Spd/ pgp sufferers... What worked for you?

[piazilla]

Im 26 weeks in and for the last 2 weeks I have been majorly suffering with pelvic pain . My lower back is shot and I feel as though I've been kicked in the crotch.
I'm a cover teacher in a primary this year ( as I will go on maternity in December) so the school have been running all over - fs1 ( bending down to comfort and pick up crying 3 year olds) to year 2 ( weaving around desks keeping kids on task) . I'm up and down flights of stairs all day too. Trouble is, I can barely walk! I wear a pelvic support belt, see an acupuncturist and an osteopath who tells me that one of my hips is stuck.... But I'm still in tears by every evening because of the pain! Has anyone found anything that works for relief ?

Have you seen a physio? I am a bit distrustful of semi-medical types such as osteopaths, they tend to be a) expensive and b) recommend repeat consults (see a). Your MW or GP can refer you to the physio service, and they will be able to give you recommendations on exercise and supports. If it is this bad that you are in tears daily, they should treat it as an urgent referral. You don't want to end up on crutches or in a wheelchair if you can possibly avoid it.
There are techniques for handling stairs, sleeping, turning etc which a physio can talk to you about, and they are less likely to say unhelpful things like 'your hip is stuck', whatever that is supposed to mean.
www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/ may be useful as well. In my previous pregnancy my PGP eased when DD turned breech , but this wasn't really a helpful thing!
This time around I am careful with posture whilst seated and walking, sleep with a pillow between my knees when I need to, and am careful when turning over in bed (both knees together). It hasn't been as bad as last time, but I still have 8 weeks to go. I try to avoid picking DD up more than is necessary too, so you may need to consider whether you can sit down and cuddle your FS1 children vs. picking them up, although I can see with older kids and classrooms there is little choice.

Yoga is the only thing that worked for me, even ten minutes a day made a huge difference. Try it and it may help but give ut a few days to kick in

Co-codamol. Crutches.

See a physio who specialises in pregnancy/women's health and do anything you can to strengthen your core. Don't be fobbed off by anyone who tells you this is just part of pregnancy...it's not and shouldn't be treated as such. At the very minimum, good treatment and a support belt will stop things getting worse, and hopefully you'll have some improvement with good intervention.

Seen a Physio. Wearing my belt. Doing my pelvic floor exercises. Doing calf stretches and abductor exercises (see Katysays.com, she has an app called down there for women...with alternative exercises for the pelvic floor... I don't do the ones on my back and I take care with the sideways walking).
Keeping my legs together as much as possible, getting in and out of bed, in and out of car. Sleeping on my side with pillow between my legs. Pelvic partnership website REALLY useful.

I believe in Chiro or osteopath and have learnt if it's not working, try a different practitioner.

Instant relief though? Ice. Ice your lower back at least twice a day. At least some of the pain is from inflammation as a result of pelvis being moved wrong. Ice helps numb things and more importantly, reduces the inflammation.