Private physio for bad back- update

[horizon]

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

What advice

It was this last line:
"There are two kinds of people in this world; those who have bad backs and those who will have bad backs"!!"
I couldn't think of a way of describing what that is -in fact it's probably an aphorism.

Back to the topic, I do feel passionate about back treatment as I have suffered (I'm not immune to back problems) but have been cured. I first went to an osteopath (about thirty years ago) then a chiropractor and finally more recently a cranial osteopath. I too had a periformis problem for a long while a year or two back but I don't now. And of course no drugs, no pain-killers, no surgery. I wish people would post more about it and the outcome as I cannot be sure that my own experience would be everyone's.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

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

We have all said that in the past!
Self employed lone worker lifting heavy objects or moving house on your own will soon sort that.

[Paulatic]

As a child picking potatoes I used to think it gave me a bad back. In my 20s I learnt to shear sheep and I thought that gave me a bad back. Then in my 30s dragging a ewe from a lambing pen something went. The pain was what I imagine child birth to be like. I could barely move and I seriously had thoughts I might never be able to walk again.
Eventually I somehow crawled and stumbled my way home and a doctor was called. Prescribed painkillers and bed rest. It was lambing time the bed rest lasted around 12 hours. I’ve been a martyr to my back ever since and very grateful to a couple of osteopaths in my time.

[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

It was this last line:
"There are two kinds of people in this world; those who have bad backs and those who will have bad backs"!!"
I couldn't think of a way of describing what that is -in fact it's probably an aphorism.

Back to the topic, I do feel passionate about back treatment as I have suffered (I'm not immune to back problems) but have been cured. I first went to an osteopath (about thirty years ago) then a chiropractor and finally more recently a cranial osteopath. I too had a periformis problem for a long while a year or two back but I don't now. And of course no drugs, no pain-killers, no surgery. I wish people would post more about it and the outcome as I cannot be sure that my own experience would be everyone's.

Aphorism sounds more like it.

The whole point of his pronouncement though was to emphasise the fact that ever since humans (or their predecessors) got up and walked on their hind legs, they have been exerting undue/unusual pressure on their spine, with the net result that a bad back is practically a certainty of human life - even if, as in your case, a 'cure' can be subsequently effected.

[bigjim]

The whole point of his pronouncement though was to emphasise the fact that ever since humans (or their predecessors) got up and walked on their hind legs, they have been exerting undue/unusual pressure on their spine

Very true. The great apes walk on their arms almost as much as their legs. The disc are supposed to be suspended from the spine. Walking upright stacks them up on top of each other and the subsequent pressure leads to problems. The upright rigid military stance is not always the healthiest.
Cycling can go some way to replicate the ideal hung discs posture. Ever had a bad back and the only comfortable position is on ones hands and knees?

[Jjd]

Hi been waiting 6 month for NHS physio. Was in bed 3 weeks with unbelievable back and leg pain and not much better still. Docs gave me bunch of pills. Already spent £500 on own physio sport massage etc and gotcdifferent opinions from prolapsed disc sciatic psoas remedial nerve inflammation flat feet spinal stenosis. Given up swim masters due to pain and can't walk more than 20mins. Going to phone up private hospital for MRI and just shell out for that as this is not good.....

[Airsporter1st]

Hi been waiting 6 month for NHS physio. Was in bed 3 weeks with unbelievable back and leg pain and not much better still. Docs gave me bunch of pills. Already spent £500 on own physio sport massage etc and gotcdifferent opinions from prolapsed disc sciatic psoas remedial nerve inflammation flat feet spinal stenosis. Given up swim masters due to pain and can't walk more than 20mins. Going to phone up private hospital for MRI and just shell out for that as this is not good.....

I would highly recommend this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steps-Pain-Free-Life-Rapidly-Relieve/dp/0452282772

For what it costs, you might find it worth a try. You don't have to read the whole book initially, just go straight to chapter 15 - 'Panic Pages for the back.'

Needless to say, it almost certainly won't work for everybody and can even be counterproductive (see 'Precautions'), but it has worked for me on the odd occasion that I've had a bout of back pain, since having my op.

[Jjd]

Hi thankyou for taking time to reply. I ordered it.

Trying to relax as really killing me tonight. Had a naproxen gabapentin and codeine and slapped on tens machine.

Will be phoning hospital tomorrow and book MRI

[Airsporter1st]

Hi thankyou for taking time to reply. I ordered it.

Trying to relax as really killing me tonight. Had a naproxen gabapentin and codeine and slapped on tens machine.

Will be phoning hospital tomorrow and book MRI

Good - let us know how you get on. Hope all goes well and you get some relief - its a debilitating condition.

[squeaker]

I would highly recommend this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steps-Pain-Free-Life-Rapidly-Relieve/dp/0452282772

For what it costs, you might find it worth a try. You don't have to read the whole book initially, just go straight to chapter 15 - 'Panic Pages for the back.'

Needless to say, it almost certainly won't work for everybody and can even be counterproductive (see 'Precautions'), but it has worked for me on the odd occasion that I've had a bout of back pain, since having my op.

+1 for McKenzie's approach: hope it works for you.
This shows the basic recovery positions (and mentions some of the caveats) - in the past I have spent (too) many hours propped up on my elbows reading a book... Just easing yourself up a bit can help - but you do need to relax face down first.
IME the hard bit is remembering to do the stretches once the pain goes away - remembering what the pain was like can jog the memory

[Jjd]

Thanks, I do these.

Looks like can also read a book or use a tablet whilst in this position?

[squeaker]

Looks like can also read a book or use a tablet whilst in this position?

I do, but being short-sighted
probably helps

[Malky 1422]

Hi everyone, sorry I have not replied on here for a number of months now,this is because I have just moved house and I have no Internet , I am doing this on my phone.
Yes I did see a chiropractor on the Isle of Wight, he reckoned that my hips were tilted, this caused my spine to twist as one tendsto keep the head straight and Square to look forward. This may have been going on for years and along with a job that has involved lifting, eventually as your body compensates the disc finally goes. I have also now been to Salford Royal spinal department. I have right L45 disc prolapse with right sciatica,. Left L4 5 foraminal nerve root irritation, possible right hip joint arthritis. I am to see a hip specialist for a second opinion, I go for an injection in January, if that doesn't work then I can have an operation but they cannot guarantee this will not happen again.
However over the last few weeks I have begun to feel much better and I really feel the disc is working it's way back. Yesterday I got out on my bike for the first time since early May, I only did 6 miles very slow, it hurt a little getting on and off the bike, but I feel really uplifted having done it. I intend to find another chiropractor around the Chester area and I agree with everyone on here about taking that approach. The hospitals do not always look into what causes these things in the first place as the chiropractors do.
If things are getting better naturally I think it is down to what the chiropractor did on the Isle of Wight over a period of 5 or 6 visits.
When I went to the hospital on November the 19th, he did tell me that discs like this can take between 6 and 9 months to go back. The injection may give this time to happen. I will keep you all posted.

[Barks]

There is no simple answer here, we are all so different, in our physiques, our history of activity, our expectations, and our luck or not at getting an accurate diagnosis in the first place. I had a herniated disc a few years ago for which I ended up having a micro-disectomy to remove the disc bulge pressing against the nerve in my back. On the MRI scan the consultant blandly announced ‘oh you have had herniated discs here, here and here (he could tell as the colour of the discs was a dull grey rather than black), have you had these pain symptoms before?” I had not as the bulges had not pressed in the nerves unlike the last one. The point us that this is very variable area and one persons experience is very much their own and there is no single solution to either surgery or prevention. Some above have mentioned maintaining muscle tone through exercise be that yoga, Pilates, tau chi or anything else. Howewever you do it keep your core strength up and your range of flexibility and just hope you don’t get a recurrence.

[horizon]

There is no simple answer here, we are all so different,

This is of course true and important to bear in mind, particularly if someone does say heavy lifting at work. But we are all human with, hopefully, the same spine. If chiropractic treatment works for many then it should work for most, albeit longer for some. Six treatments and a nine month recovery sounds about right for a major problem. Where I feel the NHS is remiss is in not encouraging this treatment right from the start, not really recognising it and certainly not paying for it (even though it might save thousands of pounds of NHS money). However, the good news is that some GPs now do all three.