Back trouble?!

Back trouble?

Does anyone out there think it's disgraceful that effective treatment for 'mechanical' back problems is not available on the NHS, and that (not all but most) doctors do not point suffering patients in the direction of those who could help?

3 weeks ago
To clarify 'mechanical' back problems - this is a term used by doctors to say - you have a back problem but we don't know why or what to do about it. There are complementary therapies out there who do know why and do know what to do about it. As for the 'hole' mentioned in one answer, whereby people feign a back problem - I absolutely agree - you can easily fool a doctor. However, you cannot fool the alternative therapists.

3 weeks ago
To ashan a - bet you're a doctor! Learn to live with it!!!! Utterly clueless.

3 weeks ago
To Casha1 - best of luck with the op. Hope yours is a problem that is correctable by operation.

3 weeks ago
To D D - I totally relate to you. Strongly recommend finding yourself a good osteopath (chiropracters would probably be a little rough for you). I was nearly completely bedbound, and written off by the doctors (ie you need to find yourself a nursing home for the rest of your life). My osteopath, bless his little cotton socks, worked out the problem and although I'm not 'cured' I am back on my feet and have some degree of functionality. Don't suffer when there is treatment available! Don't make my mistake - if I had ignored the doctors 10 years before getting into a bedbound state, and sought help elsewhere, it is highly likely I'd have been sorted out fairly quickly. The earlier you catch the problem, the better.

3 weeks ago
To Joanne - I had 8 weeks of physio - which caused an enormous amount of damage which years later is still a problem. Of all the stories I've heard (and these are many), I would estimate that physio is effective in about 5% of cases. If you have a very localised problem which isn't a 'referred' problem (ie something somewhere else in the body is causing the symptoms) physio can be very good. If not it seems it will either not help at all, or hurt you.

I don't know really what you meanby mechanical back problems but I was slightly horrified when I went to my dr around 6months ago with what turned out to be a damaged disc andhad to ask for physio. It got worse after I saw the dr and in a few days I could hardly walk, I luckily ended up with a fab physio who I saw for nearly 2 months, but I wouldn't have got that treatment had I not had the wherewithall to ask for it.