Recently I've been making my regular appointments, the dentist, the eye doctor etc... and this year added in a few alternative doctors. I decided to try a new one, ostéopathie. I'm still not sure what that would translate to, if it is the same or different as a chiropracter... but over the last year I've been having a lot of shoulder pain from sitting at my desk all the time.When I went in it was your "typical" French doctor's experience, as in you arrive in a residential neighborhood, ring at an apartment and go upstairs. When I got inside I waited for a few minutes in the waiting room then went into the office. Sitting at his desk I told him what was wrong, he asked for my carte vitale and then to strip down (ok, not his words!) to my undies. Its funny, as much as I've gotten used to life in France, especially the differences in doctor's visits, this one always makes me realize that I'm still an American. I don't show my surprise, I don't hesitate, don't ask for a robe (cause you know they won't have one) but I do think about it... I wonder if that will ever stop years down the road... maybe.
Anyway he said that two of my lower vertabrae as well as two in my neck were out of place, so moving my legs around and telling me to breathe in deeply he popped it all back into place. I do have to admit I feel a lot better, still a little knotty in my shoulders but there is a lot less tension.
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I went to an ostéopathe yesterday! I always have lower back pain, but he spent most of the hour touching my head and feet. Luckily I didn't have to strip down though! He showed me some breathing/stretching exercises which left me really sore and he said I was a boule de nerfs. LOL
I'm not sure how to translate it into English either. He said it wasn't the same thing as chiropractic stuff (no cracking bones), but that it was based on American methods.
I agree with Jennie. Went to an osteo in France, and loved it (same thing, he fixed my back by fiddling with my knee...), and i've been to a chiroprator in UK (for the same back pb) who made my cry on the massage table...
I think they might actually be called "osteopaths" in English too, but I'm not sure. I went to one once a few years ago, and decided I was too prude to go again unless I really needed to. I didn't know I'd have to strip down to my undies and lie there while this man laid on top of me and twisted me like a pretzel. There were seriously times where it felt sexual, with him kneeling between my legs and his hand pushing on me right by my boob. That, combined with the fact that I didn't speak much French, really freaked me out.
That said, I never even had back problems until I started seeing a Chiropractor (I had a "free" 10 minute massage), so I don't really trust them anymore. I like that the ostéos take the "whole body" into account though.
i'm glad i'm not the only one who is unsure what an ostéopathe is exactly. i took my daughter to one and he was great. i've was recommended to go to one while i was pregnant because i guess they can "open" up "things" that make giving birth easier. however, i was put off by thinking about being hugely pregnant and only in my underwear. maybe i'll try it next time though.
Guys, I dont want to scare you, but the ostheo i've been too in France didnt ask me to undress... :-S
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