Hi MrPhysio+

Thanks for your enlightening comments. They're worth a lot, because I can see you retain some flexibility in your approach to therapy, and you are not wary of exploring the ethical issues involved. That's very reassuring from the patient's perspective. Your comments re the conservative nature of progress v the exuberance of snake oil peddlers does encourage me to think, in nothing but an instinctive way, that there exists an ever increasing vacuum between accredited and unaccredited practices, into which disappointed patients regularly fall and become vulnerable to confused decision making when considering best ways forward. Perhaps this is the story of C/S where discontent with therapies seems the order of the day. At the same time, I understand that the accredited professions must ring fence their professions from dubious practices which could undermine public confidence. I accept that reaching beyond the textbooks is highly restricted for these reasons, but that, in itself shouldn't stop a bit of 'outside the box' thinking when textbook recommendations don't quite fit their purpose.

The best therapy I received in 30 years happened 2 years ago, when I was called to the Physio for a report on my neck MRI. She explained the details...degeneration from C3 to C7, possible nerve infringement at C5/C6 and minor stenosis in the root canal. Pretty much what I expected, so I asked a question...."Does this mean that all my whingeing over the years has had substance". She replied.."Yes. For many years". In three words she blew away all the self doubting, all the angst, and all the repercussions from feeling that I was always dealing with a 'sub-text of disbelief ' when dealing with others, even therapists, which was gnawing at my resolve to meet the problem head on. So, therapy can work on many levels, I think you alluded to this previously.

I would love to get involved in an ethics v risky therapy discussion, but as that is veering away, again, from the original thread on this page, perhaps it is better consigned elsewhere.

Again, thanks for your clarifications of your purpose.

Gerry