Has anyone successfully recovered from a whiplash injury?

[fbloke]

Or indeed, an upper back problem?  If so, what worked for you?   I've been seeing osteopaths for years now and it's one step forwards and two back. I'm considering trying a physiotherapist instead.

Any experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated.

[FernandoDuarte]

for years? Go see it, man!

[hunter]

You must try bikram yoga. It's the best for anything spine/back related. If you go 3x a week you will be better in no time.

check here for studios: www.bikramyoga.com

[martinw]

You went to an osteopath, but not a physiotherapist?

Hmmm.

I've had 2 instances of upper back issues over the last 12 years or so, both have been successfully treated by physio. Each time the treatment has been very effective right from the word go, and the condition has completely cleared up.

I've also just had a stubborn rotator cuff (shoulder) injury successfully treated by physio.

It works. 

[Paradigm]

You must try bikram yoga. It's the best for anything spine/back related. If you go 3x a week you will be better in no time.

check here for studios: www.bikramyoga.com

I wouldn't suggest to someone that has been experiencing physical problems for years that his problems can be fixed 'in no time'.
*It's not the standard treatment
*Whiplash represents a range of injuries

I am sure it can help in some cases, but I would highly recommend getting medical treatment from a qualified professional with experience in your field (and not from a forum). I come from a family of doctors, but I took up a different profession, so I can't help you any more than this.

[hunter]

You must try bikram yoga. It's the best for anything spine/back related. If you go 3x a week you will be better in no time.

check here for studios: www.bikramyoga.com

I wouldn't suggest to someone that has been experiencing physical problems for years that his problems can be fixed 'in no time'.
*It's not the standard treatment
*Whiplash represents a range of injuries

I am sure it can help in some cases, but I would highly recommend getting medical treatment from a qualified professional with experience in your field (and not from a forum). I come from a family of doctors, but I took up a different profession, so I can't help you any more than this.

Well i didn't say it will be fixed in no time, I said it will be better quickly.

Anyways, my recommendation is based on experience I had with other guys who do Bikram, who had suffered injuries and weren't helped by classical medicine, they spoke of a miracle how things changed after they did BY. We also have some doctors do it and they swear by its preventive effects.

There should always be professional treatment no doubt, but an exercise like BY, which loosens up tightness and realigns the spine while building up core strength will be a perfect companion to medical treatment - ideally the doctor is informed about the yoga idea and approves of it.

You have to make small steps like with any physical rehab programme, but it goes quicker with BY because it's in the hot room which loosens up the joints and let you stretch further than you usually would.

[Simon D]

I had physio for whiplash/shoulder injury after a car crash about 8 years ago. With the caveat that I saw the physio within weeks of the crash, physiotherapy certainly works.

It took quite a few sessions, so it's not a super-quick fix, but it did sort the problem.

Best thing to do is to see your GP, and they'll be able to put you in touch with a good one (assuming you're in the UK?)

[fbloke]

Martin - thanks for your post, I'm interested in your point here - what's your view of osteopaths as opposed to physiotherapists?  Please be frank.

Thanks,

Mike.

[martinw]

Martin - thanks for your post, I'm interested in your point here - what's your view of osteopaths as opposed to physiotherapists?  Please be frank.

Well, as I understand it, osteopathy is viewed as a complimentary treatment. Evidence regarding it's effectiveness is patchy and sometimes contradictory.
On a personal level, I know some people who've had experiences like yours.

I would have thought the first course of action would have been to visit a GP, who I'm sure would have referred you for physiotherapy.

[fbloke]

Yes, this is kind of where I'm getting to with my thinking about osteopathy - it's helped me a lot but is it getting to the root cause? Is it a bit primitive by the standards of modern physiotherapy?  I've been to my GP but it's the usual "have some Diclofenac".  I've made an appointment with a physio for tomorrow morning, even from a brief telephone conversation it seems  like there's a whole range of things they do, not just manipulations and cranials.   

Thanks for your help here.

[dave_mc]

Well, as I understand it, osteopathy is viewed as a complimentary treatment. Evidence regarding it's effectiveness is patchy and sometimes contradictory.
On a personal level, I know some people who've had experiences like yours.

I would have thought the first course of action would have been to visit a GP, who I'm sure would have referred you for physiotherapy.

that's what i'd have thought, though I've never had a back injury.

[Johnny Mac]

I saw an osteopath after I had an injury to my back earlier this year. It seemed to work ok at first but then I thought it was making me worse. In the end even he said it wasn't doing me much good. I thought swimming was the best thing I've done for it.

[fbloke]

Thanks Johnny, I think swimming may become a core part of my exercise plan.

[lamp]

I've had success with Osteopathy for an upper back problem, but like anything, is not right for everyone.  
Not upper back, but my Mum had back problems for years after she cracked a couple of vertibrae in a car accident before I was born.  She tried lots of things over the years, and in the end about 5 years ago she went to an acupuncturist and it worked wonders.  She's been pain free since after a 6 month course of treatment.  
My wife has also had good success with acupuncture for other things.
Not something I would have considered previously, but I certainly would now.

[HTH AMPS]

I had terrible back pain during and after my arthritis spell in hospital last year (three week stretch).  As I was bed-ridden, I was lying down for most of the day.  The pain was so bad that I didn't get much sleep during the night, but slept at points through the day when I was just knackered through lack of sleep (copious amounts of prescription painkillers helped too, ha ha).

Anyway, my point is that I had physio for a couple of months and the exercises they gave me were very helpful from the start.  After a couple of months I got signed off as my back was fine.  The arthritis in my legs is another story.