What's the difference between .......

[Crystaltips]

A Chiropractor and an Osteopath ?
Sorry to be so thick - but my back is giving me real problems and I feel I should go and get it seen to ....

Who would help me out ? And more to the point - how do I get a good one ?

Thanks

Only simple difference I recall Chiropractor's do X-rays for diagnosis, Osteopaths don't!
What kind of problems does your back have? I think it's better to try Osteopath first, because they seem gentler.

I feel that the lower half of my back has "fused" I have lost all the flexibility - AND it is sore

Osteopathy would definitely help... I saw an osteopath and it definitely helped me; they work a lot on freeing things up. Chiropractors think differently, but I'm not sure how. Chiropractors are better regulated/more trained, I think, though.

Crystaltips both my DH and I have had success with a chiropractor. He didn't take any x-rays. Don't know how similar they are to an osteopath but they believe that chiropracty (?) can help more than the back and that different parts of the spine relate to different parts of the body etc. Our chiropractor came on recommendation but I believe they should be very qualified, they study for about 7 years.

The problem I had with my back was in my lower back and it was apparently a twisted pelvis which he says would have occurred whilst giving birth to DS2.

I still don't know what the difference is. But DH has just recently visited a chiropractor after an acute back problem had turned into a chronic one (posted here asking if anyone had used one).

He has been 4 times so far I think - first time had an xray which showed his spine was twisted at the base (and that he has an extra set of ribs - very rare apparently ). Was told would take quite a long term treatment to sort out. He also had a fused spine at the top. Quick manipulation sorted out the top of his spine after the first visit - I think that was about 1/2 hour, other treatments have been about 15 mins. DH said it hasn't hurt at all - and has been amazed at the speed of recovery. Last visit chiropractor said he need not come back for another month because it was getting better so well.

Cost about £25 a session I think.

Said he usually gets clients via word of mouth recommendation - we looked in the yellow pages and picked the one located in the most convenient place.

I am psyching myself up to going as well - lots of back niggles since having kids !

Having seen the improvement in DH I would really recommend you give it a try.

I've seen both in my time, had back problems for too many years to count. But been alot worse since the dds. The osteopath I saw did mainly massage then manipultion. Whereas the chiropractor does a more thorough examination,manipulation, then uses an ultrasound heat thingy and a machine like a TENS machine to settle the muscles.The actual manipulations they both did were fairly similar.

IMHO, the chiropractor is MUCH better as my problems have actually got better since seeing him in the last 6ms, whereas with the osteo they were merely contained until the next time it struck. HTH and wishing you better, sore backs are crap.

Osteo is a bone fixer, ALL bones a chiro is specifically back.
I totally recommend an osteo, mine (we call him God in our hosue) has fixed my dd's eyelid droop, my back - countless times, and lately my wrist.
I also think chiropracters can prescribe meds. But I could be wrong.
If you are are anywhere near me try Odiham osteos, superb!

osteos are more holistic too IMHO
chiros subscribe more to the doctors way, osteo's go on what you tell them and how they sense and interpret your symptoms.

In response to Zebra, osteopathists are regulated; they were the first complementary medical profession to be regulated by law. This means there is a legal register of properly trained osteopaths, it is an offence to call yourself one if you aren't properly qualified and they can be struck off the register if they mess up.