Help! Awful backache. Advice, or recommendations for physio/massage/osteopath/similar in London?

[MabelMay]

Hi, I'm 6 months pregnant and already have a 21 month old DS. I'm suffering really bad backache, all over my back, partly from still having to lift my son. I really feel a good pregnancy massage or some physio or osteopathy would help. Can anyone recommend anyone/where in west/north/central london?
What did you find helped your back pains during pregnancy? I've just bought a support belt.
Thanks! MM.

bump.
anyone?
it really DOES kill!

Dont know of any in your area, it may be worth asking in your local hospitals physio department if they could recommend anyone - pref someone with obs and gynae background - quite often the NHS physios will do private work as an extra. A standard massage you should be able to get done in sports centre/beauty place but you would have to check some wont touch you with a barge poll as you wont be able to lay on stomach for massage.
if it was my back i wouldnt be seeking osteopath whilst pregnant as generally more forcefull techniques applied, not so great when they are already a bit sloppy with the hormones.
Have you tried heat, different resting positions (ie pillows under knees etc) or some gentle exercise - walking/swimming or lying down and taking knees side to side or up to chest to see if you can reduce your own symptoms without paying a fortune on treatments?

shiatsu is a fantastic form of massage that can be as physical as you want, but based on holistic approach so still feels v special.

i'd recommend contacting the shiatsu-do centre in finsbury park to find a practioner near you.

What part of London are you in? I used to get massage from a masseuse in my physios office, near Aldgate, in the eastern part of the City.

The British school of Osteopathy is in Swiss Cottage NW6, by Finchley Rd. You can get cheaper treatment there as it is done by students in their last year of training. I know a few people who have been there and impressed with the treatment.

I saw Debbie throughout my pregnancy for back problems. She was very good. I would not have coped without her.
www.familyosteopath.co.uk/

Have you checked whether your local hospital has a physio who could see you? My midwife denied all knowledge (or at least said- "you'll never get an appointment so I won't refer you") but I persisted because a friend had been seen so I knew the provision existed. Eventually I managed to get on a two hour lesson at my hospital (Whittington) for six to eight women with pelvic/ back problems, which was extremely useful- good exercise recommendations and the ability to ask lots of questions. There was then an opportunity to follow this up with individual sessions, if we booked fast enough.

I was pretty cheesed off that it was so difficult to get on the lesson, not least because there were empty chairs at it.

Have you considered Alexander Technique? You can get individual lessons at the Haelan Centre in Crouch End, and all over London no doubt. I haven't used it in pregnancy, but used it before when I had back problems- very helpful.

Thanks all for your brilliant suggestions. I'll be following a lot of them up - would especially be interested to know about physio at local hospital as a couple of you suggested. My GP is fairly useless at stuff like this so I do have to go off and hunt on my own.
In the meantime, any other tips or recommendations gratefully received.

Exercise-wise I do quite a lot of walking but actually this tends to make my back worse sadly. Swimming - I used to love but our pool has shut until the new year (awful timing). I do yoga/pilates but was told on another thread that yoga might actually make a back problem worse as it loosens/softens the muscles and makes them more susceptible to aches and injuries...? Anyone else heard same?
MM x

Many hospitals do have physio ante and post natal specialists so worth pursuing a referral request as if you have problems after pregnancy you can go back. They usually don't discharge you till after baby is born and everything OK.

Hi MabelMay- I was told by the physio that contrary to usual advice about back pain, we shouldn't be seeing walking as a good exercise, but rather one to cut down on. That surprised me but sounds like you're already finding that! Swimming though good (even walking in water recommended). She also recommended yoga ,but only pregnancy-specific yoga- otherwise you might overstretch yourself.

Another idea she gave us was to do with mattresses- have you tried experimenting with sticking an old duvet or blankets under the sheet, princess-and-the-pea style? I found the softness helped a lot- though I can imagine that for others it might have the opposite effect.

This isn't much fun is it? I hope you're feeling better soon.

If you can face travelling to south west london (10-15 minutes from waterloo) i would highly recommend James Dodd in Earlsfield - see here : www.backtoback432.co.uk/index.htm. He is excellent and very sympathetic to pregnant/post-partum conditions (although not cheap!)

I think pilates is v good for back pain, well, at least for my kind of back pain.

Hi

I don't have any numbers for you as I'm in Surrey but I'm using a really good cranial osteopath who is frankly, saving my life - well my sanity at least!! She's even stopped my c-section scar from hurting where the baby is pressing down on it!! If you could find a good osteo that does cranial, you might start to feel better.

Good Luck!

Thank you all. Excellent suggestions! Have a notepad full of possibilities now.
Wobbegong, funnily enough I've just ordered a new mattress online because our current mattress is so hard and I've been feeling really uncomfortable and restless in our bed for the past couple of weeks. Until it arrives, pillows and duvets galore! MM x