To think osteopathy is "woo woo" therapy?

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

Apparently, this makes me UR and that it's not comparable to homeopathy. So, MNers what do you think?

Dozey- paralysis only occurs when a nerve, usually the spinal cord is severed.
Moving a joint however, called manipulation or mobilization, does not, ( or at least should not! )involve any damage to nerves but instead increases mobility and provides temporary pain relief. Hope that helps explain the difference.

I should say physio helps too but seeing my osteopath helps me keep off the painkillers. She's also excellent with neck pain.
I am a scientist and don't buy into any woo at all (not religious, don't read my horoscopes and regularly walk under ladders!) and have never considered oestopath woo at all. (not talking about cranial osteopathy of which I know nothing).

I have a lot of problems with my back. I have popped and torn more discs than I wish to remember.

Have tried chiropractic treatment - ouchy, long, expensive and slow.
Traditional doctor - strong painkillers which are useless for severe back pain.
Physiotherapy - worse than useless.
Osteopathy - slipped disc treated in 2 sessions, very gentle, no after effects, hobble into clinic, skipped out.

I advise anyone to try it. Not woo at all. She looks, diagnoses, pushes/pulls/rubs joints/area and gives exercises. After almost 20 years of bad back problems, I always go to the osteopath first.

This is the account of the 3 month old baby girl who died in the Netherlands.

Warning: I found it quite upsetting to read, and haven't reread it since, my memory of it is that even though described in medical terminology, it was very vivid : anaximperator.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/infant-dies-after-craniosacral-therapy/

Going to hide this thread now I think.

I love my osteopath. he's stopped me being in great pain from my back going a bit squiffy when all the hospital could offer me was painkillers. he's also put my pelvis back into place when it's gone wonky. no woo about it, just sheer, physical relief.

slightly very good osteopaths and most, if not all, pediatricians would NOT recommend osteopathy for a baby or children, period.

That's what I know.

And if it is truly truly necessary, then I would only consult an osteopath who is also a physician and in this case a pediatrician.

Incompetence causes lives in this area

Handled incompetently there are also cases of strokes or partial limb body parts etc.

Malpractice or other kinds of professional misconduct and/or incompetence shouldn't be mixed up with tarring an entire professional field with a brush and generalising.

OP, although I live in Scotland I visit a lady in Wales when terrible back pain (which leaves me hunched and sick with pain) makes it necessary; she is an osteopath and acupuncturist.

My mum recommended her and she was the first person (I'd been through all sorts of lengthy and expensive treatments in the past) who (a) diagnosed my problem just by looking and (b) lay me down and manipulated me straight again then (c) gave me acupuncture to take the muscles out of spasm. It bloody worked ! She told me it would take three days (muscles would need time to recover) then I would be back to normal.

I didn't really believe it heard it all before, but blow me, she was right. I can't tell you how grateful I was for her help and expertise. I have been to see her three more times in the last ten years; the last time three years ago. I am happy to travel three hundred plus miles to see her; she's the real deal and each session costs £25 (she fixes me in a single session).

As far as I am concerned, if it works, do it.

Toffee - you can win $1,000,000 for your proof that homeopathy works.

Toffee - you can win $1,000,000 for your proof that homeopathy works.

YANBU

I've been 3 times, to 3 different ones, in 3 different countries. All of them sold homeopathic remedies (one of them sold homeopathic drops for dogs!) and 2 of them had anti vaccination paraphernalia on their walls.

I think they can be useful for lower back stuff, no way in hell would I let any of them crick.my neck.

I think physios are your best bet.

Weird that some people think physiotherapy is not woo, but osteopathy is. Here in Belgium osteopathy is totally mainstream, standard treatment for certain muscular/skeletal ailments, reimbursed by social security, etc.
In my experience, physiotherapy has always been totally useless. Does that make it woo?

As far as I know, osteopathy is really just mechanics. I just don't see how that can be classed as woo.

Osteopathy cured my SPD twice (two pregnancies), and sorted out a back problem that had marred my life for several years (and that multiple steroid injections, hours of physio, etc. didn't even touch).

Pregnancy one, with no osteopathy, had SPD from 13wks and was bed and wheelchair-bound for last 8wks.
This time, symptoms started at 6wks, and whilst I still have pain, I am still mobile and have had just a few osteo sessions. Due next month.
Took my son for three sessions, as he was crying most of the time when awake and it worked amazingly.
I would like to see osteos in maternity wards!

What's "woo woo" about a professional who understands exactly how the body works physically manipulating your body so that it is correctly aligned? By that measure an ER doc who pops a dislocated shoulder back in place is also "woo woo".

Osteopath and chiropractors work with a deep understanding of how the nervous system interacts with muscles, joints, bones etc. To be honest, I think thinking these things are "woo woo" simply demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of how the body works. Not everything needs to be fixed with pills or surgery.

I had a back problem successfully treated by an osteopath - the same as a lot of people. It's really not at all like homoeopathy or herbal medicine or acupuncture, because the osteopath is actually doing something - they're physically working hard at manipulating your spine, and you can feel it having an effect. To be honest, if you wanted to make money out of gullible people, then there are much easier ways of doing it than being an osteopath.

I don't know very much about cranial osteopathy but it seems to be a very different kettle of fish.

As for chiropractors, I once asked my osteopath what the difference was, and she said, "Osteopaths and chiropractors do the same thing, but chiropractors charge more."

HettiePetal - please stop being so rude. You clearly think osteopathy doesn't work. I know it does and plenty of other people do too. Show them due respect please and stop being so I know it all and you are wrong.

Dozey - I think you will be found to be wrong. I have proof it works with me and my children and what you say they do is also wrong.

Commander - don't be so sneery.

I can prove CO and homeopathy work. Can you prove it doesn't?

Threads like this always go the same way. Those who don't believe are sneery, rude and have no real argument. People who do believe in it are made to prove it over and over again and are dismissed with an arrogant wave of the hand.

I know which kind of person I want to be.

I appreciate the irony in my evidence-based thinking here but every time someone starts telling me about their trip to the chiropractor, I just know they're going to tell me that one leg is shorter than the other. I'm not saying it's all bollocks, but it does make me a bit cynical.

Interesting conversation. Thank you for your thoughts. I see I was BU. I have to be honest, I have an inflammatory joint condition and I wouldn't feel comfortable letting an osteopath work on me but I can see where it may be appropriate.

Toffee Homeopathy has been proven not to work better than a placebo.

I don't really know how the qualification system works for osteopaths. My osteo ha qualifications coming out of her ears, and doesn't do any 'sidelines' (burning candles, weird medecines, etc) With all therapists etc - check their qualications, association memberships and insurance. Some 'colleges' give out strings of letters like confetti.

I'm a therapist and have seen many meddling enthusiastic amateurs (who have done a 3 day course at sone clinic or centre and think they are ready to cure the world) who think they are Freud spouting absolute crap and taking a simple symptom and turning it into crisis. I have had a few ding dongs with colleagues about this too - advising someone with a mild phobic presentation to go into intensive therapy, and suggesting deeper, more sinister roots to the problem. Go in a nail biter, come out an abused child. They have little idea what they are doing/procedure and it is very dangerous. It really upsets me that it is part 'concern', part lack of experience/specialisation, but mostly 'oooh, how many sessions can I book in, kerching!'. Little regard for the clients well-being.

Toffee it does seem unlikely to me that you can manipulate joints and bones into 'better' positions. But I must confess I don't really know much about osteopathy apart from when someone goes because they have 'put their back out' and the results ime are mixed.

If any or all of these alternative therapies work, whether placebos or not, then good for them. If a placebo fixes the problem, and imo many mainstream medical treatments are actually placebos, then good, the patient is better and that's the main thing.

Sightly - that is a sad article but a cranio-sacral therapist is not an Osteopath or even cranial osteopath. They are not trained any where near the same extent. Osteopath is a protected term (in the UK at least) and only fully trained, registered osteopaths can use the term. I believe it would be gross misconduct to manipulate the spine of a baby. Their bones aren't fused.

Regarding manipulation and nerve damage/ dislocations. Osteopathic manipulations are within the physiological limit. It is a minute movement. The noise is from the release of a vacuum. Not bones cracking. It is not to relocate a bone but helps re establish movement (if the bone is restricted it held in one position) and relax local muscles.

Also how treating the cause rather than just the symptoms can be considered woo is beyond me.

If you have shoulder pain because you have certain tight/weak muscles and a stiff upper back, how is addressing those problems rather than just giving anti inflammatories, is considered woo?? It's just not logical.

There is so much misunderstanding in osteopathy and it needs addressing.

Candy - osteopathy can not treat an inflammatory joint conditions. It could help with associated pains and compensations but it a contra indication to treat actively inflamed joints. An osteopath is fully trained in inflammatory conditions.

(I don't mean inflamed due to say an injury but even then the main treatment should be Rest, ice, compression, elevation.

My oh uses an osteopath, goes in literally hobbling 15 mins later he's skipping out.

I've never had anythinbg crack or pop at the osteo. Its more like massage, gently pulling/pushing limbs. Usually its because I have slipped or torn a disk (ive done a few) or because I've pulled nuscles because of a dodge bit of mechanics in my spine (which the osteo noticed when I first went - nd I have seen my old x-rays to confirm her diagnosis).

I think people confuse it with new agey treatments if they havebt actually been to one, or have come across someone who isn't qualified and is a bit of a woo-sayer who also does a bit of osteo on the side.

'Traditional' medicine also has its rotten/incompetant/mad practitioners.