do i trust my osteopath

[essexgirl58]

When I first went to the osteopath for my back i was told I had sciatica from a doctor. Osteopath disagreed and said it was a tight muscle. Then I asked if i should have an MRI due to the fact that back was still painful and was told no wont show up anything on a scan. My GP did actually send me for MRI and it showed up a spine issue bulging disc. The osteopath was wrong to say nothing would show up.

Also I was told not to do my exercise class as too high impac and not to run for a bus etc. My GP said my exercise class is fine and I can do it gently.

I now take anyting the osteopath says with a pinch of salt

@Justilou1

I see a Harley Street back specialist for my condition, she is one of the leading experts and she told me on Sunday that herniated disc fragments are reabsorbed and on their own are often not a source of pain unless they press on a nerve. They improve in 12 weeks 90% of the time.

When a person successfully recovers from a herniated disc, the body is able to clear any “debris” from the injured area through clever cells in the blood stream.
The inner disc material is able to return to the nucleus within the disc over time. The annulus then “knits” back together, allowing the disc to return to a healthy state
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30610984/

There is some really shit advice on this thread.
OP it’s not helpful when different professionals give different advice but unfortunately that is the nature of medicine, no one ever agrees. Your osteopath was right about the MRI - the guidelines are to not offer them for sciatica or lower back pain this is because bulging discs are incredibly common and show up on MRIs all the time (in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients alike) they are so common that they are considered normal and there is actually little evidence that they are the cause of the pain or sciatica in many cases. The only time an mri is recommended is if there is serious neurological symptoms. Discs do resorb and 80% of cases of lower back pain/ sciatica are resolved within 8-12 weeks. Exercise is safe but avoid very high impact stuff initially- progress gently. Osteopaths are just as good as physios and chiropractors.

I am now more confused than ever. I cannot see a chiropractor because I have osteoperosis and manipulation of bones would cause them to break/

Anyway thanks everyone I am still not ure what to or what is right or wrong and whether bulging discs stay that way or not. But thankfully my condition is not serious and I will just have to live with it and get on with my life as best i can

Osteoporosis is not a contraindication for manipulation (it’s joints not bones that are manipulated) but it would certainly dictate the force of any manipulation. Chiropractors are just as likely to decide to use an alternative treatment option as an osteopath or a physio, this is why they take such a detailed case history when you first see them. Believe it or not they want to fix you not break you.

@Wailywailywaily

There is some really shit advice on this thread. OP it’s not helpful when different professionals give different advice but unfortunately that is the nature of medicine, no one ever agrees. Your osteopath was right about the MRI - the guidelines are to not offer them for sciatica or lower back pain this is because bulging discs are incredibly common and show up on MRIs all the time (in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients alike) they are so common that they are considered normal and there is actually little evidence that they are the cause of the pain or sciatica in many cases. The only time an mri is recommended is if there is serious neurological symptoms. Discs do resorb and 80% of cases of lower back pain/ sciatica are resolved within 8-12 weeks. Exercise is safe but avoid very high impact stuff initially- progress gently. Osteopaths are just as good as physios and chiropractors.

what a load of absolute twaddle.

I do not think your osteopath is helping you. There are good ones and bad ones, as with many medical specialities. I am not in the U.K. so can't comment on correct 'procedure', but my doctor would do an MRI if I was in serious pain. It is useful for everyone to know what is causing the pain - the reason the NHS doesn't scan is down to money. I have a fabulous osteopath who was recommended by a friend with serious back issues (he had several surgeries). My osteopath does not diagnose but treats according to what she can feel, although she knows my medical history and what has been diagnosed by MRI/PET scan etc. I have a fabulous physio too but it's the osteopath who helps me when I 'put my back out'.

@essexgirl58,
I’ve checked what @Wailywailywaily said and the guidelines are exactly that
www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/musculoskeletal/mbro-redcar-cleveland/gp-and-allied-health-professionals-area/mri-referral-guidelines/
GP are not supposed to refer for back pain unless there are other serious symptoms présent/has been there for a while.

There is also some research about the fact that many people with no pain at all have some bulging disks, the percentage getting bigger with age.

Fwiw that is true too for arthritis.
Whilst many people who have pain their knee are showing signs of ‘wear and tear’ aka arthritis, there are also many people with joints that shows ‘wear and tear’ that actually have no pain at all and never have.

That is the right MRI guidelines. I had mine because I had pain, foot drop and numbness. By my third MRI I had no feeling in one leg and foot

I wouldn’t trust an osteopath or chiropractor. I think there is very little evidence base for a lot of what they do that is over and above placebo/sports massage/gentle exercise.

If you are happy to pay them on that basis then fine. Otherwise stop.

I went to one Osteopath for 10 sessions and her advice was to stand on one leg whilst brushing my teeth for my swollen ankle. She also treated my shoulder by jiggling/waving my arm and then crunching my back. I never really got any better.
Fed up of the pain and I went back to the doctor to be referred and she suggested a new place. 6 sessions with the physio and I was fixed! I also have a spiky ball that I use on my shoulder from time to time, absolutely brilliant everyone should have a spiky ball! I also asked about my swollen ankle, they did an MRI and I had torn 2 ligaments 5 years before, cortisone injection and physio and that is fixed too. Best decision ever was to try somewhere different.

A friend of mine tripped down a flight of stairs years ago. She was in so much pain in her back she could hardlly move. Her back has never been the same since. It got better but from time to time it flares up. She has tried an osteopath but felt it did not help

Has anyone tried a heat pad for their back? You can buy them quite cheaply from chemists. My friend uses one and said it is a great help but the osteopath said do not use them or if you do only use them for 10 minutes max. My friend sleeps all through the night with hers

Stop seeing this osteopath. You are obviously not happy with them and they seem to be giving you lots of dodgy and incorrect advice. Personally I wouldn't have anyone fucking around with my back which I was 100% happy with.

Doesn't mean all osteopaths are shit just you need to find the right one. Or maybe try a physiotherapist or chiropractor.

I've seen about 5/6 chiropractors in my lifetime. The one I have currently is the best and really knows my back. I've seen others who were a bit meh. I've seen an osteopath on the past who was again a bit meh and seemed to just tinker around the edges and not really fix anything. I've seen some mediocre physios but husband has seen a great one.

Don't keep ploughing on with one if you aren't happy or they don't seem to be achieving much. See someone else. Recommendations can he very useful.

Well as I said I have found a spine specialist that I am going to try an speak to on Monday. I posted their video and nobody has commented on it or about DDT methods. Having said that, something strange happend earlier. I got a text message from the Director of the spine clinic saying Hello I have tried to ring you. Please let me know when it is ok for me to ring you again. As it was a text, it showed the number from which it came from and it was a mobile. I was surprised he rang because when I spoke to the receptionist this morning, she said there are no osteopaths for you to speak to today because we are closed but our phone lines are open so gie me your name and number and someone will call you on Monday. Then sudenly I get this text saying they tried to call me ??? When I tried to phone the mobile number which it came from it said sorry this number does not go through .

I foun that quite strange. Maybe they only hae a mobile that does outgoing calls. Anyway since this person texted me I texxted back saying you can call me again now and nobody responed. Oh well, I will query on Monday when they are open for business

Forgot to mention that i also had no missed call or voicemail on m phone. I do not believe for one second they tried to call me

Your logic for continuing to visit the same osteopath is flawed. You don’t carry on seeing someone just because they’re only down the road and have been seeing you ‘since the start’, particularly if all the advice they’ve given has been in conflict with your GP, and you are getting no improvement.

I have sciatica, had it since October and in both legs. Had three sessions with the osteopath who said her approach was helping to loosen some tight muscles and joints but wasn’t addressing the cause of my pain - we agreed I needed to go back to my GP.

Ive seen good and bad physios, osteopaths and chiropractors over the years. For me chiropractors are best but there are still some incredibly bad ones amongst them. The one i see now i will visit maybe twice if im stupid enough to re-injure myself then im fixed until i do it again in a year.
Mine has always been very clear in lifestyle things which are important yo help the healing process. Ot was not bending or sitting on soft low chsirs with a prolapsed disc for me, only sitting on an upright kitchen chair, wearing only flat shoes ever, icing the area, specific exercises (im not suggesting you do these things, im saying it wasnt a case of a session of treatment and come back in a week, but you build on that treatment to help it along. Good osteopaths give so much information and advice for you to help yourself and understand what it takes to impteove and prevent recurrence long-term. Shop around. Even if you are travelling a bit further with a slightly longer journey it might be worth it in that you need far fewer sessions to be healed. Ask around local groups like nextdoor or facebook for recommendations in your area.

@Tallisimo

Your logic for continuing to visit the same osteopath is flawed. You don’t carry on seeing someone just because they’re only down the road and have been seeing you ‘since the start’, particularly if all the advice they’ve given has been in conflict with your GP, and you are getting no improvement.

I have sciatica, had it since October and in both legs. Had three sessions with the osteopath who said her approach was helping to loosen some tight muscles and joints but wasn’t addressing the cause of my pain - we agreed I needed to go back to my GP.

did you find out from your GP what the cause was

As for flat or heels, I asked if i shoul stick to flat shoes or can i wear shoes with a heel and she said no high heels. On my next appointment I turned up in boots with 2 inch heels and showed her and said can I wear these and she said yes but no higher so I said i have never worn anything high than this ever and then she repeated, those are fine what you hae now

nobody on this thread has said anything about heat pads????

Why did you post this thread? It's not your diary. You ask the question, "Do I trust my osteopath?" Then you state, "I now take anything the osteopath says with a pinch of salt."

You write: "The osteopath has told me the correct ones to do for my condition." But they don't know your condition! Their "diagnosis" differs!

People point out either see a physio privately or get another osteopath, and next minute you are defending your osteopath, and seeing her because she'd just down the road and has "been there from the start". Someone points out facts and you respond, "what a load of absolute twaddle."

Someone cautions - presumably from bitter experience, as many people spend thousands out of hope - about osteos in general, and you respond, "I do not think you have any right to say that it is a waste of money." But you don't trust her...

You don't trust your osteo but you do trust your osteo... What is the point of asking others' opinions at all.

I have a bulging disc that flares up every year or two and results in me being bed bound. This latest episode has lasted 6 months so far.. NHS physio was a complete waste of time, just a phone call and an email with links to YouTube videos of exercises. So I am paying for private physio, not cheap but it's really helping! I've had 5 sessions of theraflex and on my last session I had shockwave therapy. It's only been 2 days since the shockwave treatment, but so far my pain has literally disappeared, I cant actually believe it!
Also look into IDD therapy, I havent tried this but have read many good reviews. I would look for a physio that specialises in back pain and offers these treatments. I hope you can find some relief soon

I used heat pads because there was no other pain relief I could take (I was on paracetomol, diazepam, dihydrocodeine, naproxen and morphine) and they kept me sane
I used the thermacare lower back and hip ones

@milkyaqua

Why did you post this thread? It's not your diary. You ask the question, "Do I trust my osteopath?" Then you state, "I now take anything the osteopath says with a pinch of salt."

You write: "The osteopath has told me the correct ones to do for my condition." But they don't know your condition! Their "diagnosis" differs!

People point out either see a physio privately or get another osteopath, and next minute you are defending your osteopath, and seeing her because she'd just down the road and has "been there from the start". Someone points out facts and you respond, "what a load of absolute twaddle."

Someone cautions - presumably from bitter experience, as many people spend thousands out of hope - about osteos in general, and you respond, "I do not think you have any right to say that it is a waste of money." But you don't trust her...

You don't trust your osteo but you do trust your osteo... What is the point of asking others' opinions at all.

Exactly what I was thinking, this is such a bizarre thread. What have heat pads got to do with you trusting your osteopath?