Osteopath, chiropractor or sports massage therapist?

[abouttoturn50]

Looking for some advice from anyone who’s had the same issue or a professional please 🙏

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been having headaches which come from the right side of the base of my skull. They go up the back of my head over my ear and to my temple. My neck feels tight/tense and when I move it to do stretching exercises I can hear what I can only describe as crackling/crunching sounds. It came on after a 2 week illness which meant I’d been laid in the sofa most days and I’d also changed to some huge lovely comfortable but obviously impractical pillows! I’m also peri menopausal if that’s relevant in anyway.

I’ve been using a heat pack which relieves the pain while I have it on my neck. I’ve bought a memory foam pillow with neck support now and I’ve been doing some neck exercises too.

I’ve been seen by the GP who has given me ibuprofen gel which helps a little and he said if no improvement in 2 weeks he’d refer me. I don’t want to wait 2 weeks so I’m happy to pay for treatment however I have no idea whether I should book in with an osteopath, chiropractor or sports massage therapist. Any advice would be greatly appreciated 😊

I have no medical qualifications to suggest which you try but I use a McTimoney Chiropractor on a regular basis for the start of all problems such as yours. They work on the whole skeleton (toes to skull) from the pelvis outwards - as I understand it, the theory is that if the pelvis isn't square then nothing else will work properly - bit like the foundations of a house. The manipulation is very gentle but surprisingly effective. However there are, as with every therapy, good and bad ones. They should register with the McTimoney Chiropractic Association so you could check with them. Some traditional chiropractors think they are rubbish but they've always worked well for me and my family.

A 'good' one of any of those options should be able to help you. If I had a choice between all of those and they were all good practitioners, I would choose an osteo, but that's based on my personal experience and preferences.

In the meantime, if you are mainly doing neck stretches, I'd personally be trying (gently! Very gently) moving and stretching your whole body - it's all connected and it will all have been affected by your illness and stillness. That's ok - sometimes you do have to just lie around - but bodies do very much like to be mobile, so if you can (gently!!!) get moving again, I think that is likely to be a good idea. Gentle walking, gentle swimming, gentle yoga or general whole body stretching etc. Very slowly and see how you feel as you go.

Chiropractor definitely and some HRT if you aren't on it already. HRT completely solved my chronic neck pain

I’ve just started HRT a few days ago, I did wonder if it was connected because I’ve had sinus issues along with a whole host of other “normal” menopause symptoms! Oh to be a woman! 🤣

I saw this recently.
Post from medics on injuries caused by chiroprator.
Never let a chiroprator near your neck
https://x.com/DBelardoMD/status/1838752684284817816

I saw a chiroprator once for a hand problem and they made it much worse.
I would recommend a good physiotherapist first, not a sports massage or osteopath.

What Poffy said. It could be your c-spine.
A physiotherapist will be really helpful to get the shoulder and upper back muscles strengthened.

I will tell you my experience: physical job. Resolved all my issues

Please be careful with Chiropractors - don't let them manipulate your neck. I went to one for a different issue and it did provide some relief but it was very temporary and basically stopped working. Maybe try a physio first.

Thank you everyone, I've booked in for a free assessment with a physio at a sport complex that I found not far from me. They also have a chiropractor and an osteopath there so an assessment will determine which I need. I'm pretty sure it's a muscle/tendon/ligament issue as it's the side of my neck. I'm hoping physio will be enough as it's less brutal 🤞🏻

I see a mctimmony chiro. Mostly for stiffness and aches and pains caused by compensating for pain from long term health conditions (I'm broken basically 😂)

Itsots of gentle stretches and helping me manipulate bits that don't move well, none of the cracking and crunching you see on tiktok etc.

Its also the weirdest business model because her goal is to get me to go longer between appointments 🤷😂

I used to get horrific headaches, I mentioned this to my trusty chiropractor. She simply pulled my head off, if you know what I mean, the headache disappeared. She worked on me and also uses acupuncture alongside manipulation. My neurologist had me on Sumatriptan, such bliss getting it sorted out, they were hideous.

I get very similar neck pain/headaches. Starting from the base of my neck as you describe and up round over the ear to my temple.

Massage is very helpful, firmer the better. And heat.... a hot water bottle or microwave heat bag is good. Posture makes the biggest difference though, try not to look down too much.

A short course of anti-spasm meds may be helpful if it's an acute issue.

Thank you ☺️ There is an amazing Osteopath locally. My daughter had back pain for months which the doctors just gave her pain relief for, she went once, 2 years ago, and has been pain free ever since! I went with her and he was so good with her but the neck crack he did turned my stomach and I don't think I'd cope if I went and he cracked mine 🤣 however the thought of one session and no pain after is so very tempting! 🙈