Osteopaths. Any good?

I don’t know much about osteopaths, but I did work in a Chiropractic Clinic as a Receptionist. I have seen people literally crawling into the Clinic and walking out, not completely pain free ofcourse, after the first treatment. First treatment, probably about £50 - 60, and follow ups about £30. You will need a few treatments. And then, maintenance. More often than not, they are referred for X-rays , before treatment begins.
Go by recommendation. Ask around.
Good luck and I hope your pain is sorted. But don’t let anyone manipulate your back, without having a look at your X-ray. If I’m not mistaken Chiropractic is now a University Degree, but Osteopathy is not. I could be wrong

Sorry you’re in such pain. I’ve used an osteopath several times for back and shoulder and always had good results. The guy I used was gentle using massage, and stretching also acupuncture. It cost £35 per hour but this was a few years ago. I rarely needed more then one or two sessions always went away with an exercise plan too.
Ask friends and family for recommendations.

Yes use our Osteopath for a variety of things I would ask around for recommendations.
Works a treat and don’t ask me how because they use a very light touch
Ours costs around £40/50 per session which is usually 45mins to an hour worth every penny

I have an osteopath/physiotherapist. She is qualified as both - and the physio side of her training makes me feel like I’m in safe hands - I have friends that see osteopaths that seem a bit woolly and hippy if you know what I mean.

I had sciatica which with the gentle exercises she set along with the massage (v gentle) manipulations she did fixed it fairly quickly. 4 years later and it has reappeared in the other leg and I’ve gone back and hoping for a similar outcome.

Make sure they are registered, and that if they are physios they have a ‘Physiotherapist BSc’ (preferably with hons!)

Mine sends me videos of exercises to do at home, find one that does this as it makes it much easier to follow when you are home alone, to make sure your technique is correct. The written instructions are a pain, and you can do more damage if you do them incorrectly.

I can’t let that go without speaking up for my surgery.
I’m not going into details on GN but in the past 4 months I can’t fault them and I have no condition that is life threatening.

As for Osteopaths. About 8 yrs ago I paid £2000 for procedures that were freely available on YouTube. That was for sciatica.

I have used an osteopath on and off for years. I find that he really helps my aches and pains. He charges £38 per treatment - worth every penny! I have had treatment for various injuries that I’ve inflicted on myself ? and the treatment has always got me back on my feet.

i would be very wary of chiropractors.
but osteopaths are properly regulated and have recognised qualifications.
however, you really must get that seen by a medical practitioner first, and i think an osteopath would say the same.
are there any walk-in clinics near you.
could you write to your GP, outlining the whole situation.
it is more difficult to access medical attention now, i agree.
but the nhs still exists, and you certainly have presenting symptoms which fall within their purview.
and it could be something that needs medical intervention.
please persist. try different approaches.
we have found the out of hours service to be very good.

I do understand how debilitating this type of pain is snowberry. My current go to person is a physiotherapist who is ex NHS and reassuringly qualified. Sessions cost £38. Her intervention and advice triggered a referral to specialist spinal services last year

I have a long term spinal issue. In our previous location an osteopath kept me mobile and as pain free as possible. She was worth every penny. Have you asked friends and family if they can recommend anyone? No matter the specialism people won’t all work the same way. Perhaps check qualifications for practitioners in whichever route you follow and then try and see how you get on. I have in the past had just one session with a practitioner because I felt uncomfortable with them. It’s ok not to go back

Good luck. Hope the pain eases soon.

crazyH

I don’t know much about osteopaths, but I did work in a Chiropractic Clinic as a Receptionist. I have seen people literally crawling into the Clinic and walking out, not completely pain free ofcourse, after the first treatment. First treatment, probably about £50 - 60, and follow ups about £30. You will need a few treatments. And then, maintenance. More often than not, they are referred for X-rays , before treatment begins.
Go by recommendation. Ask around.
Good luck and I hope your pain is sorted. But don’t let anyone manipulate your back, without having a look at your X-ray. If I’m not mistaken Chiropractic is now a University Degree, but Osteopathy is not. I could be wrong

How do I get an xray?
The gp won't send me for one.
I asked for one and they told me that in their opinion it wasnt necessary.
Amazing how they can tell these things without even seeing or laying hands on a patient!

Excuse my sarcasm! sleep deprivation a d pain has made me a bit tetchy.

I have had treatments from osteopaths for many years as and when I've had back pain and sciatica. On one occasion, it was discovered that my pelvis was out of alignment, after a fall but which I hadn't really hurt myself. I now go for 'maintenance' sessions three times a year and I really believe it's money well spent.
I've also found with them that they only treat you as long as is necessary, which is a very commendable!

snowberryZ - the Chiropractor completes an Private X-ray Request Form - you take that to the X-ray Dept. But there is a charge for it. Your Chiropractor has to be ‘recognised’ by your local NHS Hospital. Some Chiropractors have a small X-ray unit in their clinics.
I don’t blame you for being tetchy.
welbeck - Chiropractors are well regulated and have extensive University qualifications.

a, not an

Osteopaths are always my first port of call for muscular problems have ben using one for years. However I do think it is best to get a proper diagnosis from a GP/hospital first. It is not right that your GP wont send you for an x-ray especially if He/she has not seen you. My advice would be to push your GP for an appointment explaining your level of pain and discomfort. Best of luck with this.

I am seeing an Osteopath for hip and foot pain. I felt better after the first session and the exercises she gave me are really helping.

Interestingly she told me she would email my GP as she thought my foot problem needed an Xray and surgery. The very next day my GP called me, I had an appointment in his surgery that very day, an Xray in the local hospital within the week and within a month I have seen a surgeon and am now on a 2 to 3 month waiting list for surgery. All down to my lovely Osteopath.

Hope you get some help and pain relief soon snowberry

I know some people swear by Chiropractors...but I spent a couple of hundred pounds with one a few years ago with no success. I then went to a Physiotherapist who cured me with one session and two simple exercises.

I have had back problems recently and our GP told me on a phone call to self refer myself to the local physio department at our hospital .See if you can go down the medical route first and it wouldn't cost you anything.

My osteopath is lovely, I’ve been seeing her for a number of years (off and on, not continuously). She has treated me for upper back and lower back issues. She’s really gentle and charges 40.00 per visit. She has a university degree and has to commit to a certain number of hours continuous training every year in order to keep her registration with the osteopaths council. The only problem is she’s so popular that there’s usually a bit of a wait before you can get an appointment.

If seeing doctor really isn’t feasible then I’d start with a physiotherapist who can diagnose properly. You might be able to self-refer via your NHS practice or you could go private.

Some osteopaths seem very woo-woo. A friend who has damaged her ankle has been told to use a little clove oil mixed with olive oil and swill it round her mouth for 30 minutes a day! I’m sure most aren’t like that but tread warily.

I hope you’re feeling better soon.

I can’t recommend my osteopath enough. Last April I had awful groin pain , I couldn’t see a GP and over the phone she referred me to a NHS physio , who in turn consulted me over the phone , and told me I had pulled a tendon and hex gave me some YouTube exercises. Eventually after 3 months with no improvement, I booked a face to face appointment with an osteopath . The only clinician seemly able to lay hands on me .He has kept me going whilst awaiting a hip replacement and is extremely knowledgeable.

My Mum had a very long back, and as she grew older and the muscles weakened it curved over until nearly at right angles. She used to visit an osteopath (I took her) when it got too painful and he always helped, a lot.
No idea of what he did or the cost but this was back in the '90s. She was a brave and determined woman.
So go for it and as ^*corner*says ask friends first for recommendations

An X-ray wouldn’t be the correct investigation anyway(usually) I think this is sometimes what can cause issues. Patients expectations of a test or treatment not in line with the correct management. Back pain rarely needs an examination unless it has red flags associated with it which presumable you your GP
Has inquired about?

There is no evidence for chiro or osteo, despite it being well used. Physiotherapy conversely has a lot of evidence base and would be the usual referral route on the NHS after self help measures has been tried ( daily strengthening work, anti inflammatory medication, increasing activity, decreased sedentary behaviour, weight loss if required)

It might be worth having an open discussion with your Gp regarding what can be done?

Having just re read the post I wouldn’t be forking out for injections without having a diagnosis. You don’t mention a time frame either but I would advise speaking to your Gp giving them the full
History and asking what the next steps are..

If you are in pain, cannot get help from your GP, and cannot get onward referral to a physiotherapist/ muscoskeletal clinic, seeing a recommended osteopath ( privately) is very sensible. Ask friends for a recommendation. They are trained, and registered, and may be able to help reduce your pain quite quickly.
I have not had particularly good experiences with nhs muskoskeletal services ( very long waits, very limited treatment- no follow up) so for decades have either regularly visited a chiropractor or osteopath, to keep mobile.
Best to try again to discuss with your GP.

NHS physios no longer carry out the hands on manipulation they are trained to do as they are not allowed to by their health trusts. This is due to fears of being sued if it goes wrong.
Most osteopaths and chiropractors are private and therefore should carry insurance.
I have had amazing treatment from a local osteopath for many years and literally skip out of the room afterwards..
Wonderful skill and knowledge.

I've wondered a lot about this. I doubt very much that they could help my spinal pain which has been diagnosed , - properly, by my doctor, - as arthritis. ... but I still wonder sometimes.