When your back might not be the cause of your back pain

[Jensen]

Thought this might help after reading about Homers back issues.
Few seasons ago I had a dull ache on the right side of my lower back, which would at times give me a tingle down the front of my thigh. The dull ache however was the main concern.
So I saw a physio which didn't help. Then saw a chiropractor who was useful and did help, but I thought I wasn't getting to the route cause. Then the magic came when I saw an osteopath, she was brilliant.
It turned out that my right foot arch had collapsed, resulting in my foot turning in which then put strain on my calf. This in turn put pressure on my lower back.
The solution was to get some insoles to support the arch. In addition I have to do a series of stretching my right leg and calf.
The osteopath was fantastic.

So in short your back pain might not necessarily be caused by your back.

 

[chrisd]

I did about 12 osteopath appointments where he insisted he was curing my back ache. I then insisted on a MRI scan and it turned out that both my hips were knackered. It isn't always what it seems causing the pain

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Cheers Jensen.

 

[duncan mackie]

Of course you could start out seeing a doctor in the first place...
Whilst a physio is more generalist than an osteopath who, in turn, is more generalist than the chiropractor; as a general rule it's best to start with a GP.

Cue numerous anecdotal evidence to the contrary...but then again no one has a story when the system works!

 

[Lazkir]

Of course you could start out seeing a doctor in the first place...
Whilst a physio is more generalist than an osteopath who, in turn, is more generalist than the chiropractor; as a general rule it's best to start with a GP.

Cue numerous anecdotal evidence to the contrary...but then again no one has a story when the system works!

That's because (where I am at least) the system is broken!
Took me two weeks to get a doctors appointment for my back, then a further seven weeks before I got a referral to the physio. After that it was another four weeks before I could get in to see them.
Having got there I felt reasonably happy that they seemed to have a good idea what the issue was and I happily followed their exercise regime, only for it to wreck my left shoulder (it's complicated).

On my next scheduled visit they really weren't interested in what had happened to my shoulder and told me I'd have to get another referral off my doctor for that problem.

Next doctors appointment I can get? The fifth of January 2018!!!

Waste of bloody time and now I can't play golf at all!

 

[User 105]

The body is a complicated mechanism, very rarely is the cause what you think it is. I'm luck I've got a really good guy I see. He's does Ostio, Physio and Chiro as well.

Most of the times when I have a problem with my shoulder or back it's actually something else that is tight pulling my shoulder or back out of alignment, not by much, but enough that with the repetition of a golf swing it's going to cause pain sooner rather than later.

My guys is always really good and shows me what's going on on his skellington with the tendons and muscles to cause the problem.

 

[MendieGK]

i've seen an osteopath a number of times this year and he has helped me massively. From what i've heard from a number of people in the area, Physios and Osteopaths are much more aligned in their methods than a chiropractor.

 

[Fish]

My missus says on a regular basis something about a pain in her arse, but I’ve never seen her in pain 😜

 

[duncan mackie]

That's because (where I am at least) the system is broken!
Took me two weeks to get a doctors appointment for my back, then a further seven weeks before I got a referral to the physio. After that it was another four weeks before I could get in to see them.
Having got there I felt reasonably happy that they seemed to have a good idea what the issue was and I happily followed their exercise regime, only for it to wreck my left shoulder (it's complicated).

On my next scheduled visit they really weren't interested in what had happened to my shoulder and told me I'd have to get another referral off my doctor for that problem.

Next doctors appointment I can get? The fifth of January 2018!!!

Waste of bloody time and now I can't play golf at all!

The initial posts are about 'referring yourself' and private treatments.
In your case the 7 week delay sounds about normal for most NHS non life threatening specialist referrals (not good but normal).
Does sound like you got the back fixed though....sorry to hear about the shoulder.

 

[Doh]

Jose Maria Olazabal had a back issue that nearly made him give up on his career some time ago, turns out it was a problem with his foot. So yes I agree with you Jenson things are not always what the seem.

 

[Lazkir]

The initial posts are about 'referring yourself' and private treatments.
In your case the 7 week delay sounds about normal for most NHS non life threatening specialist referrals (not good but normal).
Does sound like you got the back fixed though....sorry to hear about the shoulder.

Yeah I did go very slightly OT there from the OP, but I was just venting about the 'see a doctor' comment.. having said that, it does seem that a lot to do with my bad back is a posture issue that has left the right side weakened, hence the exercises that appear to be working well.

Due to speed dialling constantly from 8 am in the mornings I've managed to pick a cancelled slot for today... happy days!

I never remember things being this bad though tbh.

 

[Curls]

Good point. And for those of us who sit at a desk your hamstrings can become shortened, which in turn can lead to pain in your lower back. I figured this out season before last (after every round I'd need heat on my lower back to ease it out) and started doing stretches whenever I thought of it. Was pretty much pain-free last season.

 

[DCB]

Interesting range of posts here with views from both sides of the fence. It is also interesting that so many place faith in Osteopaths and Chiropractors to relieve them of their back pain. Whilst there is no doubt that a session will help reduce pain or discomfort it isn't a way to find out the underlying cause, it's a way of dealing with symptoms. Given that both these are deemed as complimentary or alternative medicines it is brave man that puts his trust in these alone. I was that brave man once, but, no more. There is too much to go wrong with your back and spinal cord and the outcome could be life changing. First point of contact has to be your GP.