Osteopaths - would you recommend them?

[DaveCoaches]

I had hip pain from running. The physio recommend some exercises and the pain is gone but it’s still uncomfortable sometimes when I’m sitting / walking / doing yoga. My friend recommended her osteopath but I’m not sure exactly what it is they do? I confuse them with chiropractors.

I used to go to an osteopath who was a complete genius. I have also tried chiropractic and acupuncture, but osteopathy is the only one I reckon is any good.

Yes. I’ve had fantastic success with an osteopath for both a bad back and a clonking hip.

Yes! I had a bad back, neck and shoulder and was getting lots of migraines. Osteopath sorted it all.

Osteopaths keep me mobile. They’re amazing.

I wasn’t a fan of the osteopath personally found it a bit meh and she was a bit woo-y and much preferred the physio and she does a lot of treatment on me that helps. I’d go and just do one session and see what you think!

Good osteopathic treatment is amazing. But I guess they are not all really good so it is best to get a recommendation from someone.

I go to one trained as a physio and osteopath - he is amazing

I had a fantastic osteopath and now a brilliant chiropractor, good recommendation is key.

Highly recommend osteopaths but some are much better than others. My current one is amazing.

No. I used to go all the time but then realised that nothing was really changing in that I kept having to go. I have found physio to be much better and you don’t have to have the manipulation osteopaths do which I’m very dubious about these days.

My osteopath is incredible. He has got to the root cause of all my issues and fixed them. Apart from the sticking sub-talar joint that really isn't plantar fascitis. He fixed my hiatus hernia - no more.omeprazole. he fixed my knees - a constant programme of maintenance. He pinpointed the cause of my RSI and keeps me from backsliding there. He helps me when I am pushing myself and my hypermobile.body needs help. He helped me squat to depth (ankle flexibility). My osteopath is awesome, so I'd say try and find one. However if he is that good, they can't all be that excellent so YMMV.

@Aydel Did they ever explain why your hip clonked? I have this too and not sure what it is. I hate it!

I have a 'squeaky' hip and physio was amazing. in my case the reason is a weak core and stretches and pilates type core exercises help a lot. but as soon as I stop doing it the pain returns.

if you can, see one specialised in your sport.

Osteopathy is a regulated health profession so I would recommend them over chiropractic. Personally, I would avoid chiropractic. It's not a conventional treatment and can cause serious harm.

Yes, much better than a physio and chiropractor ime. I also had a clunking hip, it was my SI joint which was clunking/not in line. My osteopath correctly diagnosed me with EDS which has been missed by every physio, chiropractor and doctor inc orthopedic consultants I’ve ever seen. He’s done a lot of massage on my bum to sort my glute muscles out, given me hamstring stretches, told me to get weightlifting because of my EDS. My SI joint has pretty much stopped clunking now.

@eehb102 I am really interested in your experience - I am also hypermobile and I am a powerlifter - do you have a regular session with your osteopath or do you deal with issues as they come up?

I have a regular sports massage with a fantastic massage therapist who is also a PT and who feeds back suggestions to my coach about tweaks to my training program. I have seen an osteopath a few times before for a specific issue but wonder if I should do it more often.

The evidence is that it doesn't work beyond placebo for aches and pains.

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/web/cochrane/content?templateType=full&urlTitle=/central/doi/10.1002/central/CN-00451768&doi=10.1002/central/CN-00451768&type=central&contentLanguage=

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/web/cochrane/content?templateType=full&urlTitle=/central/doi/10.1002/central/CN-02260636&doi=10.1002/central/CN-02260636&type=central&contentLanguage=

I have a low tolerance for pseudoscience in health so wouldn't ever go to one. If you're into your homeopathy/chiropractic/aromatherapy/crystal healing then the placebo effect will be strong and you'll gain some benefit perhaps. In fact the effect is stronger the more they charge you so find an expensive one in a nice fancy clinic with loads of certificates on the wall to really make you believe in it. It's also useful to read loads more anecdotes from people who also think they benefitted from it on Mumsnet before you go.

I’ve not found them useful (an expensive waste of time and money). Had much better results with two different sports physios, both of whom gave meaningful diagnosis and exercises to take home. Both were honest about when there was no further treatment needed and I’ve been able to apply appropriate routines if I get a flare up. Wouldn’t hesitate to revisit a sports physio but hugely unlikely to bother with an osteopath.

I made a similar mistake thinking homeopathy would get me through labour 😭 Sometimes actual medical need outstrips placebo effect

My osteopath is a genius. I'm also hypermobile and bits of me move that shouldn't, including my SI joint, hips and pelvis, back and neck. He pops them back to where they should be and gives immediate pain relief. I can state that it's certainly not a placebo effect!

I go into his consulting rooms needing strong painkillers and leave not needing them any more.

I've seen an amazing osteopath and a really shit one! Just depends on the practitioner I think.

@YouTubeIsYourMotherNow sorry that link isn’t working for me so can’t comment on that specific Cochrane review but NICE recommend manual therapy for some issues and I believe the NHS employ osteopaths. They’re certainly a regulated profession. I’m not the sort of person to believe in homeopathy or crystals. I think chiropractors are quacks. I’m not sure about aromatherapy, i don’t use it and don’t know anything about it.

But osteopaths are degree educated “manual therapists”. Ime physiotherapists don’t actually touch you these days. So no manual therapy there. Maybe old school private physios might but physio education these days is not focused on manual therapy. Osteopaths seem more hands on

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteopathy/#:~:text=There%27s%20some%20evidence%20to%20suggest,after%20hip%20or%20knee%20operations.

Mine was brilliant. I had hip pain from running, the manipulation and massage they did was great and much more effective than the exercises the physio I saw. Osteopath also recommended exercises which helped.

But the cause of the pain turned out to be wrong running shoes. Osteopath got me over the pain and stiffness, different shoes stopped it coming back.

Well I wouldn't. Just had to do 500 mile round trip to visit my relative who used an osteopath for spinal manipulation and ended up needing emergency neurosurgery when the spine started pressing on all the nerves in his back.

I saw an osteopath when I was pregnant and had PGP and she was a miracle worker as far as I am concerned. I also see a chiropractor who is incredible.

I have seen many physios and not one would
I recommend.

I have an osteopath who does acupuncture a total game changer after years of NHS physio, pain killers and painkillers I got my life pain free.