physiotherapost or physical therapist?

NiCiarain

Hi, I'm hoping someone here can help me with a query. I have had lower back pain since I was 10 or 11, I'm now 26. The pain is very intense but goes for a while if I walk around for 10-15 mins. Over the past few years I've gone to my GP about it numerous times as well as a rheumatologist (referred by GP) but haven't had any relief. Neither could tell me what the problem is. I've done the exercises recommended by rheumatologist and both him and the GP have prescribed me with regular define. I try to avoid taking the define too often, but I still don't want to keep taking this forever, I rather sort out the problem. The pain seems to be coming from a small hard lump that appears & flares up as the day goes on (btw I'm at work all day sitting in front of a computer). I use a back support on my chair and I'm always conscience of my posture but this hasn't helped. Neither the GP nor the consultant could feel the lump, probably because it wasn’t flared up at the time.

I'm hoping a physio or physical therapist may be able to help me. I'm planning to go in the evening when my back has flared up so they can see where the problem is. Can anyone tell me which would be more appropriate, physio or physical therapist for this type of problem? As far as I know a physical therapist just treats sports injuries but I'm not sure. If it’s a muscle spasm (my own diagnosis) then I think it would need a sports massage but I could be wrong on that.


I'm not looking for a diagnosis just a recomendation for the appropriate therapsit to see, thanks.
Sorry for the long post.

chazlan

NiCiarain wrote: »

Hi, I'm hoping someone here can help me with a query. I have had lower back pain since I was 10 or 11, I'm now 26. The pain is very intense but goes for a while if I walk around for 10-15 mins. Over the past few years I've gone to my GP about it numerous times as well as a rheumatologist (referred by GP) but haven't had any relief. Neither could tell me what the problem is. I've done the exercises recommended by rheumatologist and both him and the GP have prescribed me with regular define. I try to avoid taking the define too often, but I still don't want to keep taking this forever, I rather sort out the problem. The pain seems to be coming from a small hard lump that appears & flares up as the day goes on (btw I'm at work all day sitting in front of a computer). I use a back support on my chair and I'm always conscience of my posture but this hasn't helped. Neither the GP nor the consultant could feel the lump, probably because it wasn’t flared up at the time.

I'm hoping a physio or physical therapist may be able to help me. I'm planning to go in the evening when my back has flared up so they can see where the problem is. Can anyone tell me which would be more appropriate, physio or physical therapist for this type of problem? As far as I know a physical therapist just treats sports injuries but I'm not sure. If it’s a muscle spasm (my own diagnosis) then I think it would need a sports massage but I could be wrong on that.


I'm not looking for a diagnosis just a recomendation for the appropriate therapsit to see, thanks.
Sorry for the long post.

I would definitely be going to a Chartered Physio. A physio spends four years in college learning anatomy and treatments. On the other hand, a physical therapist completes a course which is an evening a week for a couple of months.

Hanley

Id go to someone with a successful track record in treating the problem you're trying to rectify. Regardless of education.

thehamo

chazlan wrote: »

NiCiarain wrote: »

Hi, I'm hoping someone here can help me with a query. I have had lower back pain since I was 10 or 11, I'm now 26. The pain is very intense but goes for a while if I walk around for 10-15 mins. Over the past few years I've gone to my GP about it numerous times as well as a rheumatologist (referred by GP) but haven't had any relief. Neither could tell me what the problem is. I've done the exercises recommended by rheumatologist and both him and the GP have prescribed me with regular define. I try to avoid taking the define too often, but I still don't want to keep taking this forever, I rather sort out the problem. The pain seems to be coming from a small hard lump that appears & flares up as the day goes on (btw I'm at work all day sitting in front of a computer). I use a back support on my chair and I'm always conscience of my posture but this hasn't helped. Neither the GP nor the consultant could feel the lump, probably because it wasn’t flared up at the time.

I'm hoping a physio or physical therapist may be able to help me. I'm planning to go in the evening when my back has flared up so they can see where the problem is. Can anyone tell me which would be more appropriate, physio or physical therapist for this type of problem? As far as I know a physical therapist just treats sports injuries but I'm not sure. If it’s a muscle spasm (my own diagnosis) then I think it would need a sports massage but I could be wrong on that.


I'm not looking for a diagnosis just a recomendation for the appropriate therapsit to see, thanks.
Sorry for the long post.

I would definitely be going to a Chartered Physio. A physio spends four years in college learning anatomy and treatments. On the other hand, a physical therapist completes a course which is an evening a week for a couple of months.

At the risk of going off topic the statement about physical therapy is pure bull. U cant lob everyone into the same pile. The Institute of physical therapy course is a 3 year bsc qualification including weeks of practical application and work experience in the beacon clinic. Hardly an evening a week for a couple of months.

Back on topic, have you had an MRI op? I'd suggest you do that to rule out other problems such as disc herniation etc

NiCiarain

Thanks for the responses.

Hanley wrote: »

Id go to someone with a successful track record in treating the problem you're trying to rectify. Regardless of education.

How would I go about tyring to find someone with a track record for treating this type of problem? Do you think it would be best to go back to GP again and see if they can refer me to someone? I'd rather avoid having to fork out another 50 quid to see the GP again. I'm based in Galway and I don't know of any therapits who has experience with this.

Hanley

NiCiarain wrote: »

Thanks for the responses.



How would I go about tyring to find someone with a track record for treating this type of problem? Do you think it would be best to go back to GP again and see if they can refer me to someone? I'd rather avoid having to fork out another 50 quid to see the GP again. I'm based in Galway and I don't know of any therapits who has experience with this.

Stay well away from your GP on this. If they haven't helped by now, they won't have any new ideas.

Have you had it MRI'd?

No idea who to see in Galway, hopefully someone will chime in. Physios who work with higher level rugby clubs are usually a good starting point tho.

Barry.Oglesby

thehamo wrote: »

At the risk of going off topic the statement about physical therapy is pure bull. U cant lob everyone into the same pile. The Institute of physical therapy course is a 3 year bsc qualification including weeks of practical application and work experience in the beacon clinic. Hardly an evening a week for a couple of months.

Back on topic, have you had an MRI op? I'd suggest you do that to rule out other problems such as disc herniation etc

MRIs are expensive and not always necessary. Allow your physio to treat and recommend any scans or interventions.

OP I can recommend the single best back physio I've ever attended of you PM me.

thehamo

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

thehamo wrote: »

At the risk of going off topic the statement about physical therapy is pure bull. U cant lob everyone into the same pile. The Institute of physical therapy course is a 3 year bsc qualification including weeks of practical application and work experience in the beacon clinic. Hardly an evening a week for a couple of months.

Back on topic, have you had an MRI op? I'd suggest you do that to rule out other problems such as disc herniation etc

MRIs are expensive and not always necessary. Allow your physio to treat and recommend any scans or interventions.

OP I can recommend the single best back physio I've ever attended of you PM me.

Just speaking from my own experience I went to about 5 different therapists including physio, osteopath, chiro, physical and neuromuscular. Not one correctly identified my problem and it wasn't until I got an MRI that I found I had two badly herniated discs. But that's just my 2 cents

Barry, any chance you could pm me the number of that physio? I'd like to have someone I can call on when my back flares up

Burkatron

thehamo wrote: »

Just speaking from my own experience I went to about 5 different therapists including physio, osteopath, chiro, physical and neuromuscular. Not one correctly identified my problem and it wasn't until I got an MRI that I found I had two badly herniated discs. But that's just my 2 cents

Barry, any chance you could pm me the number of that physio? I'd like to have someone I can call on when my back flares up

Wow, how many sessions with each did you have?? Did you have symptoms radiating into, 1 or both legs or did they get worse when you were been assessed? How does that many "qualified professionals" treat/assess someone & not one of them suggest further investigation?? Just mind boggling....

Barry.Oglesby

thehamo wrote: »

Just speaking from my own experience I went to about 5 different therapists including physio, osteopath, chiro, physical and neuromuscular. Not one correctly identified my problem and it wasn't until I got an MRI that I found I had two badly herniated discs. But that's just my 2 cents

Barry, any chance you could pm me the number of that physio? I'd like to have someone I can call on when my back flares up

PM sent.

You just had a **** experience. If the physio couldn't fix it then he should have referred you.

thehamo

Burkatron wrote: »

thehamo wrote: »

Just speaking from my own experience I went to about 5 different therapists including physio, osteopath, chiro, physical and neuromuscular. Not one correctly identified my problem and it wasn't until I got an MRI that I found I had two badly herniated discs. But that's just my 2 cents

Barry, any chance you could pm me the number of that physio? I'd like to have someone I can call on when my back flares up

Wow, how many sessions with each did you have?? Did you have symptoms radiating into, 1 or both legs or did they get worse when you were been assessed? How does that many "qualified professionals" treat/assess someone & not one of them suggest further investigation?? Just mind boggling....

Pain was mostly going down one leg and confines to the left side of my body. Osteopath was about 10 sessions, chiro 5, neuromuscular 1 (just said I have tight hamstrings and massaged them) physio twice, put on a tens machine each time. Closest really was osteopath but he concentrated more on my pelvis which seems to be stuck solid. He said it could be a disc injury but they way he was adjusting my pelvis that if I had a disc injury I'd be screaming in pain. Turns out he was wrong. Must have a high pain threshold!

NiCiarain

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

MRIs are expensive and not always necessary. Allow your physio to treat and recommend any scans or interventions.

OP I can recommend the single best back physio I've ever attended of you PM me.

Thanks. I've sent you a PM.

I've never had an MRI done, I mentioned in to my consultant and GP but both said wait awhile and do the excersies etc...that was probably 4 year ago at this stage.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll visit a physio this week and hopefully I can find what's causing the issue and take it form there

If anyone has any recomendations for a phsio in Galway that might have dealt with this type of back pain before please let me know!

d-gal

NiCiarain wrote: »

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

MRIs are expensive and not always necessary. Allow your physio to treat and recommend any scans or interventions.

OP I can recommend the single best back physio I've ever attended of you PM me.

Thanks. I've sent you a PM.

I've never had an MRI done, I mentioned in to my consultant and GP but both said wait awhile and do the excersies etc...that was probably 4 year ago at this stage.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll visit a physio this week and hopefully I can find what's causing the issue and take it form there

If anyone has any recomendations for a phsio in Galway that might have dealt with this type of back pain before please let me know!

I will send you a PM with a recommendation of a Physical Therapist for Galway

StradBally

Why not contact Gerard Hartmann or Ger Keane at their clinic in the University of Limerick. World class physical therapists on your doorstep.

pygmypossum

I am a Physio and I would highly recommend visiting a Chartered Physio. (CP) over a Physical therapist (PT) - The training a PT undergoes is simply NOT the same as to how a CP is trained, CP's spend the majority of their undergraduate training in a hospital setting and gain exposure to a huge range of medical conditions that a PT would not experience as a student . CPs are trained to see patterns and spot the unusual.

It doesn't sound like a case of regular back pain considering you have had this since you were so young, back pain is common but it is not common to start at 11 years of age, and continue, it also sounds like it is seriously adversely affecting your quality of life. If I were you I would push your GP to pay more attention and guide you in the right direction - what about a referral to an Orthopaedic specialist?? Have you had x rays? CT? MRI? What about getting a referral to a public hospital Outpatient Physio clinic? Get a second
GP opinion?

My point is, GP's are general practitioners - they don't specialise in spinal care with its orthopaedic and neurological complexities - A rheumatology clinic will be able to rule out certain conditions but they won't cover everything, so keep pestering these professionals until you get a satisfactory answer.

Best of luck!

PS - before you let a Physio assess you - ask if they use Ultrasound or TENS as a treatment - if they do, go find someone else!

itsallaboutheL

StradBally wrote: »

Why not contact Gerard Hartmann or Ger Keane at their clinic in the University of Limerick. World class physical therapists on your doorstep.

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