Chronic niggling lower back pain - where to go?

[Paschaelina]

Would I be better off seeing a Physiotherapist, an Osteopath or a Chiropractor? I want to have some kind of treatment followed by advice and ?exercises to do at home on a regular basis.

Its ever since I had the baby 7 months ago, the day to day lifting and twisting around with an increasingly heavy boy along with near-permanent floor-sitting. I don't want it to get any worse.

Personally I've had more success and results with an osteopath than (NHS) physio, in terms of treating the problem.

Exercise is the way out of back problems, pilates solves mine which had been going on for 3 years after a slipped disc. Most of the exercises the physio gave me were modified pilates exercises too.

If you're in London I can recommend an excellent osteopath.

South Kent, but thanks. I'm never sure what they all do and how much overlap they have.

Pilates is an excellent idea. I haven't been for a few years.

I've never been to a chiro so can't comment on that.
Physios in my experience seem to do a bit of making you move about and then print off a page of exercises for you to do. Maybe a massage if you're lucky - but I've only ever done NHS physio and the appointments are 15 minutes.

My osteo on the other hand spends a good half hour/40 minutes looking me over, then does a couple of manipulations which might be massage or pulling/cracking something, also he uses medical acupuncture to get to any muscles that have spasmed up. He'll do a couple of things, make me stand up and see if it's made it better, then do something else. He gives me exercises too, and a short lecture every time about how pilates will help! He always managed to make a huge difference when I was in a lot of pain.

I reckon there's a fair bit of overlap with it all though.

But ultimately long term once you know you haven't got an injury that's throwing you out of whack I think pilates is definitely the answer to long-term staying in control of your own back health.

HTH.

Thats really helpful info Quodlibet. I'm looking at a very local Osteopath website now so I think I will ring for an appointment after the bank holiday.

Will also look around for a good pilates class.