PGP Sufferers...

[NannyPlum82]

Ugh. I'm now 22 weeks, been on crutches since 18 weeks. Co-codamol doesn't help at all.

Just back from holiday where the swimming pool was amazing...wish I had one in the house lol.

It's just so depressing. I was recommended to sign up for the Pelvic Partnership site but although I've paid my membership I've not had my account approved yet.

It's just so depressing...especially the thought that I'll have to put up with it for at least another 15 weeks.

I'm a teacher on hols just now which is good but I'm dreading going back in four weeks time.

These maybe stupid questions but are you/can you see a physio and have you tried a support belt?

It's awful, I know. I had it badly during my last pregnancy and am so worried that I will get it again this time around. I commute (walk/train/tube/walk) to work and my 1 hour commute was taking me about 2 hours by week 30 last time. And I was spending a fortune on taxis on really bad days.

I found swimming really good last time too. Is there a pool near you that you could use?

I feel for you! I'm 35 weeks and been struggling with PGP since about 30 weeks.. it's so uncomfortable, most days I just don't want to get out of bed! I've had a physio session and I now have a belt which helps take some pressure off but not a great deal. Hang in there!

I hear you! I'm 19 weeks and on crutches half the time - normally I have to start using them as the pain gets worse towards the end of the day.

My yoga teacher recommended a local private physio when I told her how useless the NHS one had been. My appointment isn't until Friday so no idea how good it will be yet but is it worth seeing if you can find a specialist near you?

It's completely disheartening thinking about being like this for several months, hope you find something that works for you soon.

I can empathise; I had PGP and am a secondary teacher, it was awful. I ended up using a chiropractor to ease the pain, I also got given painkillers to help when really bad. In school it was all about teaching from a chair and having a wheeled rucksack so no carrying, I had to change my teaching style completely which was strange as I just couldn't move around the classroom. Ask for occupational health support to be removed from unnecessary duties and if need be take time off; the pain is exhausting and you need to look after yourself.

Thanks for the replies! Sorry others are suffering too.

I'm seeing the hospital physio who is very good. I've had accupuncture which helps for a few days. I've also got a support belt.

I'm going to yoga too.

Swimming does help but it's just finding the time. I've got two boys and taking them would not be relaxing!

The other thing physio recommended was a tens machine so I'm going to get one. I used one last time and it helped a bit.

I had this problem in all three pregnancies. In my first I was in agony throughout, no physio helped at all. In my second I got physio from someone good at around 18 weeks and the pain disPpeared for about 8 weeks and then when it came back the physio I had seen at 18 weeks has moved on and none of the other nhs physios I saw made any difference so I stayed on crutches for the rest of my pregnancy. In my third pregnancy I saw a chiropractor a couple of times and she pretty much fixed me at the second visit and I remained relatively pain free (pain free walking around, still had pain turning over in bed) which was a huge improvement on previous pregnancies. In my experience you need to find someone who is experienced in dealing with Pgp rather than just a regular women's health physio. I found the chiropractor on the pelvic partnership website. I'll try to do a link to the recommended practitioner page, it's content that's available to everyone so it doesn't matter if you haven't signed up to the pelvic partnership.

Here is the link:

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/practitioner-recommendation/list-of-recommended-practitioners

Hope you get some relief from the pain soon.