Aching Back

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

I slipped quite badly on the ice about 10 days ago and my back is still sore from it. The pain has got worse in my lower back, just left to the base of my spine, and i now feel some pain in my left leg. It can be quite painful at times, making even walking uncomfortable.

Has anyone here had any experience of chiropractise. Was it worth it? Also is it something that your GP can refer to on the NHS?

[superbiatch]

Sounds like you have sciatica and maybe even more damage. I'm a fellow sufferer

I think its up to each PCT to decide whether or not they use certain therapies, and I know my own one and also the one I work for would not pay for a chiropractor. Ask your GP - you never know. I'd also get some painkillers in stock too.

I've just finished private physio who did manipuation techniques and I'd highly recommend something like that if you do have to pay.

[Rob]

Very difficult to diagnose medical stuff via a forum. You should take any advice with significant caution.

GPs will be happy to dish out painkillers, but for most other minor back pain stuff you won't get far with them. You might get lucky and get a referral to a physio.

The real specialists in backs are chiropractors or osteopaths. There are differences in their approach to manipulation. Personal experience suggests that even within the same profession, sometimes one practitioner doesn't seem to make a difference, yet another does. It's best to speak with friends or colleagues and see if there are any recommendations.

The key though is to seek treatment. If you are starting to get a numbness, something is possibly caught or trapped and needs to be identified and released for fear of a longer term problem.

[bw41101]

Being a long term back sufferer (in one form or another) I have found that the most effective form of treatment is via either an Osteopath or Chiropracter.

Though I'm not an expert (medically wise) with regard to such treatments, but conditions not unlike Sciatica can be attributed to vertebrae trapping nerves - resulting in excruciating and debilitating pain. Quite often in such cases, spinal manipulation, I.e. opening up the gaps between the vertebrae can work wonders as this allows anything trapped to be released and the joints reset. I know - because I have found that out for myself many times in the past by visiting the Osteopath.

The most salient advice that I would give to anyone who has hurt their back, is don't leave it too long to get treatment! Once the joint(s) have been stressed, inflamation can make the condition worse resulting in very long and painful road to recovery, I.e the quicker you get treatment, the quicker you get relief and the problem sorted.

I find it unfathomable why this kind of treatment is not "officially" recognised by the NHS. I mean if you were sat in your doctor's surgery - in absolute agony and you were given the choice of instant (hands on) treatment that could aleviate the discomfort very quickly, or (instead) a dose of pills and a long wait for recovery - what would you choose?

No contest!

Good luck.

Si thee

[altis]

When I went to our GP with persistent neck pain he offered 3 solutions:
1) pain killers for ever
2) neck brace
3) fusion of the vertibrae

Then he said something like "Some of my patients have benefited from osteopathy. I've heard good reports of Mr M". Perhaps the wording was slightly more shaded but the recommendation was clear.

So I tried Mr M and he worked wonders. If ever I suffer joint pain now I go straight back. Yer, it costs money but the problem is often sorted straight away.

As Jack Sparrow says, get it sorted before you do too much damage.

[DaiNasty]

Another vote for Osteopathy from another back sufferer.

Techniques do vary, some are more forceful than others but it's well worth a try. The first time I went I was bent over and literally unable to stand up straight. Half an hour later I danced out of the surgery.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I slipped quite badly on the ice about 10 days ago and my back is still sore from it. The pain has got worse in my lower back, just left to the base of my spine, and i now feel some pain in my left leg. It can be quite painful at times, making even walking uncomfortable.

Has anyone here had any experience of chiropractise. Was it worth it? Also is it something that your GP can refer to on the NHS?

You want to have a word with Ramrod. He's a chiropractor...

[Ramrod]

Hi Saaf, got your PM
You need an accurate diagnosis before any treatment can begin. If you see an osteopath try to get one who graduated from the British School of Osteopathy, imo they are the best trained.
If you see a chiropractor, the Anglo European Chiropractic College grads are (imo) best.
If you PM me your address then I can see if I can find someone I know near you.
Your symptoms could be from a lumbar or sacro-iliac joint sprain and muscle spasm or they could be due to a disk bulge/'trapped nerve'. There are various other things that could give you those symptoms and these need to be ruled out in the examination.
Expect to pay between £45-£80ish for the first visit and £30-£45 ish for each treatment.
Whoever you see, don't expect miracles; pain relief may be quick but healing takes time.

[Halcyon]

I know a friend who already had back problems and just like you she slipped on ice and it made it even worse.
She goes to a chiropractor and says that it does help, and then a massage too.
She goes about every two months.

My missus slipped on the ice last Monday, she didn't fall she righted herself before she hit the floor, she's been suffering all week with her back. She went to the doctors on Monday and got diagnosed with a kidney infection plus a strained back. The slip might have bought the kidney infection on but we'll never know.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Nidge

The slip might have bought the kidney infection on but we'll never know.

Unlikely. Prolly a coincidence

[Stephen]

Sounds like a trapped nerve, but you should go see your GP.

I suffer from sciatica as well and it does tend to be to the left and in to the left leg but your pain might not be that.