The Room 101 thread - for things you hate or just having a bloody good moan

[Sly Boots]

Oh god, tell me about it. My last trip to the surgery, I had to speed-walk in because the bus never turned up, so I was boiling hot and out of breath when I got there, and inevitably the waiting room was roasting hot. Nothing makes a phsyical examination more unpleasant than being a sweaty mess while trying to keep a panic attack at bay.

This is the exact scenario for me when they call me in, immediately take my blood pressure, then rush out of the room to have a hushed, urgent chat with a colleague

I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked to take home readings for a week and/or wear a device that intermittently takes BP readings over 24 hours... always a delight having that pop off several times in the middle of the night!

... only to later be told that it's fine, actually.

[eny]

On the chiro front: get a good one, someone well recommended, they are worth every penny. Mine kept me working for 20 years after lower back problems from loader/tractor driving for so long on the farm, once you are aware of what issue is causing it, you can read the signs of aggravation a lot earlier and avoid a paralysing event. When my back went, it was like a rubber band as the disc bulged, sprung back, and dropped me to my knees...I suffered for months before going to a chiro, then it was a matter of days when I had an event afterwards, and going to the chiro made sure the readjustment was healing in the good rather than suffering which protected the bad.

[Drarok]

Over the last few days I've found it's limited to when I'm sat at my desk chair, which I haven't changed in over 4 years, so that's odd. I have the chair quite upright to help with my lower back, but I've just tried reclining it to about 30 degrees and there's immediate (not total) neck relief. It's got to be something with the chair or how I'm sitting on it.

Chairs age and change shape just like we do. Something being fine for 4 years doesn't mean it isn't bad for you now.

The obvious solution would be to go to a GP, but frankly is there any point?

Probably not for neck pain, no. My mum has had a history of back problems, and the GP has never been any help. They can prescribe you some pain killers and maybe refer you to some other department, but you're probably better off finding a reputable and personally-recommended (sports?*) physio or chiro yourself.

When my back seized I went to my mum's person, who immediately knew exactly where the problem was based on my vague "lower back" description and a brief exam. Sounds a bit like being impressed by a "psychic" cold read, but like… legit. They weren't guessing, it was more "oh, this bit here is the problem, ouch" having just started.

Gave really good info and backed it up with sources, so my bullshit alert was very quickly put to bed. Freed my back up in one session, I'd been stuck for days. Sent me on my way with exercises to do at home, and recommendations how to avoid the same again. No rip-off, no money pit, no claws. 10/10 would recommend.

(* I can't remember if the one my mum sees is a physio, sports physio, or what)