Back Problem

jobonar

hi,
I've had a problem at the bottom of my back for about 6 months now.. the doctor i went to told me to rest it for a while and if it didnt get any better to go see a chiropractor or physio about it(he left the decision to me).

just looking for ppl's opinions and /or experiences on which would be the best 1 to go to? i'm not sure which i want to go see as ive heard stories about chiropractors making back problems worse but it seems it is the best choice!

also was wondering if any1 could recommened a good chiropractor/physio on the northside/city centre in dublin.

Thnaks,
J.

amazingemmet

Chiro's in my experience are a scam while they'll fix your problem they'll have you coming back once a month for the rest of your life. The best bet is to go to an osteopath and they'll sort you out better then a chiro. Going to a physio would alos be helpful as they can help sort out your posture which is one of the main causes of these sort of injurys.

mikedragon32

Sorry about your back. Over the years I've had several back injuries, the most recent being two slipped discs which developed into scoliosis (spl?) before I got to see my physio.

It's important to get it looked at asap. I don't know of any physio's in town, but I reckon if you contact your local rugby club (or gym), they'll have details of a couple that their members use.

In the meantime, rest it, don't lift, pull, push or do anything that over stretches your back. Using the vacuum cleaner and ironing are really bad, according to my physio.

Whatever exercises you get from your physio, make sure you do them! It's vital that you strengthen your back muscles to help protect the area.

jobonar

thanks for the replies...

yeah i have heard thy keep ya comin back week after week alright and thats another thing i'd like to avoid! i've never heard of an osteopath before will look it up and get some more info on it!

i had been doing some light training for a while and it was feeling grand but started into some contact stuff last week and it went again so need to get it sorted!

Lindaloo

I went to a brill physio on Ballymun Road, she's excellent. She was one of the physios for the All Blacks when they were over here last year. Would highly recommend her

*touch wood* I went in November last year and haven't had a problem since.

Your best bet is to go to a phsyiotherapist.

I've had major back problems for years and recently, having almost collapsed during work with it getting so bad, I decided to book an appointment with one. Having gone, they were able to tell me that I need to work on my posture, demonstrate to me how, and that my shoulderblades are weaker than they are, and have a problem supporting my shoulders. Balls.

I went to them once a week for a month or so, and after each time I felt great. They used electric shock stuff (not proper medical term, of course) to get access to the nerves.. or something. I'm not entirely sure what they did, but damn it felt good. And it was extremely cheap as well.. €15 a session because I did it through the college, but €35 for ordinary session.

Hope it all goes well.

Bodhidharma

Chiropracters are a joke. They are about as useful as astrologers. They try to imply that they are changing the shape of your back, and that is just a lie. Sure it feels good when they make your back go crack but its the same as cracking your fingers.

I've had back problems since i was 11 and i tell you i've seen and done everything. I'm sorry to say, nothing really works. I've had to grin and bear it.
The truth is back problems are practically impossible to get rid of unless you have something readily indentifiable like a slipped disc.

I try to have a good posture, but its very hard. For me, standing still is tiring.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but thats my experience. Be very weary of people who claim they will be able to "fix" it.

deman

I've had several problems with my back down the years and I've used quite a few different methods at getting it seen to.

The question that was asked was should you see a physio or a chiro? It depends on what type of damage you've done to your back. If it's muscular see a physio. If it's spinal, see a chiro.

I good physio should spend at least 45 minutes per session on your back with a minimum of 4 sessions. This can be expensive but very effective. But if the problem is spinal, it won't be fixed even though you might feel better.

A chiropracter will only spend 10 mins on your back straightening up your spine and all that but he does nothing to your muscles that should keep your spine straight.

Here in Finland, I use a naprapath. Sort of a halfway person between a physio and a chiro. And she is brilliant. Each 45 minute session cost around €50 but at the end of the day (well it took several days to recover) I felt great. Heavy massage, electrosis, twisting and turning, crack and click and hanging upside-down while having the spine stretched.

The most important thing is the exercises afterwards though. Do these. Also, lose the stomach I know I haven't yet though Not only does a slightly larger stomach strain your back but it means you are also lacking in the stomach muscles that are used to supporting it.

If you can find a naprapath anywhere in Dublin, I would thoroughly recommend that you go. No pain, no gain.

Let me know how you get on.

BTW, most lower back problems are caused by the Scatia nerve. More info here -
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/Exercise/how_to_relieve_back_leg_pain.asp

darkflower

I suggest you go to a physiotherapist as they can perform a wide range of tests to help locate the source of the problem and implement the appropriate treatment strategy.

daveg

About 10 years ago I injured my back whilst lifting free weights. Was really stupid how I lifted them (didn't bend the knees) and I suffered badly for my mistake. I was laid up for about 3 months in complete agony. I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with Sciatica (disc slips out pinching the sciatic nerve causing pain down one or both legs as well as lower back pain). Eventually, after the 3 months in went away and I was fine for a while. Since then I have "twinged" my back a few times which has resulted in a few weeks of agony. However about 3 years ago I got a really bad relapse. I went to the doctor who referred me to a specialist. He sent me for an MRI and refused, once the results cam back, to refer me for surgery (in hindsight thank god. I hear the results from surgery can be very poor). During this time I went to see a Chiropractor. He took a half assed xray and gave me an individual prospectus detailing how he would fix my back and a price plan to match (was about €3K). The specialist referred me to a physiotherapist. Best thing that could have happened. She made a great difference (albeit through a lot of pain). In the end I took a 6 week holiday in the sun this year and I'm 100% fine since. However my last 3 years were misery.

One last note on Chiropractors. A good mate of mine suffers with the same problem I have. He reckons his Chiropractor is brilliant. Even the physio reckons some are good and some are bad. They are not regulated from what she told me and that is a very dangerous thing. My advice would be plenty of exercise and visit a physiotherapist.

Jim10000

I'd agree with all those who say go to a physio.

I've had similar lower back pain too and went to chiropractors with no real results for years, then I went to a physio a couple of times and am now as close to cured as I'd say it's possible to be. If by any small chance you happen to be going to London any time soon I'll give you her address because I thought she was great - but hopefully you'll be able to find someone similar in Dublin.

Incidentally, she recommended I take up Tai-Chi, which I did, which helps a huge amount too, so you might want to think about that for more long-term benefits.

Good luck!

krankykitty

I've had various neck/back problems and I went to everyone, chiropractors, physios, physical therapists etc, and the one thing I found that worked to give an instant relief was chiropractic. The particular chiropractor I go to also asks a lot of questions about your health/diet etc and will recommend courses of vitamins/minerals or a diet plan for optimum recovery, plus give you exercises to strengthen your problem areas.
When I began going the chiropractor had me going to a physical therapist also to strenghten the muscles too so maybe a combination of both might be right for you.
Then again, many people don't agree with this view and I reckon some chiropractors are a lot better than others. Make sure any one you go to is qualified anyhoo

If you are in pain, have you tried acupuncture? I found it great but yet again, its a personal thing, lots of people don't rate it. There was a documentary on BBC a while back about acupuncture in China, and it showed it being used to perform heart surgery on a girl while she was awake, without general anaesthesia!

OP - PM me if you want any details on the chiropractor I use.

LegacyUser

Hi. You need to find out what exactly is the problem with your back. (if you don't know already that is)

Here's why: I started getting a mild bit of discomfort in my back a few years ago. I went to see my docter, osteopath, then a physiotherapist. I did a few physio sessions etc., they helped a bit but it kept getting worse, eventually I ended up in hospital coz I couldn't walk almost & they did an x-ray & blood tests.

It turns out I actually have a form of inflammatory arthritis, nothing at all to do with an injury etc. I forget who finally made the diagnosis, but I know it wasn't the GP or the Physio. Most likely it was a Rheumatologist I went to see-these guys specialise in arthritis & related things. Now I have the propor medicines, & a programme of appropriate exercises to keep it under control.

So if aren't 100% certain its just an injury of some sort, possibly consider going to a Rheumatologist.

galah

Go and see an osteopath! (chiropractors are usually a waste of time, and physio's never did it for my backpain...) - Osteopaths are a "bit of both" - I found their treatment ideal!

(I can recommend two good ones in Galway...doesn't help you if you're in Dublin though...).

jobonar

thanks for the replies...

i injured it from a fall playing football so i doubt its arthritis! my doc said i'd be better of talking to a phsyio or chiro if it didnt get better with rest..

also accupuncture isnt gonna happen have phobia of needles so couldnt cope with that!!!

i was told about a japanesse therapy called Amatsu! its supposed to be very good! anybody ever heard of this or had an experience with it?

mirwillbeback

Mate I tried Amatsu and was told that I'd be cured after 3 sessions - € 135 later no improvement at all.
I go to a physical therapist in Blackrock now, Mike Carswell who I believe looks after the Irish Rugby Team. He's dear - ish at 75 a session but its 40 mins of good hard deep tissue massage and manipulation. I went to chiros for years and spent 35 a week for a 5 minute chat and a 2 minute treeatment.
Main thing is exercise too though - no point just settling for bad posture etc, or you'll be ling these guys pockets for life...

Good luck with everything - pm me for number of Mike if you wish.

randomname

Hey,

I have had back problems for years I went to a physio in Beaumount when i was a kid and have been doing exercises for my back. I have the had the problem for 10 years now, it comes back once in a blue moon but i'd reckon that you should go to a physio and they will help you out.

You need a good bit of exercise to sort it out, if you need more help gimme a shout.

LegacyUser

I tried a chiropractor and found him a waste of money. Just rested it and it went away. A few years later though I got a back problem, couldn't walk 2 hundred yards without limping, pain all down one leg from the lower back. It went on for 3 months so finally I tried a physio. Traction didn't help but the electric pads treatment mentioned above certainly did!. Two or three sessions and I was cured. Then again what works for one bad back mightn't work for another.

nomadchef

I have slip disc and whenever it attacks i do total bedrest for 2 or 3 days and it helps. If it doesnt help i get tractions and the ultrasound/ heating pads. And i take this pill to help ease the pain. But of course you need to see a physio first to see what your real problem is.

Bean_Ghrinn

Suggest that a PT would be better than a bone cracker.

davidoco

Anyone with a back problem in the midlands should look into Pat Kelly who has a clinic in Portlaoise. He refers to himself as a spineologist. In my opinion he is a miracle worker and the queues that you will find at his clinic testify to this. He doesn’t cure everybody nor does he claim to.

I had a work accident whereby I couldn’t walk 20 feet without assistance. After six months of physiotherapy, scans, chiropractors I went down to visit him. Within three weeks I was back to myself. – that’s my story you may have a different experience.