Private physio for bad back- update

[Thornyone]

Just thought I’d post a quick update on this.

Last Monday after another (breast stroke) swim I could barely move after I’d got home (though the ride itself wasn’t too bad except when I put too much pressure through the pedals once or twice). So I got in to see a sports physio privately on Wednesday. I had a longish consultation, plenty of exercises to do, and some acupuncture. I swam yesterday, with half the dose of ibuprofen, and got up out of the pool with less difficulty than for weeks.

It seems that the issue is probably caused by problems in the piriformis muscle, which can lead to sciatica-like symptoms such as I get: sickening pain in buttocks and thighs. This was never mentioned to me as a possibility by the NHS back expert physio to whom I was referred by my GP a few years ago, though the symptoms I got then were very similar (and I was swimming a fair bit).

Back in January for another session. I’m encouraged. It is good to see a therapist who understands the need of a silly old sod of 62 who still wants have the body I had in my 30’s and doesn’t just tell me to chill out and grow old gracefully. I’ll happily pay £32 a session for this

Now to do some more of the exercises (some are interestingly uncomfortable to say the least )

[Bonefishblues]

That's really good to hear

[Flinders]

Good news.
I'm off to mine later this week for help with a damaged knee ligament. If I went to my GP it would be weeks to get a non-urgent appointment and then weeks if not months to see a physio, by which time it may have recovered on its own, or more likely, become more damaged.

I get mad about the fact that people who can't afford to go privately to a physio will get far worse than they should just waiting to see one. It must cost the NHS more in the long run, especially if people end up needing surgery, or if they are frail having unnecessary falls which can ultimately cost a lot and can even prove fatal.

[simonhill]

I was referred to Physio by phone at my local hospital by my GP.

Its not a free number and I pay for my daytime calls.

I rang the number and the first minute was an introduction. I was then told I was in a queue and to wait with no idea of where I was in the queue or how long I would have to wait (pennies and pounds ticking up). After about 5 minutes I hung up.

I tried twice more with same result.

Fortunately my knees have improved and also I have been given advice by a friend who is a Physio (but lives a long way away). If it gets worse I will go private as it will not only be quicker, but could also be cheaper than hanging on on the phone for ages.

[Malky 1422]

Just did a search and found this Thread.
I live on the Isle of Wight, and NHS here is abysmal due to cut backs at Saint Marys and being isolated on an Island that really needs a fixed link. I went to the doctor, or rather the nurse at the practice as I couldn't see the doctor for a month. I will be brief, sent to physio after 3 weeks wait exercises for a month, the pain went from my left buttock to the right and down my leg, could hardly walk at all. Cant get in to see doctor , telephone with a different doctor instead, sent for hip Xray, 3 weeks later hips OK sent for back Xray 3 weeks later still shows lower vertebrae out of alignment, awaiting scan since then,meanwhile had a severe attack couldnt move and had to be taken into Halton General this was while visiting my son in Cheshire, more pain killers and told to get onto the GP to speed up the scan so I did, I thought I was having it last week, but it was a pyhsio that told me to lye on my stomach with a pillow under me to allow the disc to go back. This has been going on since early April, now in August. I am planning to go and see a Chiropractor next week, NHS is far too slow, I know they are under pressure but I am wondering if I will ever walk again let alone ride my bike. I am 65 retired in Feb and now this, I thought I would be in France for the Sem Fed, you can only imagine how I feel. This is obviously Sciatica, the first 6 weeks was wasted barking up the wrong tree treating it as Bursitis.

[Malky 1422]

A warning, anyone with back problems similar to these posts be very careful. Mine has turned out to be a badly bulging disc completely trapping the Siatic nerve and requires operating on, god knows when. I can only walk short distances with a stoop, and awful pain, its completely stopped my life. Make sure you get the correct diagnosis. It started as a stiff back then suddenly one morning I couldnt move, its been downhill ever since, and horrendous round the houses and waiting with the NHS.

[Paulatic]

Did you visit a chiropractor Malky?
My first port of call, after years of pain under NHS ( in my 30s) with sciatica was an Osteopath. Visited a number of times in the next 30 years which always put me right.
Now I’m retired I do Pilates every week which so far, fingers Xed has kept it at bay.

[fastpedaller]

I'd agree with the sentiments of Paul above. Many years ago I dismissed getting NHS help with the back - the waiting time just allowed things to get worse! I used (at various times, and to various degrees of success) Osteopaths and Pysios. Now my immediate treatment is to do various gentle stretchings (lots available on YT) and Pilates is a great healer (and preventer). Don't lose sight of the fact that it's the muscles which are the problem (and the cure!). Without muscles our bones would just become a pile on the floor! It is the muscles (and their balance) which hold us in position.
Unfortunately I didn't do my gentle stretches last Friday and jumped in the shower, then bent down and WOW the pain got me in the lower back and I could only just get up out of a chair whilst in agony. Some gentle stretches over the next few hours had it much better and I did only 25 miles on the bike on Sunday, but at least I could! Each day (with gentle stretching) it has got better, and I suspect tomorrow I'll be back to normal. I'm 59 BTW, and if I don't do over 60 miles and 15mph average on my Sunday ride I've failed!
Keep positive, investigate what you can do (gently without pain) and you may be surprised and delighted. Good luck.

[horizon]

I am planning to go and see a Chiropractor next week

And did you?

[Vorpal]

A warning, anyone with back problems similar to these posts be very careful. Mine has turned out to be a badly bulging disc completely trapping the Siatic nerve and requires operating on, god knows when. I can only walk short distances with a stoop, and awful pain, its completely stopped my life. Make sure you get the correct diagnosis. It started as a stiff back then suddenly one morning I couldnt move, its been downhill ever since, and horrendous round the houses and waiting with the NHS.

Make sure you get a second opinion.

My dad had surgery for a herniated disc, and it turned out that his herniated disc wasn't causing his back pain. Surgery had no effect. His pain was probably caused by a bone spur pointing in toward the spinal cavity & it eventually mostly resolved itself. He has debilitating arthritis (and also had a spinal stenosis which he had surgery for, as well), so he is not pain free, but it's better now than it was a few years ago.

Herniated discs often heal / resolve themselves with time or therapy, as well.

[Airsporter1st]

I suffered from sciatica for several years, which occasionally was so bad I could barely move. I was lucky in that at the time I had private medical insurance through work ( and since the original problem was caused through work, I don't feel too guilty about it). Consequently, following various consultations I went in for an op. The specialist who performed the op, a fairly eminent orthopaedic surgeon, said to me: "There are two kinds of people in this world; those who have bad backs and those who will have bad backs"!!!!

[horizon]

And the third kind, those who ignore that advice and go to see a chiropractor regularly and never have a bad back.

[Cyril Haearn]

And the fourth kind including me who have never had back problems. Yet

[bigjim]

No faith in Physio. Never worked for me. Pilates cured my back problem. I now go to the gym regularly and spend time stretching. I do wide pull ups on a machine every time. This stretches and strengthens all the upper body muscles. Back pain is a rarity now. Important to stay strong as you age.

[Airsporter1st]

And the third kind, those who ignore that advice and go to see a chiropractor regularly and never have a bad back.

What advice