Best Place for Health/Treatment Advice?

Bayblue

Ok..So I understand that MSE is not the place to get any advice or opinions on anything to do with health, that's against the rules- fair enough. But where is the best place to go? I mean, I obviously know about NHS direct and can google websites for individual conditions but I'm talking about reading about peoples experiences of treatments good and bad, a bit like people write on here about credits cards and insurances funnily enough. Is there an MSE equivalent for health treatments?

Bit of background...It's new year and Ive made a resolution (well I've made lots actually but this may be the most important) to finally see if there's something I can do to improve my skeletal problems. I have scoliosis ad kyphosis, it's pretty severe- I know that I'm past the time of changing that but I take my own painkillers every day- and that's what I'd like to cut down on or eliminate. I know there's no cure, but I'd be really pleased if it could improve a bit by exercise. I've read of a program which looks promising and it makes sense to me, but it's an awful lot of money and would take all of my annual leave from work, so I'd like to be sure. Or indeed there may well be something else perhaps cheaper.

The nets great, I love it but it's sometimes difficult to know where to go...

Bayblue

*Shameless bump *

I know, I know, bumping schmumping .. but the thing is, the people on MSE usually talk a lot of sense, so I imagine that someone here has been to a site where they can compare treatments and costs.

I know that it's not on to give any medical advice whatsoever but if you have seen another site which could help then please post or PM me. Many thanks

Toothsmith

Is there not an information/support network for people with your condition?

Personally I would trust the people there much more than any web site.

The web is completely unregulated, and it can be very hard to tell fact from fiction in very many cases.

Horace

Have you thought of actually speaking to your GP rather than trying to treat yourself - ask him/her if there is anything they can advise to help you reduce your painkiller intake and if there is any exercise that you can do either that or some form of physiotherapy?

Mutter_2

To simply ask if anyone here has tried this course (I imagine this is the one costing £xxx's, I watched on my evening news)
should be ok. If someone replies and there is an objection from Mod, simply go to PM.
It's a fine line, the asking and giving of medical info. After all there is a depression support thread and one for drink related problems, both being highly sensitive subjects. Oh and the latest here is a strong suggestion that exercise is useless!!
Good luck with your search.

hemarobert

I am feeling great to be here as a part of this forum to share such a wonderful information which is necessary for every one need to follow. You have done a great job. Keep on updating.

Toothsmith

Mutter wrote: »

To simply ask if anyone here has tried this course (I imagine this is the one costing £xxx's, I watched on my evening news)
should be ok. If someone replies and there is an objection from Mod, simply go to PM.
It's a fine line, the asking and giving of medical info. After all there is a depression support thread and one for drink related problems, both being highly sensitive subjects. Oh and the latest here is a strong suggestion that exercise is useless!!
Good luck with your search.

I think Mutter sums it up well here.

This is a moneysaving site, so to ask if an expensive meical proceedure is 'worth it' in the opinion of other members then that's a fair question.

What isn't right is to say "I've got X,Y and Z symptoms, what should I do about it?" As that's medical advice.

Bayblue

Thanks All..

Mutter and Toothsmith; I don't know about any support networks, I've never (knowingly) met anyone else with my condition, so I suppose that the net seemed a logical place on which to make enquiries.

I think that asking the mods if I can make my enquiry is a good idea. I shall contact them over the weekend. I imagine that medical and health treaments are a bit of a grey area, and for good reason. I understand that there has been much discussion over both the depression and drink problems threads, both have been allowed to remain because these problems may have a (albeit very loose) connection with debt and money issues.

Horace; You're absolutely right of course, my GP should be my first port of call and I may well talk to her. I feel somehow that this is a bit..not trivial.. but perhaps not something I can see myself successfully pursuing within the NHS (if that makes any sense). It's not so much an illness, more of a need to improve my capabilities. I have had some physiotherapy before, and whilst it was not bad, it was too general and didn't really make a lot of difference.`

It looks like I have some more research to do.

Anyway, thanks once again for your replies and good advice.

Savvy_Sue

There is a Scoliosis Association which I found by googling 'scoliosis and kyphosis'. These led me to netdoctor.co.uk and patient.co.uk both of which are very useful sites, but the patient one usually has a link to any relevant support groups. So that's where I go when I want medical information.

Your GP may refer you for more physio, or to a pain management clinic, or to a specialist for review, any of which might be helpful. Through them or through the Scoliosis Association you might get suggestions for 'alternative' therapies, if you don't find what's available through the NHS makes enough difference. But I'd want to run anything like that past someone who's seen YOUR back, in case their experience leads them to suggest that it could make things worse. For example, I really enjoy having a massage and find it brilliant for relieving any aches and pains I have, BUT if I had any injuries I would want my therapist to have a better qualification than a diploma from the local beauty college, IYSWIM.

And this is just a reminder of what the Medical Advice rule says:

MEDICAL ADVICE

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this: Sorry, giving or asking for medical advice is not permitted on this forum as it’s not what this site is about. While discussing medical insurance policies, cheaper ways to see consultants, cashback for alternative health treatments and how to get specific medication cheaper (legally) are all perfectly acceptable we ask you specifically not to discuss what to do in the event of certain medical problems (please see this rule on the Health Board). If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

hemarobert

Recently I had a conversation with nail care instructor and has suggested the same thing which is very useful to everyone. Thanks for posting the link to the nail tutorial. I’m gonna try it too! Though my nail polish brushes aren’t as thin as in the video.