At the local GP, what do the nurses do that the doctors don't? If you had a back problem which would you make the oppointment with or would they just tell me to see a chiropractor?

I would see a Aromatherapist for a massage.

I would see the physio/accupuncturist who sorted mine out years ago - George Chia on Wilkinson St. If you can get an appointment he's brilliant and a really genuine bloke.

Having had a back problem for a year now, i can tell you that your best bet is the doctor, although don't expect speedy results from them. I first went to the doctor last September about my back (it was so bad that i couldn't go to work as i couldn't sit down) and i only just got to see an orthopedic specialist at the Northern General in August!

If your doctors surgery has a physiotherapist then they can refer you to that service but in my experience it's only your doctor that can actually get you referred to specialists.

Hope this helps

Go and see a chiropractor! Do not let the NHS loose on your back... They'll just tell you it's a slipped disk no matter what it is. You definitely don't want to have physio, this can make a back injury much worse.

I'd recommend Sheffield Chiropractic Clinic on Chesterfield Road, who will also do acupuncture if needed!

I think that you need to see your GP to get into the system for appointments (physio, scans, orthopod etc) but then find yourself somebody that you can trust to treat your back holistically in the meantime, be it masseur, chiropracter, or as in my case osteopath. Nobody will think less of you if you have your own problem sorted by the time your appointments come through (provided that you canel of course!).
In answer to your question, with relation to back injuries you would probably find that the nurse does nothing other than a more in depth monitoring of your problem, no treatment. Getting referred for scans, physio etc is all either of them can do, apart from prescribing painkillers, which you'll probably need in the short term.

Try Michael Cohen on Graham Road, if he can't fix it no one can.

Fully recommend this Chiropractor, give him a ring at 2307598

Hope this helps you.


Happy Days!

I never bother the doctor when my back is bad, I just ring my osteopath (who is state registered) and he sorts it a lot faster than the rest it brigade on the NHS. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by owdlad
I never bother the doctor when my back is bad, I just ring my osteopath (who is state registered) and he sorts it a lot faster than the rest it brigade on the NHS. :thumbsup:

Would that be most nights of the week then ? :hihi:

Originally posted by Lestat
Would that be most nights of the week then ? :hihi:

Yet another constructive comment :rolleyes:

Perhaps you should start a thread about the Halifax. :o

Originally posted by owdlad
Yet another constructive comment :rolleyes:

Perhaps you should start a thread about the Halifax. :o

I was only commenting on your nightly activities . . . you are the disco dancer at the leadmill aren't you? :confused:

As for Halifax - Why would I want to do anything like that!?:o :hihi:

Your GP is definitely your first port of call, so go and get your condition logged.

You will more than likely be sent away with pain killers/anti-inflamatory tablets to see how you go (that is assuming you had no other symptoms).

Assuming you are still in pain you will more than likely be referred to a physio where you will be given certain exercises to do.

Nine times out of ten a patient will be sent away to manage their own condition.

Sorry I can't be more positive but as a chronic back pain sufferer I have found out that there is often nothing that can be done for you.

As much as my osteopath has changed my life for the better I still think that getting yourself on the waiting list for scans/xrays/whatever is really rather important.

I was unlucky enough to be in the very small minority for whom the first time a back problem is diagnosed it turns out to be a serious, permanent and degenerative condition, which is likely to end up with me in a wheelchair. I know that there are many talented practitioners of chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy, but they are limited in what they can do if the problem is serious (and they too would like you to have a scan to diagnose the problem if it looks serious).

I really really hope that you aren't in the same boat as me, but backs are so vulnerable that you need to treat them with utmost respect. There are no rules that say that you can only apply one regime at a time- I have regular consultations with my orthopod, and my osteopath, and do yoga, and take painkillers. If you need similar then you need your GPs help too.

Can't agree more with medusa666 about the Yoga, it really helps, many back problems are helped by improving your posture. Yoga, Pilates all worth trying.

My partner has been able put off an operation to help with a chronic back problem and improving his posture with a physio and yoga has been instrumental in this.

We did try the NHS route but it was a disaster for us, the most unsympathetic GP who basically wanted to send us home with pills. When I said that being told that he would have to give up work and sit at home doing nothing was unacceptable at 40yrs of age I was shouted at and told "don't blame me because of the system". Said we would pay and got referral letter few days later. I am a great supporter of the NHS but his experience shook us badly.

Try looking at Clinic One. The website is below. They offer several therapys that may help, including Spinal, Alexander, Massage, Osteopathy.

www.clinicone.co.uk

Hope that helps!

If you do go to an Osteopath or Chiropractor, I would get some recommendations first. Most are very well trained professional practitioners, but with something like a back problem there is enormous potential for someone to do more harm than good.

I went to A & E with mine, because I was puzzled at what had happened ... all the pain initially was in my lower leg and I had difficulty walking. This was Chesterfield Royal about 3 years ago. I was fortunate enough to see a doc who knew quite a bit about orthopaedics. I had an X ray there and then, a very thorough exam, and was diagnosed with a torn disc.

My gp sorted me with some physio (twice) but it wasnt much help. The osteopath that did so much for my frozen shoulder gave some relief to my back, but not very much. Acupuncture helped, but it has flared up on countless occasions. I now swear by a TENS machine. This doesnt work for everyone though. Its a case of different strokes for different folks I think!

i did my back in and having never had any probs with it before was a bit useless about sorting it. luckily got a mate whos a chiropracter and after 1 session with her my back was pretty much sorted. the effects with a chiropracter are instantaneous even if it may take more than one session to completeley sort it if you've done yourself serious mischief. also ten mins with an ice pack on the effected area works wonders as pain relief. some people don't rate chiropracters but they seem to forget that they are doctors too

chiropracters aren't doctors! In the US they have to do more training, but not here.
Physiotherapy is the best solution, they get you to manage your problem with long term changes to your habits and exercise to strenthen your back in the long term.
Osteopaths and chiropracters more often then not, get you to come to them for treatment that is ongoing and costs a lot of money, how can 20minutes once or twice a week combat bad habits 24 hours a day! In most cases bad backs are caused or aggravated by poor posture.

Originally posted by tmullerd
chiropracters aren't doctors! In the US they have to do more training, but not here.
Physiotherapy is the best solution, they get you to manage your problem with long term changes to your habits and exercise to strenthen your back in the long term.
Osteopaths and chiropracters more often then not, get you to come to them for treatment that is ongoing and costs a lot of money, how can 20minutes once or twice a week combat bad habits 24 hours a day! In most cases bad backs are caused or aggravated by poor posture.

Maybe physiotherapy is your best solution, but it's not always so for everyone.

NHS physios have told me that there is nothing more they can do for my back (I have degenerative disc disease, a sugical scoliosis and a number of extra bones), so I was left with the alternatives of living in constant pain, paying for ongoing physiotherapy or paying for some other sort of ongoing treatment.

The most useful treatment for me has turned out to be osteopathy with a very gentle osteopath, combined with yoga therapy.

I recognise that I am in the minority in that my back problem has an identifiable cause, but there are plenty of other folk like me who need to make their own plans when the NHS washes their hands of them.

I suffered a Disc Prolapse (commonly called a "Slipped Disc")
in 1997. The pain was unbelievable, and I was confined to bed at home for about 10 days.

During that time, a chiropractor was suggested. I was "treated" by him several times at home, and at his his so-called clinic, which was less costly, but the experience was agony... and he compounded the injury by his treatment. His charges were ridiculously high, which added insult to injury.

In my complete despair, my wife insisted I visit a Private Clinic to see a Specialist, and the charge for this was less than one visit to my home by this charlatan Chiropractor. The Specialist concerned confirmed the treatment I had been given by that idiot had made the situation worse.

Fortunately for me The Private Specialist got me admitted to the local NHS Hospital the next day. After about 8 to 10 days total bedrest at the Hospital, and various lumber scans, I was discharged. The treatment by the NHS was free.

Walking was impossible, but thanks to my wife's encouragement I virtually had to re-learn the walking function all over again...a little bit at a time.

I still get pain from time to time, cannot stand upright for very long without a reminder of the prolapse, and cannot walk much of a distance without discomfort.

My advice to anyone in a similar situation would be.... never go anywhere near a Chiropractor.

I saw my GP who suggested a chiropractor. I was X-Rayed and the damage was shown and explained to me. Six weeks of twice-weekly treatment followed together with excersizes at home and I was out of pain and back at work.

So obviously there are good and bad experiences of chiropracters. :) The one I went to is above the Housing offices on Bradfield road.

Due to the power of search - i've yet again resurrected an old thread.

My wife underwent spinal surgery two years ago accompanied by the physio etc and aftercare.
She has recurring problems, especially stiffness and some lumbar pain in the morning.

NOw as she has had surgery which would be the best type to visit - physio,chiro,osteopath?
Just after some general experience/advice please.

Hi,

I might be a bit bias as im an osteopath but I would recommend visiting one. John Sutton at Bannerdale osteopaths on abbeydale road is fantastic.
Some gentle knee hugs in the morning might help but having someone check how the rest of the spine/pelvis is working is well recommended. Also try ice on the low back for 10 mins.

Depends on your back and on the nature of the "injury" (trauma, wear-and-tear, medical problem), I guess.

For what it's worth, mine was down to trauma (rugby scrum injury) and the osteo I saw was great for pain relief (i.e go into a session bent up, come out fine) but a few hours later I was back to square one.

What genuinely worked for me was loads of on-my-back rest (6 weeks) AND a workshop with the physios at the Hallamshire - they told me a great deal about posture (at the sink, desk, in bed etc) and gave me a regime of gentle stretching exercises which worked and are still working a treat.

I refer you to all of Medusa's replies on this thread.Your first port of call is your Gp, and this also forms a legal record should you ever need to prove to work or anyone that you have sought help for back pain.

At the local GP, what do the nurses do that the doctors don't? If you had a back problem which would you make the oppointment with or would they just tell me to see a chiropractor?

Chiropractor and have doen on many occasions

The Gp can't do a thing in my wifes case except prescribe paracetamol. Shes had surgery and now has to live with it by all accounts.

My opinion would be to find an extremely gentle osteopath who won't force any of the joints to their full range of motion for her willman.

I see Lisa Halse at the Lodge House in Walkley- I can ask her for a recommendation of someone more local to you when I see her next week if you like?

From the age of 25 onwards, the human spine starts to degenerate. Some may suffer with pain, others may have very little in the way of symptoms at all. A small jerk can trigger off a lifetime of symptomatology. If a disc is already degenerative, it can prolapse and be extremely painful. If you're over 30, look around you. How many people do you know have at some time or other suffered with back pain? Quite a few? Always consult your GP about back pain. Therapy in the wrong hands can cause more harm than good. What works for one person may have an adverse effect on another.

the best method of treating chronic pain is french technique called mesotherapy... and thanks god for it ..my fibromyalgia is behaving well after few sessions....
im french myself and im really surprised people in uk dont know much about it ....check it out :www,sfmesotherapie,com/uk/meso.asp (obviously commas need to be replaced by dots) , thats an english version (for non-french-speaking) , as far im aware there are so many mesotherapy clinics nationawide, it mustbe at least one in south yorkshire, i bet...
good luck all with any treatments :)