back specialists

[erik]

Has anyone got any advice about back specialists?
My lower back gets sore really easily, the doc suggested I go to James Watt, a muskuloskeletal specialist in Takapuna, but because my sore back isn't due to an accident, I can't get acc and I don't have health insurance. So they said the first appointment would be up to $195 and the follow up appointments would be $65 to $95. It seems kinda expensive to me, especially seeing as I'm a student.

I tried phoning some other place in Remuera to compare the price and they said a first appointment would be $270!

I've tried osteopaths before, but I think I want to know what's actually wrong with my back and what the osteopath said I didn't understand.

Any suggestions? I just thought I'd check before forking out $195 for 1/2 hr (or maybe it was an hour?) to see what the guy has to say.

[riffer]

Any suggestions? I just thought I'd check before forking out $195 for 1/2 hr (or maybe it was an hour?) to see what the guy has to say.

Sure. "Drop" your bike in the driveway. Catch it falling and twist your back. Go see doctor. Get ACC.

QED.

[duckman]

This will probably stir someones pot but .... Are you SURE this isn't the result of an accident??? Are you SURE??!!!!

**flame on**

[merv]

Yeah damn you twinged it when you were getting the beer out of the fridge at least.

[Drunken Monkey]

Try Rik Simpson, who runs his own chiropractic clinic on the Pakuranga Highway - although he's pretty far away if you're living in west Auckland...

Eastern Chiropractic Health Centre
180 Pakuranga Rd
576 3607

[Posh Tourer :P]

Being tall and skinny/non-muscular, I've had lower back soreness in the past.

Miracle cure? Go to the gym and do some back specific exercises. Strengthen the muscles, and they'll cope far better. If you havent had an accident, chances are the skeletal parts will be fine and its just overstressed muscles.

A good one is to lie on a bench, hanging off the end of it past your waist. get someone to hold your legs down or tuck them under something like a ledge. Then, cross your arms across your chest and pivot at the waist down to the floor and back to just above horizontal. Do your normal 10 reps x 3 or whatever you want to do. If you get a bit stronger, grab a weight, eg 5kg, off a barbell and hold that on your chest. Worked for me. And it is cheaper than visiting a specialist...

Edit: What did the osteopath say? If there actually is anything wrong, stressing it with exercise may not be a good idea. However, I know a few people with your physique and back problems seem to be common. I'd just try strengthening the muscles before you do anything more expensive. If it hurts too much you can always stop and go to a specialist then.

[Paul in NZ]

My younger brother is one of the regions leading Physios and specialises in back pain. He is a McKensie institute fellow... I suggest going to your Physio and asking for a book called "Treat your own back" by Robin McKensie

Ultimately, you will end up doing a lot of your own treatment anyway, you may as well get the good oil.

Cheers

[Devil]

Go here, he'll get an xray done first to figure out whats wrong.

Chiropractic First
211 Sandringham Rd Kingsland Auckland
0-9-845 4640

[Zed]

"They can fly a man to the moon, but they can't fix a back!"

Progress in modern medicine is simply this - they can make your pain easier to bear if you've got the money to pay for it!

[Hitcher]

Progress in modern medicine is simply this - they can make your pain easier to bear if you've got the money to pay for it!

Harsh comment!!

[jrandom]

If you would find it convenient to be mugged by a balaclava-clad stranger wielding a baseball bat who hit you across the back in a very expensive injury-causing manner, took the $10 from your pocket that was all you had and buggered off... I could probably arrange it

[Jackrat]

Iv'e been through the whole back thing over the last five years.
Iv'e had one semi success surgery and am booked for another when hell freezes over,or so it seems.
After my first surgery I used accupunture for pain control until I could walk again,then used a push pull wheel to build lower back and gut mussles,plus things like leg lifts and back extensions.
What happens with your back will be totaly up to you.If you build your stomach mussles you WILL get rid of most of the pain,if you don't,,,,work it out.
BTW accupunture was the very last resort but turned out to be the only thing that even looked like helping.It definatly will not help if you rely on it alone,you HAVE to strengthen your stomach.
Best of luck man,I really do feel for ya' on this.

[Drunken Monkey]

Hey JR (or anyone else with a similar problem), were your weak trunk muscles a side effect of a desk-bound job (and general lack of excersice outside of business hours)? I put my back out playing squash a year or so after I got a desk job, but hopefully have learned my lesson. A negative function of modern society?

[Milky]

I agree... core strengthening seems to do wonders for soreness in backs. I used to get a very sore lower back, and started going to the gym to work on that area... must get back into it again, but it was very useful for me just stop if there is pain/stiffess/too much discomfort. Wouldnt want to make the problem worse in some way...

[jrandom]

I agree... core strengthening seems to do wonders for soreness in backs.

Absolutely.

My back training has suffered of late, so I did a proper session of power cleans and bent-over rows on Monday. As usual, it proved to be the most unsatisfying of my lifting sets for muscle soreness and 'pump value', but I always notice the benefit in back comfort when I wake up in the morning. Even from just one or two sessions.

I can't recommend (careful!) lifting highly enough for avoiding stress-injury type problems over time.