign myself off for up to 7 days. My issue is what if it doesnt get better? What can i do about work? Anyone else had pain like thia before? Ive spoken to a midwife who said i may need referral to physio but will know for sure at my midwife appointment on friday.

Sounds like you have pelvic girdle pain, I have the exact same problem with my hips and its worsened by walking.

Can you try to take a few more days working from home just to let the hips settle as much as poss and get back to something approaching neutral? Then just try to limit walking as much as you can, also best advice is no matter what to walk slower and smaller steps than usual.

Physio would really help if you can get it, can you find any way to afford getting a private physio? Or I know a lot of the PGP affected ladies on here (sure they'll post soon!!) have had better results with osteopathy.

Essentially you do not need to suffer, don't be fobbed off by GP or anyone else, you can almost certainly drastically improve the pain if you get good advice and take it a bit easier.

Sounds like SPD to me, but I'm not a doctor...go back and get refered. SPD is horrid, I could barely walk and went on mat leave early because of it.

Im so glad im not the only one although i would not wish the pain on anyone. As its my first pregnancy im not sure whats normal and what isnt. I think no one can really understand the pain until they experience it. I just feel guilty about being away from the office. Im going to try to work from home until friday when i see the midwife and see how the weekend goes. If im still struggling to walk maybe i go back to my gp but maybe see a different gp. Resting and bouncing on the ball helps until i start walking again. Im really disappointed by gp she advised me to put hot water bottle where it hurts even though i did that prior to booking a gp appointment.

KForever, it's my first pregnancy too and I agree that it's hard to understand the pain if you haven't experience it. I was pretty scared when mine first struck as it was in the middle of the night (I had been on a longish walk that day) and I woke up in agony and could literally not get out of bed without hauling my legs around with my hands.

The physio who eventually helped me explained that it's a bit like having run a marathon (even though you haven't!) - your pelvis loosens up and so all the muscles and joints around it have to suddenly 'cling on' and work extra hard to try to stabilise you. Which means that they then ache and hurt as if you have totally worn them out. Walking is the worst thing for it because of the particular way it moves your pelvis and of course your body weight. I am actually now able to do yoga and a maternity fitness class with no trouble at all (though I am careful) but WALKING is the one thing that sets it off. You wouldn't think so as walking seems so gentle but if you can avoid any extra walking, please try to!!

BUT it is not 'normal' IYSWIM - it is an actual condition, not every pregnant woman suffers from this by ANY means. I have known a lot of pregnant friends and had never even heard of this condition before I got it.

Try not to feel guilty about being away from the office, if you can make some adjustments and try to ease this sudden onset with a bit of rest then I am sure you should be able to get back to the office properly very soon. Do push for a physio referral with the GP or midwife, or as I said if there is any way of you funding a private session or two then I would recommend that. There is a very good website with all kinds of very helpful practical info about PGP, I can't for the life of me remember it but if you google Pelvic Girdle Pain and/or have a search on Mumsnet I think you will find it.

There is a very good SPD/PGP support thread on the Pregnancy board too... full of advice and tips.

Sorry you're suffering - I am almost 27 weeks too and mine started at 19 weeks, I have got it much much better under control now.

Good luck!! x

I had this in my first pregnancy, and work were really hard on me. I worked in an old building on the top floor, stairs all the way and the loos were in the basement. It was unbelievable pain. The car park was a huge distance away and one evening I was in so much pain I had to stop and sit on the kerb in the rain, it was agony. A student took pity on me and picked me up and took me to my car. I cried and called DH as I couldn't face driving home in that pain and he came and collected me. I went to the GP's the next day and was signed off for a month at 26 weeks and given some great pain relief. I did go back for a little bit until my ML started at 39 weeks, I felt awful, but it really is best for the baby that you don't put your body under that kind of strain.

I hadn't got any help before then and had suffered on thinking it was normal. I wish now that I'd got some support earlier, the MW's just seemed to brush it off, whereas the GP who is normally a gruff old grump was really understanding, not only referring me for physio but happy to sign me off, I thought it would be hardwork getting any support.

Physio ended up being a more therapeutic massage and manipulation, by that point there wasn't any exercise that would help. I used to go to the local pool for a float about, even attempting to kick my legs really hurt, they used to play some nice relaxing music [wind-down hour] and it was a real relief to my sore pelvis.

I was worried about delivery, but had a relatively straightforward delivery and was walking without pain within a few days, gently, but it was such a relief.

I started Pilates when DD was 6 months old and it really has helped. I am 21 weeks pregnant with No.2 and my pelvic pain is very miniscule in comparison to last time.

I called the gp again today asking for a referral made to the physio. He said i had not had the pain long enough for them to refer them to the physio. By the time i get seen by the physio i would have the baby. They really do not take this seriously. Hes signed me off work for 2 weeks though and told me to up my dosage of paracetamol.

I would say forget about the GP and go to the midwife; say you can't keep being signed off work until the baby arrives and you need some treatment.
This is a bit shocking actually as I mentioned to my midwife that I hadn't slept at all the night before my appointment because of pain in my hips and she just said right I'll refer you to physio then without any kind of discussion. I expected to go to physio and for her to think I was being overdramatic as I can still walk etc. but it was taken very seriously with massage and exercises and follow up appointments.
Don't let them fob you off with paracetamol, it will help on a night for pain relief enough to sleep but will not solve the pain when walking issue!

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk

I have been fobbed off with paracetamol for months but after encouragement on here, kept going back to the GP and have now (after 4 or 5 appointments) been prescribed co-codamol.

I hope it gets better for you and don't be fobbed off.

Thanks ladies for your support. Im hoping to get a positive outcome with my midwife on friday. The gp was reluctant to give me co-codamol as it can make you constipated. For me taking paracetamol is like taking nothing at all and will not help with aligning my pelvis. Im probably being too cynical but maybe they are really trying to cut down costs in the nhs. Being signed off is making me feel really guilty about not going to work.

The physio that I finally got to see was lovely. Just unfortunate for me that she couldn't do any manual manipulation due to me having Placenta Previa. I was given crutches to use when walking, because I am in agony most of the time. I have found these help a lot, as long as I am not tempted to not use them when not in lots of pain (I quickly regret this).

Personally I don't find paracetamol does anything, either. The co-codamol doesn't do a lot, just takes the edge off, but does make me feel very giddy and sick, so not great really.

Sleeping is a big problem. A pillow between your legs, to keep your pelvis aligned when lying on your side, is meant to help.

Yay i finally got my referral. Midwife diagnosed me with pelvic girdle pain and referred me straightaway. She also thought i would probably need to be signed off sick until mat leave. Its such a relief that my midwife knew what my pain was and didnt fob me off like the GPs.

Great news!!! It was the other way for me, but so glad someone has finally listened to you and getting you some help.

I had it and rest was the answer, my MW is an acupuncturist and she says it works really well, providing relief...I'm petrified of needles so didn't opt for it but wish I had.

Same here kellestarofwonder - my MW said it was sciatica (sp?) and just brushed it off. My pain got worse so I went to GP - she was amazing, I'm very lucky - she referred me to physio straight away. You should probably look into changing your GP, it's just not right. You might well need support for other things in future and just fobbing you off with drugs is terrible