Basically, I've got a bunch of aches and pains that I've lived with for a long while. Shoulder, neck, thoracic as well as lower back… I'm kind of used to it, but also kind of sick of it… I'm only 33, but I feel a lot older! I think a lot of my issues relate to very poor flexibility, but that's just a guess on my part…

So who's best placed to sort me out? Chiropractor, Osteopath? Homeopath? Physiotherapist? Doctor/GP? Someone else?

I know this is gonna start an argument, but don't FFS see a Chiropractor – they are quacks who'll rob you blind.

Physio would be the way I'd go

There is nothing that the chiro or osteo can do that a physio cant.

riding that frankenbike of yours is the problem …

I know this is gonna start an argument, but don't FFS see a Chiropractor – they are quacks who'll rob you blind.

Basically I agree with this statement, but I think it might be a bit more like acupuncture.

They've been around so long and have a lot of good press so they must be doing something right at least some of the time. However their description of what they are doing to help you is completely out of date and is proven to be wrong. The spine simply does not operate as Chiropractors suggest.

Much like acupuncture. I dont think many western people actually believe they have a flow of Chi to disrupt. But acupuncture does seem to work and they are studies starting to back this up.

Physio – mine has fixed various issues a number of times. Just needs some dedication on the exercises.

littlegirlbunny – Member
I know this is gonna start an argument, but don't FFS see a Chiropractor – they are quacks who'll rob you blind.

Physio would be the way I'd go

Depends who you see, some are physios or chiros or osteopaths are either very good or very bad.

Best getting a diagnosis from GP, specialists and the above before any treatment.

They've been around so long and have a lot of good press so they must be doing something right

No – they're quacks, pure and simple. They got a foothold when conventional medicine involved trepanning and leeches, and got popular by nature of not killing people. See also, Homeopathy.

Rather than ask what type of practitioner to see, ask if anyone's got any individual recommendations near where you live. You can get good and bad types of each, and there's a lot of overlap between the approaches of different people from different disciplines.

Personally, I'd be tempted to start with an osteopath because I had recurrent neck spasms for about 2 years which cuased all sorts of debilitating knock on issues. Went to see an ostepath on a personal recommendation (I've found out since that he's very highly regarded within the profession), he sorted me out in one visit and I was hugely impressed with his knowledge, perception and the skill of his manipulations. I'm a complete layman, but sometimes you can just tell when someone really knows what they're doing.

I'm aware that I could have had a similar experience with a very good Chiro or a very good Physio, and I could be on here talking about a different personal preference.

I wouldn't bother with a GP, though. You could get lucky, but by definition, they're generalists, and might even just give you some painkillers and point to the notice board outside with the local Osteo/chiro/physio anyway!

Good luck!

No – they're quacks, pure and simple. They got a foothold when conventional medicine involved trepanning and leeches, and got popular by nature of not killing people. See also, Homeopathy.

Sure the Chiropractors might be quacks but the spinal manipulations may help in some cases with back problems more by luck then anything else. Plus many Chiropractors now recommend the same exercises and core strengthening that pyhsios recommend for back problems.

Totally agree with the statement ! 🙂

I can recommend a ver good Trepanist. 🙂

And do something! Sounds like you've been putting it off for a bit. I know I did.

If you see someone who knows what they're doing, they should be able get to the root of the problem and help you sort yourself out. It might be something quite simple in one area that's causing compensation and stresses everywhere else.

ostepath, then get to a regular yoga class…

I'm with Nedrapier – but then I'm an Osteopath. There are good & bad examples of all professions, the trick is to find a good one that suits you. Whoever you see should be suggesting things for you to do outside the appointments. Steer clear of anyone claiming it's all because 'a bone's out of place' & they will 'put it back in'. Try yoga (I go to an Iyengar class), but think about trying to do it better rather than further. Finally consider Structural Integration, it's a course of treatments which is intended to give a greater general sense of freedom of movement rather than attempting to solve specific issues.

Chiropractor is latin for Spine Wizard 😉

riding that frankenbike of yours is the problem …

You might be on to something there, it can be frickin brutal on the back, absolutely no give whatsoever in the rear!

+1 for not a bloody chiropractor; I spent £150 and ended up just as bad as when I started, thankfully I didn't fall for all that 'Oh you must book in for at least 10 sessions, it's an ongoing treatment' rubbish. I asked about excercises and stretches on my first visit, but was told that they would be ineffective until he'd managed to correct x y and z.
Charlatans…

+1 for physios; at least they have a recognised training and a regulatory body.

I'd try and find a sports physiotherapist preferably one recommended by someone you know and trust.

I'm lucky enough to have a long time friend who's a sports physiotherapist adn when I have aches and pains he usually sorts me out fairly quickly

Another one saying NOT A CHIRO. Go and see your doctor.

I went to see one after my doctor was useless. The chiro was recommended to me, and I thought perhaps it was doing me a bit of good. I was in enough pain to keep me off the bike, and it was doing my head in.

Eventually went to the doctor for a second opinion (first Doc obviously thought I was malingering), and he referred me to a physio. The physio sessions and exercises made a big difference and very quickly, whereas with the Chiro it seemed to be a very gradual thing.

I realised pretty quickly that any differences I thought the chiro was making were purely down to the placebo effect.

And of course, the physio was free on the NHS, whilst the Chiro was charging. Ultimately, it's not in their interest to fix you, even if their system did work… I remember at the time I was doing a lot of work on my car, and the chiro also reckoned I needed these very special carlos fandango kneepads, a snip at £200 a set 😆

Incidentally, I'm in the same position. I get aches and stiffness around my neck and shoulders, sometimes it's barely noticable and sometimes it's tending towards agony; usually it's just background noise. I've had it for -years- and never got around to seeing anyone because, well, it's never been serious enough to push me into going.

In my case, I think it's genetic; I walk with a natural slouch, my dad's exactly the same. Years of sitting pushing buttons in front of a screen probably hasn't helped either.

YOGA! (or similar) In my view, and a good few of the experts I've seen over the years, is that there is no quick fix. Your lifestyle builds in these aches and pains with bad posture etc.

At best the quick fixes, that cost hundreds, fix you for a short while. Once you stop them you revert back and get the problem all over again.

Join a beginners yoga class. It will probably be 8 to 10 lessons, over a couple of months. By the end of it you'll not only feel better, you'll have a set of excercises that you can use at home for free.

Job done.

body transplant.

Buy a wave stool – http://www.waveseat.com/

If you sit at a desk and ache, it'll sort you. Ace.

No – they're quacks, pure and simple

Don't be so flippin daft…
If I go to a GP with any sort of skeletal or muscular ache the most I can hope for is a prescription for ibuprofen..

A chiropractor has in depth knowledge of bones and joints and posture and what's more is prepared to investigate the problem and then take practical steps to solve it..

On the down side they will then charge you god knows how much for a load of pointless follow up appointments..

Well, I've had things cured by an osteo that were worsened by a physio. As said about though, a good whatever is better than a bad "insert what people recommend".

Doctor who I saw in hospital referred me to a chiropracter for whiplash (i had the choice between physio and chiro but he thought chiro would probably work better)

It was like magic (in a good way!) I think for very specific conditions it can help, and my chiro never even hinted that it would treat anything but my neck/back problem, didn't book me in for a set number of sessions etc.

What I found was that the chiropractic treatment meant I was then able to do the sorts of exercises needed to strengthen the muscles long term so the problem didn't reoccur. I think if I hadn't done that strengthening alongside then I would have kept going back forever, but equally if I'd never seen the chiropracter then the exercise i needed to do was either impossible or too painful.

Don't be so flippin daft…

a) don't be obtuse
b) what noise does a duck make?

Chiropractors aren't back specialists, they use "spine manipulation" to treat all sorts of unrelated problems. It's all based on vitalism and other unscientific woo.

A chiropractor has in depth knowledge of bones and joints and posture

That's an osteopath you're thinking of.

There's a comprehensive summary of chiropracty here if it helps any.

A chiropractor has in depth knowledge of bones and joints and posture
That's an osteopath you're thinking of.

Think you'll find that its a physio that has this.

silly billies

o0O(cougar = fred)

Think you'll find that its a physio that has this.

That too. Ahem. (-:

Who's Fred?

Obi, have you scowled at me before, possibly at the junction of a single track road and a trail end? If so, I hope you're doing ok in your training/job… 🙂

loads of upper body aches and pains, you sound like me. i put it down to 25 years of cycling causing poor posture and flexibilty. do you take any other form of excercise? i started swimming a couple of years ago, it has been a great help. i feel straightened out and relaxed after a session in the pool.

OBI – stop saying phsios can do everthing that and osteopath can do – it simply incorrect – especially as lage parts of osteopathy are bunkum acording to western medicine. A physio can do some of what an osteopath doews but by no means all nor should thay attempt to as it is not a part of their training. ( unless they do significant further training)

there is very little objective evidence for back manipulation and having had all types my preference is for Osteopathy – but its a good practicioner you need as much as anything else.

crikey – no, might have scowled at your north american mate though. Course is going great and is the best thing i have ever done. Cheers.

TJ – such as what?

🙂 nice one fella, good to know you're still here.

"lage parts of osteopathy are bunkum" … "my preference is for Osteopathy"

So, your preference is for bunkum? Wut?

I see you are in London. I've had a lot of success seeing a chap called Michael from Kentish Town Physiotherapy Group. He's a cyclist and gave me some good stretches/exercises, did some deep tissue work and some acupuncture like thing that stimulates the muscles at trigger points to get them to relax.

Bloody painful but I'm functional for the first time in years.

Chiropractor sorted me out. I do get cross when people knock them. I had years of pain, nobody else could work out why (GP, podiatrist, physio etc). All the clues were there.

Personal recommendation is always good as there are fraudsters out there including those who are registered, as I found out.

Good luck psychle!

Stop being such a man and get down to your GP*.

*After hearing about your little aches and minor niggles for ten minutes they'll ask you to get to the point and write you the Viagra prescription you're obviously too embarrassed to ask for.