chiropractor or osteopath ?
Discussion
Osteopathy doesn't seem to claim or practice anything that is at odds with what physiotherapy does - or that is at odds with 'conventional' physical medicine.
Cranial osteopathy is a rather different matter, perhaps.
Chiro, though, I would be more inclined to lump in with homeopathy, acupuncture and eating bits of endangered animals.
Cranial osteopathy is a rather different matter, perhaps.
Chiro, though, I would be more inclined to lump in with homeopathy, acupuncture and eating bits of endangered animals.
MonkeyMatt said:
Flibble said:
MonkeyMatt said:
Osteopathy has never had a mystic healer past? the founder was a physician and surgeon, Andrew Talor Still.
There's some quotes from him here:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Taylor_Still
In particular:
In a 1907 interview by the Topeka Daily Capital newspaper, A.T. Still's son, Charles Still, D.O., described his father's philosophy that the body would operate smoothly into old age, if properly maintained and that every living organism possessed the ability to produce all the necessary chemicals and materials to cure itself of ailments.
So he believed that realigning the joints would cure any disease, which is definitely straying into the mystic end of the healing spectrum.
IroningMan said:
Osteopathy doesn't seem to claim or practice anything that is at odds with what physiotherapy does - or that is at odds with 'conventional' physical medicine.
Cranial osteopathy is a rather different matter, perhaps.
Chiro, though, I would be more inclined to lump in with homeopathy, acupuncture and eating bits of endangered animals.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/chiropractor_entry_requirements.htmCranial osteopathy is a rather different matter, perhaps.
Chiro, though, I would be more inclined to lump in with homeopathy, acupuncture and eating bits of endangered animals.
I was married to an Osteopath for 10 years - she was well thought of and was asked to teach others.
I thought she was ho hum at it.
I paid for a different osteopath to fix my neck and he used to crack the living daylights out of it - which I loved.
I was also in a relationship with a physio who was brilliant at her job and I got great help from her.
As others have said it's more important finding someone who works well for you rather than judging them by their chosen field.
Any healing hand is better than none.....
I thought she was ho hum at it.
I paid for a different osteopath to fix my neck and he used to crack the living daylights out of it - which I loved.
I was also in a relationship with a physio who was brilliant at her job and I got great help from her.
As others have said it's more important finding someone who works well for you rather than judging them by their chosen field.
Any healing hand is better than none.....

cheddar said:
I was married to an Osteopath for 10 years - she was well thought of and was asked to teach others.
I thought she was ho hum at it.
I paid for a different osteopath to fix my neck and he used to crack the living daylights out of it - which I loved.
I was also in a relationship with a physio who was brilliant at her job and I got great help from her.
As others have said it's more important finding someone who works well for you rather than judging them by their chosen field.
Any healing hand is better than none.....
PossiblyI thought she was ho hum at it.
I paid for a different osteopath to fix my neck and he used to crack the living daylights out of it - which I loved.
I was also in a relationship with a physio who was brilliant at her job and I got great help from her.
As others have said it's more important finding someone who works well for you rather than judging them by their chosen field.
Any healing hand is better than none.....

But IMO, whoever is doing your treatment needs to have the best understanding of what they are treating.
If they (the treatment people) dont have an x-ray available they are working blind. They may have insight, but they don't have the full picture. And in my experience, quite a lot of the prodding/massage/flexing was hugely counter productive given 'they' missed the fact i've got ankylosing spondylitis.
To add to that not one chiropracter adressed or understood my lower back pain with my knee pain(s). The NHS physio saw that problem instantly and adressed/understood the interaction of glutes and ITB's and within weeks both areas of pain diminished to acceptable levels with determined physio.
Just my 2p..the only reason I post on threads of this nature is to stop people with my condition wasting money on so called specialists who simply want to money grab off your condition
Badvok said:
Hi
I've had back problems for a number of years and have decided to see someone about it but I have no clue if chiropractor or osteopath is right for me? what is the difference?
thanks
Anyhoo.....I've had back problems for a number of years and have decided to see someone about it but I have no clue if chiropractor or osteopath is right for me? what is the difference?
thanks
OP, why don't you go and see your GP. He knows what works for his patients, and can refer you on to people in the NHS, out of the NHS and even help you himself.
I don't do backs, anyone wonder why?

I have seen physios, chiro and an osteo for back issues. The physios I saw for knee issues but they were able to comment on my back issues.
My issue was perhaps quite simple - upper back tightness due to poor posture.
Both the chiro and osteo were quite upfront that the 'cracking' they did was temporary relief and it was up to me to make changes in my life to get my back sorted. There is no doubt the cracking offered some major relief at times when my back was really bad. I spose it just depends if you want to pay for it.
One of the physios I saw also did 'cracking' and pretty much did what the chiro/osteo did.
A work colleague sees a chiro every so often and just gets relief - I don't think he has any expectation of it making him better long term.
I think it really depends on what your problem is and the person you find.
I now see an osteo who does sports massage so I get the best of both worlds when I need to get some relief from the tightness and he has given me plenty of advice on loosening my tight joints and I have definitely seen results (in combo with steps I took)
My issue was perhaps quite simple - upper back tightness due to poor posture.
Both the chiro and osteo were quite upfront that the 'cracking' they did was temporary relief and it was up to me to make changes in my life to get my back sorted. There is no doubt the cracking offered some major relief at times when my back was really bad. I spose it just depends if you want to pay for it.
One of the physios I saw also did 'cracking' and pretty much did what the chiro/osteo did.
A work colleague sees a chiro every so often and just gets relief - I don't think he has any expectation of it making him better long term.
I think it really depends on what your problem is and the person you find.
I now see an osteo who does sports massage so I get the best of both worlds when I need to get some relief from the tightness and he has given me plenty of advice on loosening my tight joints and I have definitely seen results (in combo with steps I took)
ikarl said:
Slightly OT but I know of 2 people (aged 38 & 54) in the last month that have suffered a stroke within a day of going to a chiropractor - may be coincidence but looking at the web, apparently it's quite common!
I was very close to going to one but that's scared me right off
The neck manipulation is the the best thing ever in terms of relief but I have heard the horror stories.
My osteo does it now and again after he has massaged by neck/shoulder area.
I am not sure how 'violent' his version is though.
Not quite as brutal as this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2GmLb1Yxmg
My osteo does it now and again after he has massaged by neck/shoulder area.
I am not sure how 'violent' his version is though.
Not quite as brutal as this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2GmLb1Yxmg
I've never been and will never go to one after recent events. Normally I'm one to ignore warnings and such stuff on the internet but when it happens to 2 people I know it made me pay attention
I would like to point out that many people go and never have any problems, just a coincidence that it's happened to 2 people I know in such a short space of time from different chiro's
I would like to point out that many people go and never have any problems, just a coincidence that it's happened to 2 people I know in such a short space of time from different chiro's
The_Doc said:
Anyhoo.....
OP, why don't you go and see your GP. He knows what works for his patients, and can refer you on to people in the NHS, out of the NHS and even help you himself.
I don't do backs, anyone wonder why?
I did visit my GP numerous times after pulling my lower back moving a motorcycle, she refused to refer me for physio (never even looked at my back!) and just kept sending me away with a lot of painkillers and I mean a lot. OP, why don't you go and see your GP. He knows what works for his patients, and can refer you on to people in the NHS, out of the NHS and even help you himself.
I don't do backs, anyone wonder why?

I went to a local chriopractors twice a week for about four weeks and then once a week for 3 weeks and I've not had a problem since and it's been about two pain free years since.
The_Doc said:
Anyhoo.....
OP, why don't you go and see your GP. He knows what works for his patients, and can refer you on to people in the NHS, out of the NHS and even help you himself.
I don't do backs, anyone wonder why?
I really don't want to go down the GP route again, tried it and waited ages for referral to a local hospital only to be treated with a total lack of respect or dignity. Would rather pay a professional. OP, why don't you go and see your GP. He knows what works for his patients, and can refer you on to people in the NHS, out of the NHS and even help you himself.
I don't do backs, anyone wonder why?

I've been totally scared off by the chiro/stroke stories I've been reading about but need to straighten my spine and ease the pain.
Badvok said:
I really don't want to go down the GP route again, tried it and waited ages for referral to a local hospital only to be treated with a total lack of respect or dignity. Would rather pay a professional.
I've been totally scared off by the chiro/stroke stories I've been reading about but need to straighten my spine and ease the pain.
Where abouts are you, I could refer you my Chiro, he is excellent, I have been using him for years. No idea about this stuff around stroke sufferers. I've been totally scared off by the chiro/stroke stories I've been reading about but need to straighten my spine and ease the pain.
There are quite a few on this thread castuing doubt on both Osteo and Chiro's with absolutely no experince of using them.
If you see a Chiro, ask them ! You could ask for a free consultation and see how you feel about them after that.
My chiropractor is excellent. He is attached to a GP surgery, retained by several premier league clubs treating many international footballers and was part of the medical team at the London Olympics (I think he worked at the one before too from memory). He also works on major Hollywood actors when thy are filming in the UK. You never know who you are going to bump into when you go for an appointment. He has told me about the training he he has done and continues to do. He is far from a quack.
He fixes my back and hip pain, I go every 3 months for a slight adjustment if I forget the pain comes back and reminds me to book an appointment. It works for me and many other people.
My problems started when I came of of a horse, the x-ray of my spine was just a zig-zag rather than neat pile. It is now straight. The GPs and physios I went to treated it with anti inflammatory drugs and told me it would settle down. One session with a chiropractor and I was two inches taller and walking pain free. Seemed a no brainier that the skeleton needed moving back to how it should be.
I know nothing about osteopaths so I cannot comment on them. Obviously others we no knowledge of this subject do feel qualified to give us the benefit of their opinions!
He fixes my back and hip pain, I go every 3 months for a slight adjustment if I forget the pain comes back and reminds me to book an appointment. It works for me and many other people.
My problems started when I came of of a horse, the x-ray of my spine was just a zig-zag rather than neat pile. It is now straight. The GPs and physios I went to treated it with anti inflammatory drugs and told me it would settle down. One session with a chiropractor and I was two inches taller and walking pain free. Seemed a no brainier that the skeleton needed moving back to how it should be.
I know nothing about osteopaths so I cannot comment on them. Obviously others we no knowledge of this subject do feel qualified to give us the benefit of their opinions!
jules_s said:
Possibly
But IMO, whoever is doing your treatment needs to have the best understanding of what they are treating.
If they (the treatment people) dont have an x-ray available they are working blind. They may have insight, but they don't have the full picture. And in my experience, quite a lot of the prodding/massage/flexing was hugely counter productive given 'they' missed the fact i've got ankylosing spondylitis.
To add to that not one chiropracter adressed or understood my lower back pain with my knee pain(s). The NHS physio saw that problem instantly and adressed/understood the interaction of glutes and ITB's and within weeks both areas of pain diminished to acceptable levels with determined physio.
Just my 2p..the only reason I post on threads of this nature is to stop people with my condition wasting money on so called specialists who simply want to money grab off your condition
How did you get to see an NHS physion? I waited a year, had 2 sessions, one of which was her filling in a form and the other was giving me a chart of exercises. Useless, and probably why people see out osteo's and chiro's.But IMO, whoever is doing your treatment needs to have the best understanding of what they are treating.
If they (the treatment people) dont have an x-ray available they are working blind. They may have insight, but they don't have the full picture. And in my experience, quite a lot of the prodding/massage/flexing was hugely counter productive given 'they' missed the fact i've got ankylosing spondylitis.
To add to that not one chiropracter adressed or understood my lower back pain with my knee pain(s). The NHS physio saw that problem instantly and adressed/understood the interaction of glutes and ITB's and within weeks both areas of pain diminished to acceptable levels with determined physio.
Just my 2p..the only reason I post on threads of this nature is to stop people with my condition wasting money on so called specialists who simply want to money grab off your condition
If you're in Kent, the clinics here are worth a look http://www.eso.ac.uk/
I've suffered from back pain for years after a bad fall when I was a kid. I've tried everything ..osteos, chiropracters, physios, traction, acupuncture, epidural...you name it. My conclusion :
osteo - interesting analysis on posture etc but treatment ineffective
chiro - couldn't bloody wait to crack my neck despite my reluctance. 5 mins in I suspected this would be his treatment plan. Bloody dangerous and caused massive swelling in my lower back. Never again
physio (NHS) - good following accident. Massasge and ultrasonic good for relieving pain but didn't help long term
traction - aggrevated it
acupuncture - private hospital. money making exercise for hospital. No effect
epidural - most uncomfortable feeling I've ever had. reduced pain for a week then back to where I was
The best thing I've found is this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-RX-15-Minute-Day-Pila...
Changed my life. Keeping active, keeping weight down and Back Rx session a couple of times a week and I've been pretty much pain free for 12 months. Now training for a triathlon.
osteo - interesting analysis on posture etc but treatment ineffective
chiro - couldn't bloody wait to crack my neck despite my reluctance. 5 mins in I suspected this would be his treatment plan. Bloody dangerous and caused massive swelling in my lower back. Never again
physio (NHS) - good following accident. Massasge and ultrasonic good for relieving pain but didn't help long term
traction - aggrevated it
acupuncture - private hospital. money making exercise for hospital. No effect
epidural - most uncomfortable feeling I've ever had. reduced pain for a week then back to where I was
The best thing I've found is this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-RX-15-Minute-Day-Pila...
Changed my life. Keeping active, keeping weight down and Back Rx session a couple of times a week and I've been pretty much pain free for 12 months. Now training for a triathlon.
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