Do I visit a gp, osteopath, physio or chiropractor??

Have a look at Tom Morrison on You Tube - he has a fantastic range of exercises that will be right up your street that start to help to release.

There's a bit of a difference in that only one of them claims to have been invented by ghosts, and allows unregulated randomers to do manipulations which might paralyse you...

have you tried the Alexander Technique

Sounds amazing

Chiropractors have helped me

Avoid chiropractor and osteopath, I saw both to help with a similar problem. I knew from the symptoms I most likely had prolapsed discs in my neck but the pain was so excruciating I went to see both who lost waiting for a consultant appointment. Both argued it was just a trapped nerve or a muscular issue. I'm lucky they didn't injure me further.
Ideally GP and a referral just in case it's something more serious. Mine turned out to b be pressure on the nerves coming out of my neck. I'm lucky that long teen damage is minimal (muscle weakness and numbness in one arm. )

Private physio. Check their qualifications look for reviews. A good physio will refer you on if they think your problem is not musculoskeletal.

@Cynic17 - ever considered you've just not come across a good one?

I have an amazing chiropractor that I have been seeing for 30+ years - I'm not his best customer as I maybe go once every two - three years, he sorts things generally in one visit, and then I'm fine again.
He combines treatments with acupuncture, so you leave the treatment floating.

Once I went for a pain in my shoulder or something, as I was getting ready to go we were discussing walking, and I mentioned I had a problem with one of my feet that I'd been seeing my GP, then a podiatrist & a physio about for months. He'd finished my appointment but said he'd take a quick look - sorted in minutes after months of NHS treatment.

It's an opinion backed up by robust evidence, i.e. fact.

It's not extremely skilled. It doesn't work.

There is nothing skills about bringing your knee forward and pressing on your shoulder to get your twisted back to click.

Took me 6 weeks to qualify as a sports massage therapist, woo squared.

I'm going to put in a word for soft tissue therapists. I no longer go to anyone who does cracks as I don't feel it's necessary.
I did have a Bowen therapist get rid of all the pain and dragging associated with prolapse (I still have a small prolapse that I can live with as it's no longer symptomatic). They worked completely on top of clothes and didn't need to go near anywhere sensitive. That was a much better outcome than the obstetric physio who didn't look but told me I'd probably need a 'little fix'.

I digress from the ops original complaint but my point is to look around and ask people around you. There are some wonderful therapists out there. Mine (not the one I've just mentioned) doesn't even advertise and has people travel miles because of his success rate.

Well, that’s your opinion and your entitled to it.

Our GP doesn’t really diagnose. They refer to physio for diagnosis. My GP was adamant I had a rotator cuff injury but it definitely isn’t that. Physio makes a guess really without an actual scan to confirm

it’s extremely skilled and they don’t just do the same thing all the time. Hence how things can go disastrously wrong if a person isn’t properly trained. As another poster said, there are different styles. But there are many other therapies. Some people swear by the Alexander Technique. The medical profession doesn’t have much to offer for back problems.

That sounds almost identical to my herniated disc in my cervical spine around C5 / C6. I saw a physio for it but he insisted on an MRI to diagnose before any treatment. Could have gone through GP who would have referred me to their physio.

Qualified to deliver a "treatment" that doesn't work but can cause injury. You can get a PhD in dragon lore, it doesn't mean dragons exist.

A chiropractor has medical training? hahahah there's one born every minute.

We do evidence-based medicine only in this house so physio for us.

Why do they just do exactly the same thing whatever you go in for.

it’s always lie flat and they crack your back. Then lie on your side and they bring your leg over and crack your back. Then they crack your neck.

every single time regardless of what your ailment is. Hardly brain surgery

I’ve been going to a chiropractor practice for years and they have been brilliant. The training is extensive and they are certainly not “woo” - whatever that means. You have to ensure they are properly accredited of course. I’m sure there are some who are not very good, but then there are plenty of cases of medical negligence too.

They have to have several years medical training before they specialise in chiropractic work. I don’t know who you are seeing….

My osteopath is also qualified in sports massage. She’s amazing!!!

Physio, I have a scoliosis and have visited all of them. The only one I regret was the chiro but I was young and foolish.

Our physio offers an ultrasound scan as part of your session, to help pinpoint the issue. Maybe look out for a physio who offers ultrasound?