Physio or chiropractor for bad back?

[alwayssunnyinsoton]

I recently had an MRI for lower back pain, it's keeping me up at night/waking me up and the pain in the morning has been awful.

This has been going on for months, gradually getting worse.

I am 36, and I fractured my coccyx when I was around 15. Apart from that no injuries; but sciatica with both pregnancies.

Anyway, I have private healthcare and as my mri came back okay, they referred me to physio. I had one appointment a couple weeks ago where the therapist said I had scoliosis and a curved lower spine (I can't remember the name for that part- deviated something?)

She gave me three exercises to go and I was sent on my way.

I do the exercises and I also go to Pilates 2-3 times a week. Nothing is helping.

I have my second app with her today; curious as to what she'll suggest? I suppose new exercises? The only thing that helps is codeine and my partner massaging me for relief.

I am now curious if I should see a chiropractor instead? Any advice please would be great as I can't go on like this. The pain is unbearable. I can't walk for long without having to sit down.

My mum has degenerative disc disease and this is what I was worried about but signs of that yet on my mri x

I've struggled with mid back pain for years, I don't like "clicking" and prefer more gentle manipulation by my osteopath. It really helps plus regularly doing Pilates. It's ongoing and not a quick fix. I have recurrences triggered by twisting action 😔

I've had success with both tbh. My chiropractor is brilliant and I go once a month but I've also seen some that are worse than useless so it depends very much on the practitioner.

Physio helps me but I have to do it at least twice a month and that gets expensive.

I had awful pgp after my sons birth. I tried physio , chiropractor and never found them any good. I booked an osteopath in sheer desperation and I've never looked back.

When I was suffering my preference was physio, then osteo. Chiropractor was too hard on me. But my last work was with a massage therapist who worked with loosening muscles around the area, and that's been great, with longstanding improvement. Not been back for years.i was worried about degenerative discs, it's also in my family, but I've been fine. I paid privately and went for 2 apps a week to really get in top of the problem. One of the physio wasn't keen to do it that frequently, but agreed and it Def helped. I was tensing up too much between appts for the work to take hold. Hope you get some relief soon.

I didn't even think about osteo; I thought perhaps that would be too gentle for me! At the moment I like a firm massage for relief. The pain/nice pain if that makes sense feels amazing.

I did think the physio may have massaged my back/the knots but I guess I'd need to perhaps go to a sports massage place?

Osteopath sorted my longstanding back problem in a few sessions and now if I have a spasm I go straight to them and one appointment is usually enough. Wouldn’t bother with a physiotherapist and wouldn’t go anywhere near a chiropractor.

I think I can see both chiropractor and osteopath on my healthcare so I shall look in to that today. My physio is at 12 today so will see what she says. I feel like it's pointless really?? I'm so stiff it's making me feel miserable

I’ve been to all 3 and have had most success with a physiotherapist. I now feel that the manipulations done by both chiropractor and osteopath are too risky for me. My physiotherapist is also my Pilates instructor. You will find your person!

Physio. I’ve heard horror stories about chiropractors.

I have heard only horror stories about chiropractors in real life tbh (although online is different) and they aren't evidence based at all.
I have a fair few friends who are medics and wouldn't go near one. Id go for physio every time.
Can you take anti inflammatories? If the MRI is ok there might just be some ongoing inflammation.

Physio or osteopath. No qualified medical practitioner would recommend a chiropractor.

This.
Try a different physio if you're not happy because I've they vary a lot.

I know this isn't back related but it illustrates the risks.
x.com/DBelardoMD/status/1838752684284817816?t=6nEq0qMZkjj7a9i0WxWF3Q&s=19

I go to a chiropractor. My back use to "go" all the time and I'd be in severe pain and unable to do anything. That hasn't happened for ages. My DH also goes and had similar issues as he has a congenital back issue and again it's basically stopped the cycle of back going, getting fixed, going again etc etc.

I agree with the PP though that there are good chiropractors and bad ones. I also don't let her crack my neck by twisting as this does carry a risk of stroke. She uses something called an "activator" instead. Not all chiropractors use this.

I have found physios to be next to useless. I've also seen an osteopath but these kept me in a cycle of back going, go back for treatment, back goes again, go back for treatment, etc etc . It works better for me to have a regular quick treatment to keep on top of things.

@Balloonhearts what does the physio do? Are you getting massages done

@Icecreamfactory i agree with finding the right physio. I went to one who was an ass and made me worse

Chiropractic is made up. Pretend. Seriously,

Physio's are useless, just give you exercises and send you on your way. Too risky with as chiropractor, all the clicking and manipulation. Osteopath was best for me and my back. I have recommend an osteo to various people after my experience and they have all found them to be helpful.

Osteopath and physio are good but for me two sessions with a chiropractor made the most difference (& a good sports massage too about once a month) BUT you need to find a reputable chiropractor with excellent reviews. I know people are wary of chiropractors but the one I see has incredible knowledge and is very gentle. The gentle clicks and manipulation freed something up in my upper spine which helped my lower back immensely.

I’ve seen all three, physio was less than useless, osteopath was good but treatment involved so many appointments with minimal relief and no complete resolution. The chiropractor was the best. Mine is absolutely brilliant and resolved my issues quickly in very few appointments. I had sciatica and lower back pain from an unstable pelvis. Totally resolved now. I see him for maintenance every 2-3 months. He’s also resolved neck pain issues and recurring headaches in DH and helped numerous friends I’ve recommended him to. But I also saw a chiropractor in the past who was awful so make sure you research to find a good one and preferably get a recommendation. I think the really good ones might be quite rare.

Osteopath did wonders for me.

Tried a chiropractor first and really wish I hadn’t bothered.

Chiropractic is pseudoscientific nonsense. You should go read up on the history of it.

evidence says that physio is better supported for lower back pain. It does depend to some degree on the specific nature of your problem, but chiro isn't supported for any of them. The best thing physio will do for you is work on building your core muscle strength to take the stress off your spine.

Chiropractic has a vast and strong evidence base for helping back pain. In the UK it is classified as primary health care, is accredited and all chiropractors are required for to be licensed by the GCC (equivalent to medical GMC).

It is astonishing low risk and considered widely as a conservative intervention.

Any good chiropractor will be able to adapt their care to the individual (ie: lighter, firmer and most importantly safe and appropriate).

The primary focus is on improving function of the nervous system, which controls movement in the joints and tone in muscles.

It’s definitely not a pseudoscience. Not sure about Osteopaths.

Chiro plus physio seems to be a very powerful combination of care for many individuals, perhaps consider both.

Great convo ladies. I personally hated physio tried 3 different ones nothing but useless. First private physio was rough old man second was nhs barely touched me and gave a work sheet third private and she was as stupid as a planK of wood/ physio also crack well the lady told me she does she does adjustments which are BS. Wish all physios worked the same way when it comes to back issues. Il try an osteo next