That's a great post, Alan.
I think there is definitely a place for complementary medicines - not alternative - as they should be seen to work in conjunction with orthodox medicine. Our lovely doctors are all too quick to dismiss them as hocum... is it money (back handers from the big pharmaceuticals?!) or ignorance and they don't wish to know more!
Either way, if you are being treated by a doctor, you should keep up with that but there is nothing to stop you trying something else too. The fact that you feel the need indicates that what the doctor is ordering is not working.
There is nothing worse than back pain and it is so debilitating. I've never fancied acupuncture myself (bit of a wuss), but folk that have it say it's marvelous. The way I see it is, if you have been going to a practitioner regularly (say once a week) for more than maybe even 6 months and seen NO improvement, then maybe its time to try something else. If you go maybe once a month, as a sort of maintenance regime, then fine, as long as it's still giving you relief for that time between).
Don't try more than one therapy at a time. You need to find the one that resonates and works for you. Mr B, yours is a little trickier because it is a skeletal problem. However, you could try osteopathy maybe? Let someone else have a go at you? Personally I wouldn't go to a chiro...
If you do (that's any of you) decide to go down the acupuncture route, make sure you go to a good one. The course is 3 years long to learn it properly as all Chinese (meridian) medicine takes into account not just the actual problem but other things too, like the 5 elements... big subject Chinese medicine!
Do you do any forms of stretching exercises, like yoga? I know its not something you'd normally associate with scaffolders, but it could help - and ease the mind too! I know a scaffolder working on the rigs who practises reiki and that surprised me too but he says he treats loads of the guys. Reiki is an energy treatment, not invasive, very gentle.
Do some research on DDD/ slipped discs/ sciatica. See what's available. Sorry, I have gone on a bit, but I am a trained complementary therapist so it's an interest of mine.
I do hope you feel better today
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