 Poster: A snowHead
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
@foxtrotzulu, Their training is such, that any such referral will be taken more seriously than "Mi mum says I have Necrotizing Fibromyalgia, or possibly Anal Glaucoma."  |
It may indeed be taken more seriously in the same way that it would be taken less seriously if you said "Some American teenager on FB said he thought I had kuru". But neither the American teenager, your mum or an osteopath are making any sort of 'referral'. They are all just saying 'I think you've got x, go and see a doctor.' Nobody is suggesting that osteopaths don't have more medical knowledge, in some areas, than someone with no medical knowledge at all. (I would hope that they would be better at diagnosing a broken leg than I would). However, you were implying some sort of special/official/recognised status when it comes to osteopaths' referrals/diagnoses and I haven't heard any evidence to suggest that's true. I rather suspect that a significant proportion of GPs will regard anything an osteo or chiropractor says with a large pinch of salt.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@foxtrotzulu, When it comes to their skill set...I have found they have more in-depth medical knowledge than a GP....But I've actually been to some. 
This has gone as far as it can go, so I respectfully (for everybody else's sanity), bow out.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Old Fartbag,
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This has gone as far as it can go, so I respectfully (for everybody else's sanity), bow out.
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Agreed.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@foxtrotzulu, on the contrary, many I know are quite respectful of an osteopath's opinion, and even visit them for treatment themselves. MY FIL was a member of the Sports Medicine Association which also included many professional team doctors from football, rugby and cricket. He used to attend and lecture at the conference each year. He would now be 90 and retired 15 years ago, so I'm not talking about something new.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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As for student finance, it is available, and you apply through UCAS.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Hells Bells, i have myself seen an osteo, at the college in London many years ago. Lower back spasm, helped as much as any manipulation would.
I am sure there are many skilled osteos, but it does come with unscientific baggage. Which, in this day and age, suggests to me a level of credulity that makes me doubt their general capability.
I have also seen a chiropractor, when I was younger and more foolish. Similar problem, similar treatment, similar result.
Doesn’t mean I’d do it again.
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If back problems persist, I believe it's essential to get an MRI scan done. I had chronic sciatica flare up for the first time ever about ten years ago. GP said it "should" wear off and prescribed pain killers. I tried an Osteopath who within 5 minutes diagnosed what it was and treated it a few times -££££. Made no difference. It was getting worse and worse. GP then suggested acupuncture. Made no difference. Eventually after months of waiting and suffering I had an MRI scan. I was told I had a spur of bone growing off my spine into my sciatic nerve. I was told pain management or surgery were the only options. Nothing else was going to make a blind bit of difference.
At times, the pain was so bad I couldn't work. I had a CT guided epidural injections into my spine (the most painful thing I've ever had); which gave me relief for about 2-3 months. I had four of them over a space of about 18 months. After the fourth injection I was told I couldn't have any more and would have to have surgery. They cut the piece of bone off my spine and it cured the problem.
If I hadn't had the MRI scan, I could have been wasting time and money on osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncture and physiotherapy for goodness knows how long; when none of it would have helped; in fact some of it could have compounded the problem.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Awdbugga, That is exactly why I made the comment earlier in the thread, about getting a scan and medical intervention if the problem continues. All these people are fine for an acute problem, not a chronic one, with a more sinister underlying cause.
I went through the same as you and it took me far too long to do the right thing....had injections, but only surgery worked. Atm. I'm worried that I've upset my lower back again.....so am doing gentle rehab type exercises and hoping for the best. Skiing in Jan will be the Acid Test.
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| foxtrotzulu wrote: |
@Awdbugga, Sciatica is truly horrible. I can sympathise. I also had caudal epidurals into my spine. Happily, it was under sedation.  Instant cure (Well, sort of instant. I felt so much better that I vaulted a gate 24 hours after the epidural which set me right back to the start. I had another epidural about a month later and have been sciatica free for about three years now. Thank God. |
Believe me, you were lucky you had the epidural under sedation. By far and away the worst pain I've ever endured. They had me strapped to a table in a short doughnut shaped scanner. Apparently the injection had to be guided to within millimetres of the correct spot. The doctor then leaned on me with all his weight to stop me moving. He shoved the needle in slowly and then looked at the monitor, wiggled the needle around, looked at the monitor, pushed it in a bit more, looked at the monitor again, repeating the process god know how many times. I was close to tears. After about ten minutes and numerous attempts he said he couldn't get it in the right position and would have to start again; was I happy for him to do so.  Well I'd pretty much reached the point were I could no longer work, so it was sh*t or bust. So in he went again. Thankfully he managed to get to the spot a lot quicker the second time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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When I was a reasonably competitive distance runner back in the 80s and 90s, I often went to see an osteopath in preference to a physio, for acute injuries. Some physios just seemed reluctant to be very 'hands-on' and use friction massage and other manual techniques to break down scar tissue around injuries and seemed to rely on equipment, like ultrasound, instead. The osteopathic approach usually seemed to work best for the lower leg injuries I experienced.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
@Awdbugga, That is exactly why I made the comment earlier in the thread, about getting a scan and medical intervention if the problem continues. All these people are fine for an acute problem, not a chronic one, with a more sinister underlying cause.
I went through the same as you and it took me far too long to do the right thing....had injections, but only surgery worked. Atm. I'm worried that I've upset my lower back again.....so am doing gentle rehab type exercises and hoping for the best. Skiing in Jan will be the Acid Test. |
Ditto. I aggravated my back a few months ago, trying to get fit for the Birthday Bash, and had a flare up of sciatica. Nowhere near as bad as before and the cause was different. Thankfully it seems to have settled down. Hope yours settles down before January for you.
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@ralphster, when you say "...ping. my lower back went", do you mean you were feeling flexible and suddenly you became stiff and painful in the back?
If that is the case, then 4 weeks should be more than adequate to recover. Initially, there is not very much you can do about it, than let your body heal the twang you did by overdoing it. So rest, perhaps some ice, and maybe some compression. I personally rarely have any NSAIDS on the basis that I can usually bear the pain, and there is rarely sufficient inflammation to warrant their use. They are not very good for the lining of your gut.
Try using something like this to avoid making it worse (it will provide compression of lower back muscles)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adjustable-Neoprene-Double-Pull-Lumbar-Support-Lower-Back-Belt-Brace-Pain-Relief/272559280045?var=571660750995&hash=item3f75cc8fad:m:mqZ9n8ettwVyucEVVxcFsxw
After a few days rest, a trip to the sauna and steam room should help flush blood into the area (assuming you are not completely crippled). If you are unable to walk, or are in extreme pain after a few days rest, with no sign of improvement, best see a GP.
I once had a g/f who did this when gardening. She was lying on the floor in agony, and complaining of a sore back. Not being an expert in these things I called an ambulance, after checking this was necessary. The ambulance came, and she was still lying on the floor. They took her off to A&E and she returned later having been told she had sciatica and was to rest for a week. Now, it could have been anything, as there was no history of this type of reaction to gardening.
What you want to avoid doing, is the action you did when it went ping. FOR A LONG LONG TIME. Find a gentler way of exercising your lower back!
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You know it makes sense.
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| Awdbugga wrote: |
| Old Fartbag wrote: |
@Awdbugga, That is exactly why I made the comment earlier in the thread, about getting a scan and medical intervention if the problem continues. All these people are fine for an acute problem, not a chronic one, with a more sinister underlying cause.
I went through the same as you and it took me far too long to do the right thing....had injections, but only surgery worked. Atm. I'm worried that I've upset my lower back again.....so am doing gentle rehab type exercises and hoping for the best. Skiing in Jan will be the Acid Test. |
Ditto. I aggravated my back a few months ago, trying to get fit for the Birthday Bash, and had a flare up of sciatica. Nowhere near as bad as before and the cause was different. Thankfully it seems to have settled down. Hope yours settles down before January for you. |
Thank you.
When I read your description of getting your epidural, it reminded me of what I went through, before going for my fusion.
In order to make sure they were fusing the most painful joint (there were potential issues on several levels)...they stuck a Long needle into each of my Lumber Discs (Discogram). The one that caused by far the most pain (L3/L4 with me), was the culprit. There was little in the way of pain management, as they needed the feedback from me. Sticking a needle into a damaged disc, was the most painful thing I have ever experienced.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Old Fartbag,
Ouch! I bet they got the feedback they wanted, loud and clear. Yep, they certainly are painful injections.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Awdbugga wrote: |
@Old Fartbag,
Ouch! I bet they got the feedback they wanted, loud and clear. Yep, they certainly are painful injections. |
They got feedback, all right.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The only exercise you need to do to be able to ski to a reasonable standard is cycling. Or swimming. Simples.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Once better I'd also look into work to improve your hip flexibility. The more fluidly you move at the hip, the less strain on the lower back. If like many of use you drive a desk every day, its likely you'll could have inactive glutes and tight hip flexors/piriformis/IT band, all of which can contribute to lower back problems.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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[quote="fullenglish] If like many of use you drive a desk every day, its likely you'll could have inactive glutes and tight hip flexors/piriformis/IT band, all of which can contribute to lower back problems.[/quote]
Too right!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| fullenglish wrote: |
| Once better I'd also look into work to improve your hip flexibility. The more fluidly you move at the hip, the less strain on the lower back. If like many of use you drive a desk every day, its likely you'll could have inactive glutes and tight hip flexors/piriformis/IT band, all of which can contribute to lower back problems. |
Fully agree....and I'd include Iliopsoas/Quads and Hamstrings.
It is worth finding out which are the tightest and work on those the most.....through stretching/foam roller/tennis ball.
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@ralphster -- prob no help now, but when you are unbroken again include some Yoga or Pilates in your training schedule. It'll even improve your skiing
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There is a good book out there by a New Zealand guy called 'Treat your own back' . It has helped me a great deal. I do a few simple exercises when I feel any back pain starting and it drives it away. Well worth taking a look at.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Wow, loads of good advice. Thanks all. I'm cutting out sugars, processed food, salt etc as much as I can but do have the occasional treat.
Squats are now off my agenda, I want to look at yoga, I'll continue with cycling and spin classes and general all round fitness.
I did see an NHS physio, who massage locally and used a Chinese suction cup to "lift" the layers of my lower back. I feel better although not quiet right yet but certainly mobile.
I've learnt my lesson, and @ster made a good point, I do drive a desk, and get this. I came out of the shower the other day (well, it is christmas) and I looked at my herculean physique and thought, poo-poo my glutes have dropped, so yes, I do think poor gluet strength is a key factor so I'm working on my but, gut and back
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I'm a GP, as a rule when in spasm - lots of analgesia and could try massage. Try heat and cold. Keep moving as able - stationary muscles will tighten. Muscle relaxants may be useful.
As you get better physio/ yoga/ stretching/ strength. Could see physio or personal trainer.
I wouldn't do osteopath or chiropractor. Many of my patients love them but a few have horror stories. Do what works for you.
Usual mechanism is tight hamstrings overpower back and pain ensues. Without seeing you hamstring stretches and planks / pushups are generally wise in long term.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I find cobra pose is a good test of how well the small of your back muscles have recovered. Until you are flexible enough to do cobra pose without wincing and pain, rest.
Then cat/cow alternates, downward dog on the stairs and cobra alternates putting the ball of foot on the edge of the bottem step. By doing this you can stretch your calf muscles much deeper, as well as hamstrings.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| janny wrote: |
| The only exercise you need to do to be able to ski to a reasonable standard is cycling. Or swimming. Simples. |
+1
I used to do running but a sore achilles stopped that 6 weeks before I went skiing last season, although I'm fairly active in my job, I found that if I didn't do any "training" before a ski trip, my legs would ache like hell after the first day. Even quite short runs were enough to "vaccinate" my legs against the aching ie I got the aching out of the way before the skiing.
Cycling is all I do now, no aching legs even after skiing Canadian double blacks back to back all afternoon. I've thought of doing spin classes at the local gym just for a social event more than fitness but most gyms I have been to are too warm and I end up sweating lie a pig and feeling dreadful.
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| ralphster wrote: |
| , and @ster made a good point, I do drive a desk, and get this. I came out of the shower the other day (well, it is christmas) and I looked at my herculean physique and thought, poo-poo my glutes have dropped, so yes, I do think poor gluet strength is a key factor so I'm working on my but, gut and back |
Can't claim credit as that was fullenglish's point but do heartly agree.
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