Back Pain Treatment

Lurker

Hello all,

Back for some advice (worryingly enough I get most of my advice from here). Anyone able to recommend somewhere local (around SE7) for helping with back-pain? Around a year ago my girlfriend was told that she has sciatica by a Dr but was not offered any treatment, just given pain killers. Want to try and get her some treatment but not sure if I should look at osteopaths, chiropractics, physio therapists etc.

A recommendation would be good or just general experiences with the above? Called a clinic and was quoted around £60 just for an hour-long consultation, don't mind spending the money on the treatment if I think it's going to work.

Cheers

ShootersHillGuru

Before spending any money I would be inclined to go back to the GP and ask for a referral to a back specialist. If the pain relief offered is not adequate then further investigations are required. Nobody in this day and age should be suffering with intolerable pain.

nth_london_addick

depends why you have it mate, if its caused by a disk irritating the nerve certain treatments will cause more damage and discomfort, i would recommend getting a full MRI scan and finding the cause rather than treating the symptom

waiting for one of these on the NHS is a lengthy process and it is costly if you go private and dont have any insurance cover

even if you pay the 60 quid you may not find out why you have it

i tried everything inc hypnotherapy and accupunture

Curb_It

I'd go back to your doctor and ask for a further prognosis. How can he know its sciatica without testing?

Anyway Peter Webb who works with the team has set up a practice from the Valley a few days a week, big typo on the website tho.

http://www.pe-physio.com/index.html

stilladdicted

nth london addick said:

depends why you have it mate, if its caused by a disk irritating the nerve certain treatments will cause more damage and discomfort, i would recommend getting a full MRI scan and finding the cause rather than treating the symptom

waiting for one of these on the NHS is a lengthy process and it is costly if you go private and dont have any insurance cover

even if you pay the 60 quid you may not find out why you have it

i tried everything inc hypnotherapy and accupunture

I very much agree with NLA and Curb_It. As well as disc trouble, it could be, for e.g. that the exit holes for the nerves from the spine are too small, or arthritis etc etc. Shoot the GP, get a new one and get a referal to the orthopods. It really is very important to find out why she is getting the pain before any treatment commences. A safe non manipulative treatment option such as accupuncture, if it works for her, may tide her over in the meantime.

harveys_gardener

Try hanging from a bar, often worked for me.

HardyAddick

If it were me, I would go to an osteopath. I use this one in Blackheath Village - used on a number of occassions and works for me;
26 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, London, SE3 0TA. 020 8852 1706

Lurker

Thanks for the comments. I think we'll try and get her to a different GP. My girlfriend was a student last year and was sent to a few different doctors which had an agreement with the uni. I tried to get her see my Dr a few months ago but had trouble getting paperwork to say she's now living locally, that's not an issue so we'll try that and then go from there.

Thanks for the help.

cafcdave123

Does she have health insurance? If so, go back to the docs and tell them and they’ll refer you to Blackheath.

I got mucked about and dosed up by my gp till I mentioned I had health insurance and was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis within a fortnight.

redlanered

I've spent a fair bit on various treatments over the years, but NHS physio did the trick...recommend you push for it & book in for it even if you try other stuff while you're waiting...and maybe the wait won't be as long as you think...

Reading Addick

I am suffering with Sciatica at the moment. I managed to push for physio but it has not helped me. I have been on pain killers for nearly 3 months now and finally managed to convince GP to send me to specialist. As soon as I went there last week they said I need a MRI. just waiting for a date now. You need to push otherwise they fob you off to save money. When i pushed for Physio I said i was not able to work. I got my first session on the NHS within 7 days off the referral.

Lincsaddick

I'm a great believer in Chiropracty .. but to state the obvious, it depends on the nature and seriousness of the injury/affliction

BIG_ROB

cafcdave123 said:

Does she have health insurance? If so, go back to the docs and tell them and they’ll refer you to Blackheath.

I got mucked about and dosed up by my gp till I mentioned I had health insurance and was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis within a fortnight.

Yeah they're good vets up Blackheath!

swords_alive

Swimming and/ or stretching in the longer term. And if the medics come up with a diagnosis which sounds nasty like 'degenerative disease of the lumber spine'- it can be because they can't think of, or be bothered to look into, anything else and plenty of daily stretching or a weekly swim (do it properly, or you could make it worse) is likely to help keep the pain at bay.

Missed It

That's a pretty poor show from the doctor. Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Something is going on that is impinging the sciatic nerve - that's what needs treatment. Doctors don't seem to be very good with these sorts of things. My first call has always been a physiotherapist.

Powell Is Pleasant

I know it's not the same thing, but I had a slipped disc last July. All the hospital did was give me painkillers and a referral that took 3 or 4 months to come through. In the meantime I paid to see an osteopath, and she did absolute wonders, I'd recommend her to anyone who has anything similar I went from being unable to stand/walk for more than 5 minutes to 100% fine in about 4 sessions.

I don't know much about biology or medicine, but I would suppose that it all depends on what's causing the pain, as to how it should be fixed.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

newyorkaddick

Have suffered from chronic lower back pain for ages (including sciatica symptoms) - all of the following provide short to medium term relief for me:

- avoid sitting as much as possible - get a kneeling chair if practical;
- sit on a golf or tennis ball - loosens the hips/glutes but v painful;
- lie across a Swiss Ball or hang from a bar as someone else suggested;
- stretch the glutes, hamstrings and hip flexors regularly;
- ice and heat treatment;
- use a foam roller on glutes and hamstrings;
- sit on a Power Plate machine if you can use one at a gym;
- strengthen the core muscles via the plank and side plank exercises;
- stay active.

Good luck.

Curb_It

Agree with nya there specially the gym ball.

My physio once told me that i should get up every hour from my desk and bend backwards over my desk... I looked at him as if he were mental.

Tho i did it when no one was about. It gave me great relief ...

Im just lining them up for Mehmet here.

maybe_baby

Had back trouble all my life until I discovered lateral pull downs. This one excercise seems to build muscle to support the lower spine. Absolutely life changing for me.

buckshee

Pulled my lower back out yesterday , first time I've done it since 2012. Last time I was out of action for almost a week and had to go to a backcare workshop through work where one thing they stressed on us is not to just sit still to rest it.

Despite it killing me to keep getting up yesterday I did this and it's a fair bit better today , unable to go to work but might be able to tomorrow or at the worst Wednesday.

Oh_Yoni_Boy

I slipped a disc pretty recently and I really wouldn't bank on the NHS coming up trumps. 3 months down the line and I just keep getting painkillers and anti-inflammatories but it's not really much better, although settled. They'll avoid sending you for an MRI/referring you to a physio at all costs because it's expensive.
(My comment that I've already paid for it many times over already probably didn't help matters - but bad backs make you irritable)

Advice-wise, I wouldn't let an osteopath near mine - personally I don't really buy into all the clicking and pulling you about as a long term solution, although it feels better at the time. I think the best route is a physio consultation and getting a set of exercises to follow to strengthen it/bring mobility back. Am seeing one in Fenchurch Street this week (£60-ish) that I was strongly recommended by someone with the same condition - will pass on details if you message me and I think it's any good when I see them.

Edit: Oh wow, just seen the date. Assuming it's probably alright now...

buckshee

My one is just one of those things , probably down to the large amount of time I spent driving last week . If I'd have been working local today I may have been able to struggle in but I'm meant to be working near Stratford upon Avon this week so that'd have been a three hour drive this morning even before working.

suzisausage

You should go to pilates and get yourself a spikey ball and do some myo-fascial release.
When my back goes (sacroiliac joint) it's the only thing that sorts it out. It's taken me years to actually find out what happens to my back when it 'goes', but now when it does, I can manipulate it back myself easily. Worth looking in to.

Baldybonce

I had prostate problems for a while
Which caused lower back and hip stiffness, so i do Pilates now which has really loosened me up.
Recommended for the not so young.

Derek1952

buckshee.
If its a slipped disc I would not know,but if its a Muscle strain my Doctor told me to have hot and cold shower,gets the Blood flowing which helps.Also a bag of frozen peas on your back also helps.

SuedeAdidas

Bollocks. I've only got frozen carrots. Will have to go to the shop now....