Chirpractor or Osteopath?

[fairy!]

I have lower back pain... it started up a couple of months ago as sciatica & comes & goes... yesterday I was on my feet all day, but I wasn't bending or lifting, so I'm not really sure what I've done, but today I am in so much pain... it's not a shooting pain today, just absolutley kills at the bottom of my back just to even move :-(

The doc just told me to take ibuprofen, but I'd like to be a bit more pro active about finding as cure coz it hurts so much!

I've looked up chiropractors & osteopaths on the web, but I'm really not clear which one I should go to, if either?

Can anyone help? x

[justineo]

Hi fairy

I suffer with the same thing and apart from the obvious tablets you can take I find that Pilates helps.  Its about learing to centre yourself properly and how to minimize stress on the joints and muscles.  I've only just started but it involves stretching and breathing and is very gentle on the body.  I bought a book for a fiver from M & S.  Hope you soon feel better.

[fairy!]

Hi Justineo... thanks for your reply! I actually go to pilates classes twice a week already... my doctor implied that it was this that had caused my back pain, & I spoke to my instructor who agreed that perhaps I caused it by doing one of the moves slightly wrong :-(  I'm going to keep going, but just make sure that I'm extra careful!

[happy_face]

Hi Fairy.

I'm sorry to hear you've got back pain. Both my partner and I see a chiropractor once a fortnight and have been doing so for the past year. We both started going because we were in immense pain. Him back, me migraines. After about 3 weeks all pain was gone and we felt great. We decided to keep up the treatment because every day we could feel the benefits and all the energy we got from it.

I'm not saying you should do the same and go for a long period of time but it's well worth going to get your problem sorted.

[fairy!]

Thanks happy_face!  Do you know how the chiropractor treated your partners back?

[delilahcat]

Hi fairy,

Both my partner and myself occasionally suffer from lower back pain and we go to an osteopath when we need to. My osteopath also helped my frozen shoulder, and successfully treated my foot when I injured it in a car crash.

I think both osteopaths and chiropracters can help back pain, you might need to use trial and error to find what works best for you.

[jno]

Chiropractors mostly manipulate the spine, osteopaths work on soft tissues as well, but that's only a very broad distinction - depends very much on the individual practitioner, much more than regular medicine does..

[artee]

There is also the 'Manipulater' who does not snap the back around. He massages and pushes, usually with the thumb. I don't know if that is the correct term. Maybe they are called Osteopaths as well, but use a different way of manipulating.

[silly moo]

Chiropracters syudy at university and in a clinical area for 4 yrs and (I believe) are state registered.
Osteopaths vary incredibly as to their qualifications etc.
You really need personal reccommendation before using an osteopath.
Have you thought about a physiotherapist?
Speedy recovery!

[happy_face]

Hi Fairy.

The chiropractor took xrays and did a spinal scan. They do that for all new patients where we go and I would not recommend seeing anyone who doesn't take xrays first as it's a bit like decorating a cake blindfolded.
they found he had severe spinal dysfunction and started treatment straight away. Twice a week he went and had adjustments done. But not just to the lower back. All over his spine. Before he decided to see the chiropractor he could barely get out of bed and after 3 weeks I couldn't believe my eyes when he was jumping around like a 21 year old.
The chiropractor that we use is also used by British Airways for their staff. If a big company like that is willing to invest in chiropractors there must be something in it. They're nationwide, have a look:
http://www.bthcc.co.uk/

[Peri]

I have had joint pains for 15 years since my first child was born.  Have been to doctors, specialists etc.  Acupuncture did help a lot and in January this year I went to an Osteopath and am now on the right track. My opinion would be that an Osteo is gentler than a Chiropractor.  Dont know if Im right. Definitely worth a try though.