Chiropractic or Osteopath?

[jgs]

I know the differences between the two has been covered before, but I would like to know who to go for.

I have suffered daily pain around the top vertebrae at the base of the back of my neck. If I apply pressure to it from the side I get a 'twinge' down the back of my neck which suggests a trapped nerve or something...? It's been about 15 years now, every day, it's worse if I sit under air/con at work or have car window open. It's really getting on my nerves now (deliberate pun!).

It's pretty expensive so I'm not sure where to spend my money. Do I need to see a Chiropractor or Osteopath? Ta.

[jno]

ouch... in my experience chiropractors concentrate almost entirely on the spine and take an X ray before they treat you. Osteopaths are gentler and do more of their work on soft tissues as well as the vertebrae. I prefer osteopaths but they vary from one another a lot, and I've been to a few who've done nothing for me at all. And you don't know till you've had a couple of treatments, though once in a while you can get instant improvement. Chiropractors seem more uniform in their treatment.

Sorry, that doesn't actually answer your question - I think either would be appropriate for the sort of pain you have.

[jgs]

Ok thanks.

I've decided to give a chirpractor a go....a snip at �45! Hopefully it'll be worth it.

Ta

[jgs]

A Chiropractor even (not sure that birdsong therapy would be effective!)

[metagirl]

strange - i just went to the osteopath for the first time last weekend because of a pain i've had in my shoulder/upper back region for at least 6 years (i felt sheepish when she asked, so I lied and said 5 months!) the pain has gotten more constant, so i finally decided to do something about it. she was good, but I think with my problem (combination trapped nerve and my back is out!) its a bit more than her gentle hands can deal with so I'm going to my GP to get referred to a specialist.

My mother who has regular back problems goes to a chiropractor but it does get expensive. You should probably consider getting a full diagnosis since the pain has been going on for so long.

[jno]

yes, some osteopaths are very gentle - they're the ones who've never been any help to me, I need to be crunched around a bit, which plenty of them do. Other people respond very well to the light touch, however. Finding the right therapist for your ailment is tricky, I know.

like the idea of birdsong therapy though!

[justforthis]

Check this out first...

http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=8719

[Cheekystar]

My advice got for a chiropractor,

I've suffered with back pain for years, tried an osteopath which I felt didn't work for me, I've now been seeing a chiorpractor for 2 years who leaves me pretty much pain free, they re-align your skeleton to how it should be, and doesn't hurt.

Look for a training school near you (I pay �20 a session) which is done by the final year students while supervised by tutors. I used Mctimotey chiropractors and too be honest they've saved me from surgery