Spd/pgp and work (teaching)

[Sunshinie]

I started getting a sort of achey feeling when walking last week and it's got progressively worse so that every step feels like I'm being kicked in the crotch. Standing up from sitting or any position changing generally really hurts. I've got a dreamgeni pillow which is making sleeping easier, apart from when I need to turn over. I've also been doing pregnancy Pilates so loads of pelvic floor exercises and when I went last week it did feel a bit better but only for about half an hour afterwards. I have my 25 week midwife appointment tomorrow so hoping she will refer me for physio but I know from a friend's experience this could take a while.
My worry is that it's been painful this week but I have been on half term and doing nothing really. A trip round Tesco meant I could hardly move for the rest of the day and then just sat with my feet up on pillows.
I am a ks1 teacher and although I have been trying to do more sitting down there are times when it's just not possible. My school have been so understanding so far when I have needed time off for appointments and bad headaches and when I was really exhausted at the beginning. Our school budget is very tight and there is hardly any TA support. I feel really guilty and generally quite pathetic for having to go and see my head with yet another problem. The thought of trying to get through a school day with this pain makes me feel a bit teary but at the same time I can't imagine just sitting still at home for 15 or so weeks. I'm not due to start maternity leave until after Easter so it's a long way off yet. Any advice? Thanks for reading such a long, rambling thread!

No advice I'm afraid, but I could have written your exact post! I'm 25w and teach ks3 and 4. Not on the floor with the students, but lots of movement between teaching rooms and carrying piles of books...

I'm part time which helps but the thought of getting through until after Easter is worrying.

Like you I've not had to do too much over half term, but by the evening I'm in so much pain. Going to take the next half term one week at a time!

I am not a teacher but suffering too and worried about work - i'm 28 weeks and can hardly walk at the moment. Have been referred to physio and they gave me a support belt which helped, saw another physio privately who wasn't able to help much. I've been told codeine is safe in pregnancy however my GP would not prescribe it, instead he told me to take ibuprofen which I am not happy to do as from reading up on it I don't feel it's safe. I have found this site which has a list of practitioners who are trained in treating PGP/SPD www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/images/Recommended_practitioners.pdf and I have found one near me so I am going to make an appointment ASAP.

I find sitting on a heat pack is quite effective, warm baths and paracetamol are good too. But I have an hour long jounrney to work then 4 flights of stairs when I get there - the thought of it makes me want to cry.

I don't have this but can offer advise on the painkillers.

I'm 38 weeks and been in hospital for 2 weeks with placenta previa. The doctors prescribe paracetamol and codeine. They've also prescribed buscopan when I've had IBS, and anti-sickness meds so they do quite happily prescribe quite a few things that we traditionally think we shouldn't take.

However, they DONT prescribe ibuprofen and I really wouldn't risk taking it if even hospital consultant obstetricians won't prescribe it!

I know - I feel quite annoyed as I have a couple of GP friends who have said the same thing. I feel a bit awkward about going back and effectively saying 'I think you're wrong' but if the pain gets much worse I suspect I won't care!

I'm a foundation stage teacher who is suffering from SPD and I'm 26 + 3. I've just had four and a half weeks off due to not being able to walk. Had a physio appointment on Thursday and they changed my life. I now have a tubey grip support for my middle and a support belt. I can now walk and do much more than I could before. They have also referred me to have some hydrotherapy.
My school have been great and put me on reduced duties, Ive still got my class but during provision time I'm doing booster groups. I'm sharing responsibilities for my class with the person who is going to be my maternity cover which is great as she is getting to know my class, she is also one of my good friends.
I would totally recommended pushing for physio and then badgering the physio department for the soonest appointment as I had to wait 5 weeks for mine. I do still get pain and discomfort but it has improved a lot. I just hope now I can keep on top of things pain and mobility wise.

I'm not a teacher but I do sympathise with you. I've had spd in previous pregnancies. This time it's sciatica for me but that's another thread.

Advice? Codeine for pain relief. I'm taking it now. Ibuprofen is not safe. Don't take the painkillers as and when you need it. Take it as a matter of course, it will help.

Support knickers/tights/vests/belts. Really useful. Jojo maman bebe have a range.

Try not to sit with your legs apart. Imagine an elastic band holding your knees together. Get in and out of the car by swivelling your legs out before standing. Same with bed. Get onto your side when getting out and try to put both feet down together.

As for being on your feet with teaching, try to sit as much as you possibly can. Have you a chair with wheels that you could wheel about on rather than keep getting up? Please don't forget it's not your fault this is happening and your head has a duty to be understanding of it.

I realise it's not always possible when out and about but any stairs at home, go up and down on your bum.

Sit to put your knickers etc on. Avoid being on one leg at a time.

With spd you really need to avoid activities which make your pain worse. The pain can either come in while doing the activity, later that day or the next day. The pain is due to movement in the joint which you want to avoid as this can lead to issues with spd after birth. Painkillers can mask the pain but it's better to feel it!

Have a look at pelvic partnership website there are lots of tips on making it more manageable.

Try everything you can as something may help acupuncture, Physio, osteopath or chiropractor just make sure they specialise in pregnancy.

Currently 29 weeels on my 3rd pregnancy with spd. First time I was signed off work at 26 weeks as I couldn't walk or sit! I found Accupucture helped the syptoms for a couple of days at a time.

Second pregnancy it kicked in at 17 weeks an osteopath helped keep pain manageable with monthly visits and careful planning if each day with a toddler!

This time it kicked in at 17 weeks again. I have had to find people to help me do the school run as I just can't walk that far. I have found a chiropractor has helped me cope with the pain in day to day activities but I can't walk more than a few hundred metres each day.

My main tips are online shopping (pushing a trolly is all done with pelvis), and only go to places you can park outside.

Not pregnant (and really don't plan on getting pregnant again after two bad SPD pregnancies - significantly worse in second). However not a teacher but was a SAHM to a two year old in second pregnancy. Physio under NHS was terrible they just gave me a sheet and a tube and said on your way! What was an absolute life saver was my Osteopath recommended by the pelvic partnership. Amazing I did spend quite a lot of money saw him for 10 sessions so 400 but otherwise I just would not have been able to walk

I'm a head of department in a large secondary school, please please please take it easy. I didn't and ended up being signed off work for 5 weeks as I was on crutches and literally couldn't walk at all. It was agony and bloody frustration.

I'm now 35 weeks and work have been brilliant, I'm doing part time hours and days.

I got an emergency physio referral from the gp and my midwife and I literally called the physio department every day until they booked me in. So I think I only waited a week.

You really need to rest its the only thing that helped. Oh and painkillers. I'm taking cocodamol (codeine and paracetamol in one) and it's been a game changer. I'm still taking it.

Please don't over do it. I totally understand the guilt but my life was miserable while I was signed off and in the end it really isn't worth it xx

Thank you very much for all your messages. I have to admit this is beginning to get to me, I feel really frustrated and like I'm being lazy just sitting around.
I've had a look on the pelvic partnership website and found a recommended physio about 40 mins away from me so I have that as a backup if NHS isn't helpful.
I was really hoping my maternity cover would start soonish so that we could work together and have some hand over time but I've just found the job on the website and it's advertised to begin the week after I leave so no hope of that now.
I have to do an hour at school before my midwife appointment tomorrow so will see how it goes and try to get through this week.

Please look after yourself OP. Is there a phase lead who could maybe take some of the strain for you or some super kids in your class you could give special jobs to? Before I went off sick and new things were out in place I had three girls who would do little jobs for me purely beceause I couldn't bend or reach some things.

Sunshine, please speak to someone about this first thing tomorrow morning. I am SLT in a primary school and there are a lot of things that can be put in place to help you, such as additional TA support.

Don't suffer through it, ask for help.

I'm 27 weeks and have been just been signed off for the remaining two weeks until my maternity leave was supposed to start (I teach KS2). I had planned to go at 29 weeks because I suspected this would happen, but apparently I haven't even made it that far... I had it with my last pregnancy and kept going for so long that it didn't go away after the birth and I ended up having a lot of osteopath appointments to put my pelvis back into proper alignment! I'm hoping to avoid a similar situation. Don't feel guilty about it - you really have to look after yourself.

I went to see my head first thing this morning and she was nice and said straight away that she will sort out someone else to do my playtime duties. I've managed most of the day sitting on a wheelie chair and asking children to do all the fetching and carrying I need but it's still painful and I still have to walk to the loo/staff room and to meet and greet in the morning and afternoon. I've also ended up with a sore throat as I'm having to raise my voice more than usual when sitting still in a chair. I then had to go and pick up my husband from the airport and found that driving was painful so cried most of the way there and back (he didn't realise it would hurt when he asked me to get him)
I went to see the midwife this morning and I was really hoping this would be helpful but she just looked confused and said 'no I don't think you have spd' she said I could self refer for physio but all they would do is give me a support belt which I already have. So I'm going to phone one of the private ones I found and see if they can help. I've spent most of the evening in tears as I just feel rubbish and like I'm making it all up but after eating some food and finding a phone number for tomorrow I feel a bit better.

Phone the private one from
The pelvic partnership I was just like you honestly it's so painful & midwives just don't have the time. Physio on NHS is atrocious. You can do this and get through it

Hello! I'm a nurse, with Perths disease and I've been told I have SPD. It was a given really with my hip condition. I'm 27weeks and I'm on sick as my work wouldn't amend my duties what so ever. I've had physio which I found a little pointless; I've started swimming and sleeping with a maternity pillow. I hope you feel better soon and I'm glad work are being understanding xxx

Hey I completely feel your pain. Not a teacher but work in a prison. By the end of the day I can hardly walk up the stairs. So much pain. That's awful about your midwife not offering you, try seeing your doctor instead? Midwife referred me just over a week ago and I have my physio appointment tomorrow. Really hoping it is useful! Hope you get some help soon x

How are you getting on OP? My private physio is helping me so much, she really knows what she is doing. Also went back to different GP and got some codeine which I've used when it's been really bad. Just taking some time and learning about what makes it worse (moving) and what helps (not moving) is making it more bearable.

Top tip from physio - wearing silk/satin pyjamas makes turning over in bed loads easier.

I am 28 weeks and feel your pain. I can just about walk again now after a week of agony. My NHS physio is very good and I've got a range of exercises which do help as well as a support brace. I did a self referral and would recommend it.

Thanks for asking. I went to see an osteopath I found on pelvic partnership yesterday and she was really nice. She didn't make me feel like I was just whinging or imagining the whole thing. She said that my pelvis is tilted slightly anyway and that because my hips aren't very wide baby is all up front (I have a big bump for 26 weeks) and that this is making it worse and the weight is putting a lot of pressure on my pelvic floor, which isn't being supported by ligaments due to relaxin. She's given me a couple of exercises to do and advised to make sure I'm sitting up straight as much as possible. She also said to stand/sit 'like an Edwardian lady' one foot in front slightly and keeping pelvis straight " and this is definitely less painful. I'm going back next week but not sure how many sessions I should have, I will ask.

I've also found that it's worse when I've done any moving, so this afternoon has been pretty bad as I had to walk to the shop for my lunch even though it's only about 500m from my school.

Really glad you are getting some help, I know what you mean about feeling like you're whingeing or imagining it, I think psychologically it's helped me loads to have someone take it seriously and be able to offer some help, before I felt that no one could help and I was going to be stuck like this until birth.

How tall are you OP? I have a big bump too and I am 5'2" - people keep remarking on it (which is REALLY getting on my nerves) and I feel like the baby hasn't got room to be there and so it's bound to come out the front!

Yep, I'm 5'2 as well. Not much space for baby to go!

I worked in an office but ended up being signed off at 25 weeks as I just couldn't do the commute (1hr minmum, mostly standing) anymore - the pain was unbearable. Physio did nothing, nether did support belts. In the end I went to an oseto who diagnosed SI dysfunction and managed to get me moving again. Not enough to get back to work but enough that I didn't need a wheelchair which is what the physio was starting to suggest!