Bowen therapy

[CT-5012]

Has anyone tried Bowen therapy for sciatica and did it help?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I tried it when I had GCA, but other than being a nice relaxing half hour I’m afraid it did nothing to relieve pain.

However others have found it helped. You need to find a good therapist, and give it about 3 sessions - if it doesn’t work after that, then save your money!

[CT-5012 in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

No wonder if all you got was half an hour - a basic treatment takes at least an hour...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I think she was trying to do too many therapies at once, and the actual Bowen was almost an afterthought. So perhaps my experience wasn’t a true reflection of what it can do.

[jinasc]

bowtech.com/WebsiteProj/Pag...

This link takes you to the story of Tom Bowen and his technique.

Today the one to three treatments still apply, if after 3 treatments there is no improvement a registered Bowen Technique Therapist will tell you.

Bowen got me out of a wheelchair, dispensing with zimmer frame and just using a walking stick when on rough groud.

It does not work for everyone.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It was a combination of Bowen therapy, my osteopath and Pilates that kept me upright and fairly mobile in the 5 years I had PMR without pred. It doesn't help the PMR itself but it can help the spasmed muscles due to myofascial pain syndrome that are likely to pinch the sciatic (and other nerves) which are so common alongside PMR.

As jinasc says, it isn't an open-ended commitment. Unlike so many chiropractors they tell you that if it doesn't make a difference inside 3 session it probably won't. You might need more than 3 sessions but an improvement should be obvious in that time. Sometimes you stagger in with a walking stick and a friend propping you up and walk out under your own steam - eh jinasc?

But it does need to be a good therapist - mine in the north of England were terrific and I really miss them. It is available here in Italy where I live but very expensive for a rather less "practical" experience, the practice is rather "wellness" orientated. Very relaxing but ...

[CT-5012]

Thank you for your input will let you know how things progress.

[Estellemac]

Duloxcetine fixed it for me. Still there but currently manageable. I think I need a more permanent than drugs solution though.

[piglette]

It did not work for me but some people swear by it. I am not sure how good my therapist was she wanted me to do more than three therapies as the money seemed important to her. Also they work on you then leave you for a few minutes. She had about three patients at the same time which I felt was too many, as she went backwards and forwards between us. She charged sixty pounds an hour per person so she was doing quite well.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Absolute robbery - she should be reported to the association. My therapist (OK, in the NE so will be cheaper) charged £35 for a single patient. If you came with a friend it was less but took slightly longer. Two at a time is fair enough - the moves and the rests are about equal. But £60 each and 3 at a time - no, not at all professional.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

My evil eye obviously worked as she broke her wrist and phoned up to say she could not do any more sessions!

[HeronNS in reply to piglette]

That's how my former physiotherapy clinic worked. They are, note, former. My current physiotherapist charges the same amount but I have her undivided attention.