All

I guess the culmination of commuting, working at a computer and mountain biking have taken their respective tolls; stiffness in the neck, shoulders and lower back.

Where would you go to get treated? Favoured choices seem to be:

- Physiotherapist
- Osteopath
- Chiropracter

Anyone got experience of being treated for the above symptoms using any of these methods?

Cheers
Kav

 

I've tried all three in my time, none were a cure but Physio lasted the longest.

 

I've just finished three months of physio for back pain caused by damaged and worn discs in the upper and lower back. For the last 4 sessions my physio has used western (medical) acupuncture on the area and the difference has been amazing, I'm now virtually free of back pain and when I do get it it goes very quickly.

In the past I've used an osteopath and a chiropractor, the latter giving very good results after a long period of treatment but nothing has compared to the results from the acupuncture after just 4 sessions. My physio says that I do respond to it very well

For me the acupuncture is the best treatment I've had and I will definitely go back to the physio for more should I need it in the future. Not only does it make the back pain go away it makes you feel really chilled out and happy after, it affects the seratonin levels in your brain apparently

 

...and an Alexander Technique course to improve your posture for future.

 

Am having Acupuncture at the moment for a long standing problem (see previous thread). 4th session coming up on Friday. Tried a chiropractor in the early stages but to be frank, he bruised me and left me feeling in more pain.
Although the pain is almost unbearable in the mornings, the acupuncture does seem to be giving me some relief. Am going to stick with it for a while longer. Good luck.

 

Another vote for Alexander Technique, although it's not a short-term fix.

Another longterm solution would be something like Yoga or Pilates practice. I've got a knackered back (degenerate lumbar discs) which used to cause problems all the time, and laid me out flat for a couple of months a few years ago. I saw a chiropractor regularly for ages, which helped a lot, but the whole thing was unstable and kept going back out again. Alexander Technique also helped but it was a slow improvement. After 2 years of Yoga, these days it's pretty much not a problem any more - I washed 3 cars on Saturday, without breaking a sweat and with not so much as a twinge.

 

Thanks all - much appreciated.

Cheers
Kav