Osteopath Recommendation

Blucais

Hi Guys

I'd really appreciate peoples help with this.
I've recently had an MRI which showed 2 slipped discs which are sitting on a nerve, causing severe pain!
My doc wants has referred me to an orthopaedic specialist, but i may have to wait up to 6 weeks to be seen, i can't afford to be in this pain for that long, plus I really don't think he/she will be able to help me satisfactorily, they will most likely want to perform surgery!
So, i want to visit somebody myself, i was thinking a chiropractor or an osteopath, but can't make up my mind, I keep hearing conflicting stories about why i should and shouldn't see these people!
Basically i'm looking for personal recommendations. I've been looking up the guys in "The Joint" clinic in the Louis Fitzgerald, anybody ogt any experience?

Much appreciated!

Alan - In lots of pain :-(

COH

Teran Synge - 1 Merrion Square

offroadannie

Little John Centre in Walkinstown, I went to Chris
Went myself and also brought one of my kids

Snoopy1

Personally id do as the doctor says and see an orthapedic specialist.
I found Osteopaths to be no good.

atilladehun

I've been to plenty of ostepaths in my time. Some really good, some really bad. I've found Damien at http://www.dublinosteopathy.com/ on Nassau street to be really good. I'm a big fan of precision over power. A couple of the osteos I've been to have not been trained very well and haven't done much for me. Hope this helps.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Osteopaths are witch doctors, its not a medical profession. See an actual medical profession not a quack. (Sorry osteopaths but you know that true.)

curiousb

I have been to both over the years and wouldn't go to a chiropractor now.

But I do go to an osteopath, who has been great for my bad back over the years.

Simon Curtis is his name. Website here.

How helpful he would be for slipped discs I don't know, but I am sure he would be happy to discuss over the phone. He won't get you in for a consultation if he thinks he can't help you.

atilladehun

Tucker Powerful Boss wrote: »

Osteopaths are witch doctors, its not a medical profession. See an actual medical profession not a quack. (Sorry osteopaths but you know that true.)

Some are, they don't do proper training. The ones that have done a proper degree like this http://www.rmit.com/browse;ID=BP279 can help relive some pain and build you up to eliminate that pain.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

If they had proper training they would be called physiotherapists, Osteopathy is a dubious non science at best. We in Ireland should know you can get a degree in any crap you want, doesn't mean its not crap.

Go see a doctor or physiotherapist.

foxy06

Tucker Powerful Boss wrote: »

If they had proper training they would be called physiotherapists, Osteopathy is a dubious non science at best. We in Ireland should know you can get a degree in any crap you want, doesn't mean its not crap.

Go see a doctor or physiotherapist.

Ive had an osteopath relieve me from serious back pain over the years. Been 3 times in 10 years and he has always put me back together.

Patrick darcy in Bray. Would highly recommend.

jamesosul

There are some very ignorant and generalising comments in this thread saying that osteopaths are "witch doctors" and other such statements. Osteopaths have to study the body as intensively as any other therapist. At the end of the day anyone can pass exams but it does not mean they will necessarily be great at diagnosing and treating a patient. There are, however, people who have more of an innate understanding of the body. Some of these therapists may just have a certain mindset which will allow them to feel and understand where the problem is in ones body. The other issue with accepting anecdotal stories from people who "went to an osteopath and they were rubbish" is that it is completely biased. The expression "it takes two to tango" comes into play when you need to heal and recover your body. You can't go to an osteopath one or two times, and then rule them to be rubbish because you have not miraculously been healed . You have to participate in the session as much as them. You have to suspend your body to allow it to heal. A lot of the problems come from one not allowing their body to release a specific area which is causing dysfunction somewhere else.

Anyway, I believe if you get an Osteopath who has a very good understanding of what they're doing then you will be in very good hands. But remember, healing yourself generally requires you to change your lifestyle. You must eliminate ANYTHING that is not good for the injury. Good luck with everything!

Duck's hoop

Referring to osteopaths as witch doctors is a little OTT and belies an ignorance of the subject.

While living in France (where osteopathy is much more widely available and availed of) I used 2 osteopaths on several occasions, both of whom were outstanding in treating various injuries.

One of these guys was also a physio and in his role of osteo he worked with many of France's top winter sports athletes.

Many sports teams have official osteos who travel with athletes, I'm sure it's not to look cool they drag their 'quack' along with them.

Osteopathy treatment of athletes at elite level is pretty standard. Also there are many, many osteopaths who are also chartered physiotherapists.

bbam

I've had a chronic back condition for a long time and seen a few orthopaedic consultants and they will avoid surgery if at all possible..

Osteopaths, I've no experience but never heard anything positive.

Chiropractors on the other hand I've experience of, I thought it was worth a try. I went along without any real insight into their qualifications or anything.. IMO they are best avoided. They perform major manipulations of your spine having no insight into what is wrong other than your recount of your condition and what they can see, its like letting a blind man perform surgery.

I have a friend that was left with a permanent limp as one such "specialist" damaged a nerve in his back during a manipulation..

My advice is see only properly registered and trained professionals, some of the quack professions will try instant patient sadisfaction no matter what the actual risk is to your health..

I would include PhysicalTherapists in this group too, Physiotherapists are proper professionals, Physical Therapists are quacks !!

kevpants

Osteopathy is totally acceptable as far as a holistic approach goes. They can and do help.

Teran Synge is pretty much regarded the foremost Osteo in the country. If you drop his name to another Osteo they tend to agree.

Fireside Solicitor

I have low back that flares up every so often from going from a desk job to manual labour - nog a good idea in your mid40s! I was referred to Simon Curtis by a GP who used him himself and have found him really excellent. Had used a chiro who was very good a long time ago but didn't like the fact he didn't believe in the exercise aspect just crack your back and while it worked I just felt it couldn't be good for you long term even though he was very gentle!. I then tried an inexperienced Physio stupidly on my own although they were in a reputable clinic who really did more damage by prescribing a set of exercises by email without properly understanding the issue. A friend who played professional sport in U.K. And Australia had a look at the physio regime and said you would want to be quite fit in the first place to attempt it let alone be an injured desk jockey like myself and that he had also used an osteopath. I didn't even know what they did and thought it was all about diet! I found the osteopath approach to be somewhere in between the chiro and physio - a mix of adjustments, manipulation and exercise with no dramatic moves. I thought simon did a great job of explaining the issues, grills you thoroughly on how things are progressing or not and always remembers your details when you revisit not like the physio who couldn't wait to give you more stretches by email and a bill. My pro sport friend says the biggest thing to avoid is getting wrapped up in the physio industry - he had really bad sciatica and access to best physios but the Man City physio who he knew sent him to osteopath. Just my experience and I couldn't recommend Simon highly enough.