Rib pain

[lauraannk]

Currently 23 weeks pregnant and I have had bad rib pain on my left hand side for around 3 weeks now. At the start it mostly bothered me after a few hours of work. I'm a nurse and am on my feet all day so don't think that helped.
For the last week it's been beyond painful and totally constant. The only relief I can get from it is laying flat on my back and that takes the edge off.

Saw a GP yesterday and she reckons it's costochondritis and could resolve in a few weeks or could last until I give birth.

She signed me off for another week and I'll see my own GP then.
Has anyone else experienced this and what was your experience of it? Did it settle after a while or did it stay until you gave birth?

I definitely can't work with the pain and wonder should I ask my GP to sign me off for a few more weeks. My entire body feels twisted on that side

I have this and im a carer i had it in my third pregnancy last year and this pregnancy ... it didn't get better until after birth unfortunately it came and went though ... im thinking it's with everything moving about in there lol x

I’ve had this in both pregnancies. It didn’t resolve until birth (and got worse the closer to due date I got, I’m sorry to say).

You can (and should) take paracetamol and depending on where the pain is there is a local injection for pain relief you may be able to have so enquire about that. Doing gentle chest opening exercises really works to create space and relieve pain so as much as you feel like lying in bed, do try to do some exercises (Pilates or preg yoga are both good for movement and opening up the chest).

I worked the whole way through but it was rough going. Good luck op

Thanks for the responses.

Fair play to you for staying at work, no idea how you managed it!

I have a physio appointment booked for the new year so hopefully they can give me some exercises that will help.

In the meantime it will be paracetamol and a hot water bottle. Thanks again xx