Hip and back pain - what help on the NHS

[busyteachermummy]

Hi
Both times I was pregnant I had mild SPD. It was slightly worse during my second pregnancy - I was referred to a physio and they gave me some exercises and a back support girdle. Once I had my second child the pain did not go away. DS2 is now 15months and the pain is actually worse than when I was pregnant. My right hip, and the right side of my bum are pretty much in agony. It is very difficult to walk at times. The pain seems to come and go. I can be ok for a couple of weeks and then I can just move a certain way and I'll have lots of pain for at least a week. I'm not sure if it's hormone related as it seems to have gotten worse since I stopped breastfeeding and went back on the combined pill.
Has anyone any suggestions on what I can do? I do some light yoga already and I go to a bootcamp style class (I'm not sure if that is making things worse). I need to lose at least 2 stone which I'm sure isn't helping things.
If I went to the doctors would they send me to a chiropractor? When I had it during pregnancy the midwife didn't really give me much advice and said it would go once I had the baby - obviously this has not happened.
Thanks everyone

Hi, there are a few people like you on the Back Pain thread, one in particular, Maiziemonkey who has suffered with SPD ( now I believe renamed PGP!) and has ongoing back pain. She will be able to offer some tips. More general info on back pain over there in abundance.

I note you haven't mentioned physio? I would be asking your GP for this, if possible with a women's health specialist. And meds? If they help get those, too. I think nhs chiro and osteo is pretty scarce and many of us have mixed feelings about them. It seems like all of these disciplines are similar but different and at the end of the day it's much more about the actual person than the label.

That said, I have had a lot of release from Alexander Technique which I did manage to get on the NHS but that was via my pain clinic.

Join us on the other thread for more.

Ps yoga good, Pilates good, swimming can be good. But boot camp? I wouldn't. Gentle strengthening is what you need, surely?

Alexander technique is meant to be great if you can find a practitioner.

I've just been referred for physio for back pain on the nhs.

And as others say -pilates and yoga.

Referral back to physio. You probably saw a women's health physio during pregnancy and would now be referred to a musculoskeletal physio who will look at things from a different viewpoint. Osteopaths and chiropractors rarely work in the NHS and physio has the advantage that there are usually better links in with the medical teams so if further investigations are needed this is more likely to happen quicker. I believe that in general physio has a more holistic rounded approach to management but agree with pp that the individual and their experience level is probably he important thing.

Either way you may be able to self refer to your local physio dept or through GP.

Thanks everyone. No more bootcamp for me. Will try a pilates class instead.
Will also check out the back pain thread.
I've booked a doctors appointment for Monday so will push to get referred to a physio.
Thanks again for all your advice.