Back pain, knee pain - a pain in the ar**e and I'm fed up with it!! Advice so welcome

[mammabelleboo]

I don't want to sound all 'poor me' but I have sufferred with recurring back pain since my early teens so for 25 yrs or so now and I'm really fed up with it

I have tried various osteopaths and the like over the years. For the last 10 years I was seeing a lovely lady for reiki and deep massage and she seemed to keep me farily pain free and mobile with my monthly sessions. Sadly, a year ago, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer so has obviously had to give up her practise

So I was left wondering who to see...I left it a few months as I wasn't feeling too bad...but in the summer started to develop knee pain. I have always had clicky knees, but never any pain. It got so bad, I started to see a cranial osteopath who has been treating me for about 3 months. Despite the treatment, my knees, on the whole have still been painful and I am wondering if, at £40 per session which I am struggling to afford, it is worth it and whether to stop. My osteo says that she feels the treatment is helping and that some headway is being gained. She has said that I have had this condition for so long, I am not going to be straightened out overnight and to persevere. Cranial osteo works by gently manipulating the bones of the skull to realign the body. She says it could be because my body has been misalinged for so long, it's taking a while to adjust and that's why it feels uncomfortable. She also thinks my fear of excercise over the years (I have done none for fear of putting my back out) means I have no 'inner core' strength, ie weak tummy and back muscles are not helping to support my movements. All this seems to make some sense. I am getting pains I never had before - eg achy arms when carrying shopping.

Sorry if this is long and rambly but I need to set the scene for my question. Has anyone out there been in or are you in, the same boat? Are there any health professionals out there specialising in this field - should I persist with my current treatment? Am wondering if the deep body massage and reiki I used to receive would be more effective for my condition. If anyone can give me any advice and help, I'd be so grateful. I am just so fed up of living with pain and having to watch what I do (can't easily do gardeining, ride a bike, even wear high heels). I would love another child, but feel physically, I can't do it. Although, I had no paid during pregnancy or labour, my osteo feels that giving birth in stirrups (as I had compliclations) have contributed to my knee pain, so feel I can't go through childbirth again

If you have had similar pain, what do you do to manage it. Thanks for taking the time to read this post. x

Any digestive probs? Heard knee pain can be symptopm of coeliac disease? If not pilates can do wonders..many exercises done lying down...so no knee strain

Thanks ohme, for your reply. Apart from a bit of IBS which I have had for years, no awful probs in that area - my friend's dh has coeliac disease and his reactions to what he can't eat, from what I understand, are quite dramatic, so I think I'd know if I had that - but thanks for the thought. My osteo did suggest pilates which I am considering. Thanks x.

mammabelleboo; you might not necessarily know you had coeliac disease as the symptoms can be varied and more of a niggle than an out and out reaction.

I suffered with minor bowel and skin problems for years before being diagnosed at the age of 35 and was fobbed off with IBS by the doctor.

I would second the pilates for core stability exercises. I have problems with my core stability due to split abdominal muscles in pregnancy, and this can in turn cause problems with my lower back. Pilates makes things much stronger and is also a very relaxing way of exercising.

Regarding the knee pain a friend of mine suffered from knee pain for years before getting a pair of orthotic shoe insoles made as the probelm is actually with her feet but it puts strain on her knees. As long as she wears the orthotic insoles, her knee problem is gone. Not sure who you would see to get the insoles though....a podiatrist?

I hope that was of some help

Clicky knees - if you mean pain when you move and 'noises' in the knees - I've had it and now one of my kids has it too. She's been referred to a physiotherapist at the local hospital.

Physio will work on strengthening the muscles which support the knee for dd.

Can you see your GP about your problems?

I've been seeing a physio about my bad back and it's been brilliant. It's all about mobilising the joints and doing exercises to strengthen the supporting muscles. Felt like a creaky old woman a few weeks ago and now have lots of movement back.

Have you tried physio?

If your core stability is an issue, I bet good old NHS physio and daily yoga/pilates would do as much if not more for you than the cranial osteopathy. (I am not entirely convinced cranial osteopathy works for as many things as they make claims for). You could have transformed your health by Easter for less than most people spend on Easter eggs.

I think you could also do a lot worse than experiment with a Wii Fit board to get back into the exercise habit. There are stretches and yoga exercises on there that are very sensible, as well as very many fun stability exercises and aerobic work for the more ambitious. That's Christmas sorted, then ...