Ow ow ow. My neck hurts!

[snowboarder]

Help. 5 months of b/f in weird positions, sleeping with baby and not daring to move, carrying a hefty baby around whilst chasing a 2 yr old and carrying my change bag satchel style as my stupid pram won't accommodate it has left me with a stiff achey neck and shoulders. What do I need? A massage? An osteopath? A chiropractor? I'm clueless - all I know is it's NOT my gp!! So any ideas and recommendations?

[cuppa tea]

There's a great osteopath called Tania, in the Dulwich Therapy Rooms (above Health Matters). She really helped sort my back out after birth. Though if it's muscular and tension, then a good regular massage may sort it too.

[Fuschia]

Stop carrying the change bag!

Take done paracetemol and a hot shower

Hopefully you can get rid of it ASAP, IME sore necks are short ye

Problems - but backs linger

[Pickle]

One visit to Daniel Harvey the chiropractor on Crystal Palace Road and you'll be sorted - trust me!

[Grotty]

heat is the good - sit with hot water bottle on it/hot baths/deep heat - helps relax the muscles....

[mockney piers]

Now the mocklet is getting bigger (about 27 lb now) and I carry him to nursery every day, I've had a couple of disturbing twangs come from my neck with pain and stiffness for a couple of days thereafter and always have deep heat and ibuprofen gel in desk at work for those occasions.

Pram Hook is absolutely invaluable. Tommy's on Rye Lane do them.

If you need to wear a bag get a small backpack and make sure you wear it over both shoulders, not slung over one.

For short term relief, as above, hot water bottles, deep heat, hot bath with lots of bath salts, and a massage from your other half.

Might be worth a trip to a back specialist of some ilk just to make sure you haven't kinked something out of shape already.

[snowboarder]

Got a pram hook but the buggy is a double decker type so I whack baby in the head if I carry anything on the handles - bummer - and a lovely expensive change bag I love - but try as I might it's too heavy. Might look into those change pack things that are flat - they might fit in the bottom I suppose. It's all the snacks/drinks/clothes/tissues etc!! I think the bag is defo one of the worst things as it's particularly where I have it slung over my shoulder that it aches.

Still none the wiser about the difference between chiropractors and osteopaths!! Massage always is v nice at the time but I've never had one and felt oooh that's done the trick!!

[Moos]

I get intermittent shoulder / back achey pain from carrying the small around - he gets quite clingy when he's tired. Find resting / persuading him to sit down somewhere / finding another suitable baby-lugger and stretching out the muscles helps a bit. Roll on the ability to walk!

[mockney piers]

I'm not sure of the ins and outs of the difference. Both are subject to regulation which is good, though both a rooted in woo which isn't so good.

As far as I've been able to work out it boils down to chiropratice concentrates on spinal manipulation whereas Osteopathy is more holistic, but has only been shown to be clinically effective when dealing with back problems.

This NHS advice on chiropracticew says some of the side effects reported seem a little scary including

Minor adverse effects after spinal manipulation are reported in up to 60% of patients. The most commonly reported adverse effects are:

headache

stiffness

pain

fatigue

These effects usually develop within four hours of a session and typically resolve themselves within 24 hours.

Serious complications that have been linked to spinal manipulation include tearing of an artery wall leading to stroke, injury to the spinal column leading to paralysis, and build-up of blood between the skull and the outer layers of the brain, which can result in coma or death. These events usually occurred after spinal manipulation involving the neck.

Here's their advice on osteopathy, which seems more reassuring, with the proviso that

Osteopathy is accepted by many doctors and other conventional healthcare professionals, but there is little scientific evidence to prove that it is effective.

Adverse side effects or complications caused by osteopathy appear to be rare.

I might be inclined to go for osteopathy after reading that.

[bluesuperted]

I also went to see Daniel based on recommendations here - last week in fact as had a very similar injury from just one baby :)

He was great and I feel 100% better just over a week on (had 3 sessions in total). He was able to see me the day I phoned which was invaluable.

Hope it gets better soon!

PS re: scary side effects - he does a thorough case history to check you're not a risk for anything adverse happening.

[Yak]

On the buggy /changing bag front, I got a pair of hamster bags http://www.hamsterbags.co.uk/ which fits all the Yaklet's stuff in one bag and all my stuff plus shopping in the other. For me, it saved the whole conundrum about rubbish storage on the Maclaren and the problem of the buggy tipping over if you hang too much off the handles. It does make the buggy a bit wider but so far OK on buses and most narrow pavements. Definitely one of my top buys.

....but on a quick check I don't think they fit P & Ts (which is what I think you have, snowboarder?). Agh!! However I thought I'd still mention it just in case it helps others.

[alieh]

I looked into the Phil and Teds and change bag issue when I was thinking of getting one and someone recommended the Skip Hop saddle bags as ones that fit the P&T well. I think carrying the change bag is a real problem as I'm sure, like me, you're walking loads.

For treatment, my husband has had two deep tissue massages from Amy at the Dulwich Touch and really recommends her.

Hope something helps a bit!

[catgirl]

I've got a phil and teds and carry everything I need in the basket.

Fits a changing mat with nappies and wipes pack, change for both children, suncream, water and quite a lot of other bits and pieces. Can be a bit awkward bending down to pull bits out if holding the baby but is ok

Te trick is to have lots of little packs/ bags rather than one big one with everything in

I also leave the very bulky raincover at home unless is raining.

[BellendenBear]

I have just been to see Daniel the Chiropractor on CPR for the exact same symptoms with all the same causes as you. Feeling better already.

[ClareC]

I've got a Phil&Teds too, I use one of the skip hop change mats hanging off the handle for nappies and wipes and then the underneath section for spare clothes, sun hats and cream etc

I also have a small insulated snack bag which I hang off the handles, although this does fit underneath as does the change mat - just more convenient having them accessible.