Chiropractor advice

[smudgley]

Anyone had experience of a chiropractor?

My 10 year old daughter is having terrible neck & shoulder pain all the time. Her neck & shoulders are very tense & I am contemplating taking her to a chiropractor.

Any thoughts. (we have been to our GP)

[Mags]

Never had any experience with one Smudgley but I hope the trouble will clear up soon.

Have you tried her with a memory foam posture pillow? I don't get half as many neck and back pains as I used to, with mine.

[smudgley]

She's had a memory foam pillow for about a month now.
Doesn't make any diference at all.

[yola]

I've used one on two separate occasions. In both cases within a week they had corrected muscular irregularities that were giving me intense back pain and immobility. Not cheap though as I had to contact them myself without NHS referral (this was before I had private health cover); doctor's only solution was heavyweight painkillers.

[PoshPuss]

My dad attends chiropractors very often. He had a nasty back injury sustained when he worked down the mine. Like Yola said he depended on lots of painkillers and his life quality suffered but now he is a new man
I think the manipulation is quite uncomfortable but the relief is enormous.Perhaps you should prepare your daughter for this but, I feel that if it eases the long term pain then its worth it.
Good luck to her, Smudgley.

[dinahsmum]

Not a chiropractor but a sports physio/masseusse, and that's what I'd think of first for a 10 year old. Not only will they rub and knead and get out the present 'knots' but they will help advise on whatever it is causing her to be so tense or unbalanced and sort her for the future.

Are her feet OK? Do you think she might need orthotics to get herself back in balance? Or is she spending too much time hunched over a desk?

Poor thing - hope you get it sorted soon

[angieh]

I'd give thumbs up for osteopathy or chiropractic. I have had both over the years and, providing you get a good practitioner I would think that your daughter could feel almost immediate relief. Have a look at these links -

http://www.gcc-uk.org/page.cfm
http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/about_gosc/

Good luck!

[meep]

Sorry to hear of your daughter's sore back

When I was younger my mum took me to sessions for The Alexander Technique. I couldn't comment on pricing, although it will be paid per session, and it's entirely voluntary so not covered by NHS. It's similar to chirporacty, but focusses on a good posture and sorting out the shape of the back and the way our bones and muscles all sit. Most kids nowadays do hunch over, and slouch; I still do! A few sessions of Alexander Technique may help!

[smudgley]

Thought I'd update this thread & let you know Lucy has been to the chiropractor & he has diagnosed one of the vertabrae in her neck is not moving - this is causing the pain. When this happens the discs inbetween the vertabrae start to compensate and move - which causes the nerves to also move & then you can get trapped nerves (trapped between the discs / vertabrae) causing all sorts of problems, It is usually caused by a trauma eg car accident / sports injury. We don't know how it was caused but he said it can be put right. I have been back to my GP to explain & they said there is nothing wrong with her neck. But eventually referred her to physiotherapy and an othopedic specialist. I have been in touch with NHS direct & my local PCT who have both been very helpful and supportive & have said I shouldn't have to pay for treatment for a 10 year old child. However the GP said they couldn't refer us to a chiropractor as it is classed as alternative medicine. (how can that be?) anyway the treatment sessions are going well, she is having to go 2x weekly (not cheap, but I really think it's needed) then it will go to 1 x weekly soon.