[Obi-Wan is lost...]

I've written a spiel on back pain, aimed at doctors and clued-up patients here.  It has some (basic) exercises that might be worth trying.

I love this forum! Even our lurkers have MSc's! Good work Duncan.  Interesting stuff.

[Johnny Brown]

Ditto - very good. Reassuring to know that the 'management' I've stumbled into over the last three years is pretty much exactly what you recommend.

I can add that the best way to get me going on a bad morning is ibuprofen, strong black coffee and yoga.

[Stubbs]

I can add that the best way to get me going on a bad morning is ibuprofen, strong black coffee and yoga.

I wonder if there are any gastric specialists lurking 

[Houdini]

Too right.

I would be very afraid of such an early AM diet.  Ulcers/stomach cancers.  I hope you take them after food.

[Johnny Brown]

Jeez! This is only very occasionally, and yes its with breakfast. Which bit is going to give me cancer/ ulcers?

[Houdini]

Ibuprofen is bad shit.  Nasty for your stomach lining (but I believe OK w/ food).  Anything that forces your stomach to produce XS HCL may result in ulcers.   

Coffee - very acidic on an empty stomach.  Ever wondered why you'll shit after an espresso on an empty stomach?  It's poison; albeit a cool one.   Rather like magic mushrooms: brain says wooooooo - guts say poooooo.

Too much chilli is linked w/ oesophagal cancer . . .    You can't win.

(Incidentally, I have occassional trouble keeping XTC in my tummy.  Insto-boff!  I shelve it now  )

[Houdini]

I shelve it now 

No I don't 

[Johnny Brown]

Hmm, cancer is chillis, who mentioned chillis? Bit alarmist there Houd...

[butters]

Coffee - very acidic on an empty stomach.

Too much chilli is linked w/ oesophagal cancer . . .    You can't win.

I think you are in serious danger of sounding like a Teutonic version of the Daily Mail here Houdini... 

Still by eating all the chillis at least you don't have to worry about stomach ulcers before you die!

bluebrad

[fatdoc]

Biomechanics  / massage therapy / chiro are not available on the NHS.

They are, just called physiotherapy (substitute manipulation for chiro).  I try and avoid becoming embroiled in these kind of threads, but I am slightly disappointed that a pain doctor is not aware of this.
The traditional philosophy behind chiro. is clearly wrong, especially including the 'bones out of alignment' stuff, as most chiros. I have spoken with agree.  Equally clearly, manipulation is very helpful for many people with back pain but the brand of the manipulator does not matter (UKBEAM trial: 1000 people manipulated by physios., chiros or osteos.  All treatments equally effective, all a little better than good GP care).

To the OP: there are good 'uns and bad 'uns of all stripes and my advice is to go to whoever comes well-recommended locally, once your GP has cleared you for take-off.  Whoever you see should be giving you advice on how to look after yourself and exercises to do, not just clicking your spine, taking your money and telling you to come back next week.  There is no evidence that 'preventative' manipulation decreases the chance of a recurrence.

I've written a spiel on back pain, aimed at doctors and clued-up patients here.  It has some (basic) exercises that might be worth trying.
 

Hello mate... good info

But: try to get seen quickly enough for acute sports injuries to get back to sport rapidly and effectively via the NHS.
 Post code lotterys may get you good service, more often than not though.

 I've no issue with physio.. in fact I see various physios for my ailing body. What the therapist is called (massage therapist, physio or chiro) means nothing, getting rapid access means everything. The NHS as a rule does not offer the sort of care that sports peeps need, whether it should do is another matter.

In more instances than not you'll have to pay for prompt, and thus more effective therapy.

[Jaspersharpe]

The way I see it, bouldering is not an expensive sport at all and physio costs (or whatever treatment you choose to pay for) are just an incidental expense of the sport. And, as discussed on other threads, if you have a good physio then it's not exactly a big expense for the benefit you receive from it either.

Sorry, that's terribly written but you get the idea.

[fatdoc]

The way I see it, bouldering is not an expensive sport at all and physio costs (or whatever treatment you choose to pay for) are just an incidental expense of the sport. And, as discussed on other threads, if you have a good physio then it's not exactly a big expense for the benefit you receive from it either.

Sorry, that's terribly written but you get the idea.

i agree, bouldering is basically free

[Houdini]

Coffee - very acidic on an empty stomach.

Too much chilli is linked w/ oesophagal cancer . . .    You can't win.

I think you are in serious danger of sounding like a Teutonic version of the Daily Mail here Houdini... 

Still by eating all the chillis at least you don't have to worry about stomach ulcers before you die!

bluebrad

Blah blah

Researchers at The Yale University of Medicine concluded in 1994 that Chilli Pepper consumption may cause increased risk of stomach cancer. Compared to nonconsumers of Chili Peppers, consumers had an increased risk of stomach cancer (odds ratio 5.49; 95%). Among consumers, there was a highly significant trend of increasing risk with increasing self-rated level of Chilli Pepper consumption (high, medium, or low). That said, the study found that "definite conclusion is not warranted" because there was no assesment of dose relationship.


Another recent study by The Mexico National Institute of Public Health found higher rates of gastric cancer in people with high Chilli intake (9-25 Jalapenos a day!). However no clinical evidence was found that it was the Chillies that were causing the increase in cancer.


Excessive consumption of anything, especially cock, causes cancer.  It's a fact.  I can't be arsed to provide a link for that shit there, google yourself. One day all anecdotal evidence will be eliminated by thorough research.

[Houdini]

I know a man who drinks 2L of coke a day.  He also takes prescription antacid tablets/chalk.

[Houdini]

Sorry.  Physio, Osteo or Chiro?

Physio, for me (Chiropractors are sadists).

[guru]

physio, osteo or chiro?
i personally prefere osteo (i work with too) but the difference is often due to the person not ever to the qualification (even if they are not equivalent). so, it's a double problem 
i suggest to trust to the person you go to and simply verify the results. finding the reason of body problems is not an easy question. you sometimes feel better after a treatment, but you come back to pain in a few days. this is like take a pill.. but much more expensive!

[SA Chris]

So. Been to two physio appointments. Went to same practise, but saw a different person each time (not a good sign?). First lass was pretty vague in diagnosis, saying I had "pulled something" in lower back, and then proceeded to run the whole host of treatments; acupuncture, heat (lamp), ultrasound, Electric Shock Treatment (or whatever that machine is called), massage etc. and gave me some exercises to do, which I have done. The one I saw on Tuesday gave a bit more specific diagnosis (although I can't remember what she said it was!) and also said I stand too straight and overtension the muscles that run up next to my spine (name of these eludes me too). She also opted for acupuncture and heat treatment (electric blanket) and gave me some different exercises to do. I have been doing them for two days now, and to be honest it doesn't feel much better.


I did go and see a GP, not expecting much, but he managed to surprise me as to how unhelpful he was. He said I should "see somebody". I asked him who was best and what he would recommend? He said either an Osteo or a Chiro, whichever I preferred. He also said I can get an NHS Physio for treatment. The earliest appointment I could get was 1st June.

Have now made an appointment with a recommended osteo at lunchtime tomorrow in a last ditch attempt to get it sorted.

Thanks for all the help and advice all.

[Johnny Brown]

In my experience you can tell very quickly if they're any good or not, whatever the discipline, by their touch. Unfortunately you're generally committed by then.

[Jaspersharpe]

They do sound fucking useless. Hope you have more luck with the osteo.

[SA Chris]

Just got back from the osteo. He took my back like a concertina, but produced impressive glockenspiel noises from it. Feels loads better now, much looser and not hurting as much, but proof will come in the morning.