Osteopath Or Chiropractor

[fruitsalad]

Which would be the best one to see for lower back pain?

[carrust]

I've tried both...osteo worked for me after spending £100's at the chiro.

[gingejbee]

Your GP. Seriously, visiting either of them without knowing WHY you have the pain, can make matters much worse - permanently.
Your GP can then advise if a visit to either is advisable.

[carrust]

The only thing the GP gave to me for my backpain was painkillers.

[fruitsalad]

I have been to doctors and also had an xray and apparently its wear and tear I have also seen the physio but he mainly gave me exercises to do

[fruitsalad]

Yes I want to try and reduce the amount of painkillers I take

[Postdog]

I would go with chiropractor every time. I had a bad back all my working life as a postman, and I have tried both. The osteopath certainly loosed me up, and straight after I felt great. However the next day I could not move.

Then I tried chiropractors, and to be honest, at first thought it was a con. People were only there a short while, forking over big money, then going. The thing is, they booked to come back.

Anyway I tried it, and before any treatment they x rayed my spine, showing it to be s shaped. Treatment only lasted a few minutes, but I did feel better. Long story short, I paid for a course of treatments, and within two months I was totally pain free and walking tall, my spine having been totally realigned.

[Postdog]

Doctors are useless for backs IMO.

[gingejbee]

Osteoarthritis (wear and tear) of the spine IS helped by exercises from a physiotherapist.
It's doubtful if the osteopath or chiropracter would be more helpful.

[tamborine]

Mine cleared in 10days on Nurofen. adjust armchair with cushions to sit higher, 2 sticks (long umbrellas in my case) to hobble with & lay flat on settee as much as poss.

[fruitsalad]

Wish I could get rid of it in 10 days tambo I have been in pain with this over a year now and just hoping I could get something that helps and reduce the painkillers I have to take and also the amount of tiger balm I get through and continually smell of

[tamborine]

My OH suffered lifetime spondolytis & relied on belladonna plasters

http://www.pointpharmacy.com/shop/Belladonna-Plaster-Large.html

[jno]

I've tried osteopaths and chiropractors (and GPs). I've found GPs not much use. Osteos are gentler than chiropractors and I've done well with them over the years, though they all have different methods and some may work for you and others not. Either will try to assess what is causing the back pain before treating it.

[dannyk13]

Physiotherapist is your best bet.

[fruitsalad]

Thanks guys for your advice and the link tambo will give those plasters a go for that price worth a try

[Robinia]

Agree with physio, it definitely helped me. How long and how often have you been doing the excercises?

[fruitsalad]

Not as often as I should Robinia

[beso]

Osteo for me. A lot more whole body approach.

[woodchopper]

A referral to your local physio at the hospital should put you right - Chiropractic in my tried and tested opinion is quack medicine - spent hundreds of pounds for nowt. 3 twice weekly appointmenbts at the physio and I was cured.