Chiropractors..

[sara3]

anyone tried this somewhat brutal treatment? I feel like I've been assaulted! I am also a bit dubious as to the benefits. I believe the medical profession doesn't approve, and private medical insurance won't cover it (not that I have any).

any views?

[Epona]

Qualified Chiropractors are professional people . May I suggest that those of you being offensive about their Profession go read up on the British Chiropractic Association web-site the qualifications and study required to become a Chiropractor. Obviously some on here have had a bad experience, I was helped immensely by Chiropractic help for ongoing back problems, allowing me to work and live pain free without medication, something the medical doctors failed to achieve.

[sara3]

thanks yogasun, I will x

Boxy, your treatment sounds far less brutal than mine and Ratter's! if it works for you, that's all good.

Lottie, thanks.. you too, huh? I think I'm going to swerve the chiropractor. not sure whether to attend the last paid-for session next week now :o/

[LoftyLottie]

My second post was before I saw yours Epona. I saw fully qualified chiropractors on both occasions. I cannot understand why their assessments missed such a vital point.

[jno]

different practitioners do different things, so if one doesn't suit you, another may.

You might find osteopathy a lot less physical, however. They concentrate more on tissue work than on realigning your spine, though they do the latter as well - and properly done, it works. I've had a lot of good out of them over the years. (They too are all different, em, so you could try a different one.)

I don't think the medical profession has a view on it but doctors generally aren't really very good at treating back pain.

[LoftyLottie]

Sarah, I have now been referred to an NHS Pilates course of six sessions taken by a qualified physio who understands hypermobility.

[sara3]

Epona, welcome, and thank you ;-)

I don't think we're being "offensive". I think we're discussing our opinions.

[LoftyLottie]

My doctor refers bad back to NHS physios jno. My doctor goes to my osteopath for treatment too!!

[jim360]

I don't know enough about Chiropractic to know how useful, or not, it is for treating back pains. I expect like any other service some Chiropractors are better at their job than others and some people have just picked up the extremes.

Why I dislike Chiropractic is when it starts claiming that all health problems can be treated by spine manipulation. No amount of qualifications will stop that from being complete nonsense.

[RATTER15]

Epona, who has been offensive? From what I have seen, people are just giving their own opinions, nothing offensive.

[sara3]

that sounds interesting Lottie.. I may chat to my gp about that, thanks.

jno, thanks.. it's tiresome trying to work out what's best when I'm in pain, lol.. I'm going to stick with the physio as he seems knowledgeable. fingers crossed, eh?

I'm off to work now, thanks for all comments x

[sara3]

jim, precisely!!!

[Epona]

Sara3 yes, sorry everyone is allowed their opinions x I just wanted to balance those opinions a bit as I struggled for 2 years with GP treatment for lower back (sacroiliac) pain , it stopped me doing lots of things and made me feel about 20 years older than I was. I bit the bullet and went private to a Chiropractor and that treatment involved manipulation backed up with deep tissue massage and exercises to improve my posture and core strength. I guess I just landed on a really good one. I hope you can get sorted, have you tried the Alexander Technique? http://www.alexandertechnique.com/

[LoftyLottie]

Yoga. Good morning x

I have been advised not to do yoga because my problem is being over flexible ;o)

[jno]

boxtops, neck crunching does sound alarming the first time it happens. But I found it a very good way of treating headaches in particular. The "movement" involved may be less than a millimetre; the purpose is to free trapped nerves or align neck muscles better. I could tell if it needed doing by prodding the vertebrae in my neck and seeing if one of them felt tender. Sometimes I can even crunch my own neck by tilting it the right way and turning it swiftly. Blessed relief!

[jno]

the big benefit of physio is they're on the NHS. The downside is you don't necessarily get to choose which one suits you best.

[friedgreentomato]

Sara, are you a member of Bennedan (sp) you may be able to get some money towards it.

[LazyGun]

Somewhat sceptical of the benefits of chiropractic myself. I certainly would not let them anywhere near upper spine/neck area - I have read several instances where such practice has caused the patient serious harm.

The foundation of chiropractic is a belief that spinal misalignment and subluxations are the cause of pretty much every disease. Some of the more sensible chiropractors have disavowed this, but quite a few still believe.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/the-end-of-chiropractic/

From the article
"When chiropractors use spinal manipulation therapy for symptomatic relief of mechanical low back pain, they are employing an evidence-based method also used by physical therapists, doctors of osteopathy, and others. When they do “chiropractic adjustments” to correct a “subluxation” for other conditions, especially for non-musculoskeletal conditions or “health maintenance,” they are employing a non-scientific belief system that is no longer viable."

[naomi24]

I agree with LazyGun.

[237SJ]

I think osteopathy can have it`s uses but I wouldn`t use a chiropractor. I had a problem with the sacrum and I went to a chiropractor several times (£44 a go). From what he described, it seems to be based on stretching the muscles around the problem so that (hopefully) the problem with then resolve itself. He used the term "we`ll put a stretch in" and that`s all it was. It didn`t work. I then fell off a horse onto really hard ground and landed on the scrum. That fixed it and it was fine after that. I`d never use chiropractic on the neck either - it can be dangerous.

[Connemmara]

I too had dreadful experience with chiropractors years ago but had a wonderful osteopath who retired last year - I would go into her hardly being able to walk and after coming home and resting - never needed to go back to her for about a year or so - everybody's experience is very different.

Also went to acupuncture re my neck - couldn't believe the pain after it was excruciating so that was never again too. Sorry Sara for the pain it must be so debilitating for you not being mobile as you would like to be.