I'm due to finish up for maternity leave in 3 weeks. For the last 4 weeks I have been struggling with PGP and upper back ache, and out of these 4 weeks, I have been in work for 2 days.
My job is desk based and even at home, just sitting at the dining room table for 20 minutes leaves me in a lot of discomfort and pain. It is affecting my sleep and also my husbands as I can't get comfy at night and I'm constantly tossing and turning. I've tried pregnancy pillows, having pillows between my legs etc but I just can't get comfy.
I'm due back at work on Friday when my current line runs out and honestly I want to go back to work to wind down things before I go on maternity. I'm also going stir crazy at home.
My GP has been very good with me and his opinion is if I'm due to finish up on maternity so soon, why doesn't he just sign me off? He was happy to sign me off right from the start of this pain 4 weeks ago but I said no and we eventually compromised to an open line, meaning he would review every 2 weeks.
I have had risk assessments done at work and they are all low risk, I have got a decent chair which is set up properly for my work space and I have an ortho cushion if I need it, however, when I went back to work after my last line expired, I lasted 2 days as I was in so much pain from my pelvis, up to my shoulders. No amount of laps around the office could shift it.
I've told my work I want to come back on Friday and I'm tempted to just skip past the GP and just go back because I worry he will keep me signed off. But deep down I know I might struggle with the pain again at work.
My job is very busy and with me finishing up soon, I really need to get a few things done. There is no option to work from home as we are all spread out at least 5m apart from each other and to be honest, I'd get more done in the office.
I'm just not sure realistically what I should do? husband is of the same opinion as me which is I'm going to have this pain for the remainder of my pregnancy and I should just get on with it, but my GP seems keen on keeping me off, and in his words, he is a GP which believes being at work is in the best interest of the patient where possible, and is a huge supporter of employers keeping their staff at work.
I just don't want to go in for a couple of days, go back off again and back in, and my boss doesn't want me to do that either!