Osteopath for an adult?

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Hi, I'm considering seeing an osteopath, has anyone seen one as an adult and did it help?

A few years ago I had an injury that meant I needed to be on crutches for a few months. Ever since I get pain in my shoulders, back and neck, and in particular one side of my body is much more tense than the other. I have had heaps of physio. I go for regular massages, and each time the masseuse comments on how bad my knots are, on one side in particular, and recommends more regular massages, but while they help a bit it doesn't really solve it. I wonder if an osteopath may help?

I’ve just seen an osteopath for back pain. My shoulders are looser but the back pain is completely unchanged.

Made a world of difference to me, though it did take lots of sessions.

I have a monthly MOT which loosens me out and eases all the niggles that I collect. I have a varied repertoire of minor ailments!
I started going to resolve post-natal SPD and it worked wonders in getting me mobile again and reducing the pelvic pain.

It is a good mix of manipulation/ physio/ massage depending on what's neccessary. Some may include other treatments such as accupuncture or electrotherapy depending on their training.

I’m in France, it’s considered totally normal for adults to see an osteopath here. I’ve just started with one. Like you, I’ve had lots of physio for my lower back / hip with little improvement m, and people keep raving to me about going to the osteo. We shall see! I’m a bit sceptical - there’s not a lot of scientific weight behind it atm.

You sound a perfect candidate for seeing an osteopath. I couldn't keep going without seeing mine now and then to get my back sorted.

I know some people will disagree with me but I think Osteopaths are like Chiropractors, they make their money by relieving your pain just enough but you have to keep going go back forever. Also don't let them manipulate your neck, I've seen some nasty injuries.
Are you doing pilates or yoga? They would really help with helping your posture and getting your muscles even again.

@koality yoga made it a lot worse actually, to the point my physio advised me to stop doing yoga. I have a pre-existing medical problem that means yoga isn't suitable for me. It's not just a case of having bad posture

Ah fair enough. All injuries are different. My friend had a mini-stroke and the only thing that helped her was Botox injections to relax the muscles, but it is painful and wears off.

I recommend an osteopath for any muscular or skeletal injury, they are far more experienced and knowledgeable than many GPs and physios. Not keen on chiropractic though.

Love ironing out my kinks with the osteopath. Have had my back sorted out a few times and it made a huge difference pain wise. Quite often, I only need 1 session.

I've seen an osteopath a good few times for lower back problems. Far from relieving the pain "just enough" so I have to go back forever, it relieved it for many years in between incidents. They also fixed a neck/shoulder issue almost immediately with no recurrence. If I'd managed to build up my core muscles to hold everything in place, like they recommended, I suspect it would not have had to go back with my back either.

This was one of the gently massage sort, not the "tie you up in a knot and snap you out flat" sort.

My DH sees an osteopath about every 3 months and has done for years. He loves them. He has always played a lot of sport, and has a lifetime of old injuries and niggles which bother him. His session with the osteopath sorts him out completely .

My husband is training to be an osteopath. It's my personal.opinion that find a great osteopath and that's amazing but there of obviously less amazing ones also. My husband's knowledge is incredible and the amount he's learnt so far is amazing. His anatomy knowledge blows me away. However he's considered by his peers to be top of his class so would the ones at the bottom be good? Don't know.

It all seems to be based on academic research and he's forever reading medical papers. Apparently some time ago they didn't do enough scientific research whereas chiropractic did. Hence the difference in reputation. Osteopathic treatment is supposed to be about "mind, body and soul" so should examine the whole body to find the route cause of any issues

see a physio.
as pp says osteo & chiro are snake oil sellers (imo) and can do real damage.

I slightly disagree with comment about them doing just enough to keep you coming back. I saw an osteopath recently to sort out a problem with my neck. All sorted in two sessions and no pressure to return.

My osteopath is amazing, have a shoulder condition that leaves me in pain and she has worked miracles on my pain.

I've never used a chiropractor so can't comment on their snake oil selling or not. But I take exception to such an ignorant description of osteopaths. They are highly trained and highly skilled.

I see an Osteo every 4-6 weeks for maintenance as I have a life long neurological and muscularskeletal condition which caused me agonies. - couldn't walk, sit down, sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a go as it was so painful to lie down. When I first began to see her I felt like a screwed up paper bag, but now, after treatment I feel much looser, straighter, and can do so much more.

I know some people will disagree with me but I think Osteopaths are like Chiropractors, they make their money by relieving your pain just enough but you have to keep going go back forever. Also don't let them manipulate your neck, I've seen some nasty injuries

^
This I feel, is a rather unfair and generalising comment. It's not about how much money they can screw out of you, but rather there are good ones and not so good ones. I'm now very lucky in that the one I'm seeing is fantastic.
Obviously, because I feel better and do more, I then probably over do it, but I do feel I have a better quality of life because of the treatment I have.

So give it a try OP. You've heard good and not so good reports on here, but only you can decide if it is effective for you. Hope it works.

I saw an Osteopath twice a few years ago and he absolutely sorted my neck and back pain out. I was a sceptic beforehand. Would love to go back because it was so relaxing but there isn't really anything wrong with me at the moment to justify the cost.

Just wanted to say thank you for the responses. Lots of really useful info (and debate!). I am going to book an appointment to try it for myself.

Yes, one made a huge difference to me post DC, with a bad lower back and pelvis. I didn’t have too many sessions either.

A good one can work miracles! Only tried the non snappy kind too, was amazed.

Yes for me, I saw one when PG and suffering back pain, which helped temporarily (but what I really needed was the baby to come out!).

Then last year I had a niggling back injury from running, hobbled into the osteo, barely able to stand upright, walked out half an hour later standing tall and pain free - I was able to jump on my bike and do a 30 min cycle, unheard of as I went in. And that was it - 1 initial consultation to take history, then 1 for treatment, and not seen him since. Which is sad, he massaged muscles in the most amazing way.

I did 3 sessions and it really helped.i got lots of advice and an exercise sheet too.

I had a problem with my hips so went to see an osteopath. I was sceptical as I’d heard there was a touch of the snake oil about them. I had 4 or 5 sessions and I haven’t had any problems since. That was 2 years ago.