What conditions can we help?
More than you think. Osteopaths treat the mechanical component of disease. This means that when motion - or lack of it - is part of the pattern of dis-ease
causing the symptoms, the osteopath can help. Our treatment is not aimed primarily at relieving symptoms but identifying the mechanical causes of the
dysfunction which is leading to the symptoms. These may have been building up over many years until at last the body is no longer able to cope. Symptoms
can then occur for trivial reasons, so to relieve the problem properly, the underlying reason has to be found.
The osteopath's treatment plan is to "tune" the patient's body back to its optimum state of health, just as a car mechanic tunes a car engine. When the
body is comfortable and balanced it is like a car engine in tune which runs smoothly, quietly and efficiently with the minimum of stress and use of energy -
and breaks down less often.
Some typical cases seen are patients with:
- Back Pain - This can be an acute injury after a fall, bending, lifting or gardening, sometimes for no reason at all.
- Leg Pain - This can be due to a problem in the leg, or referred from the back.
- Headaches - These can be tension headaches or migraines and can be a recent development or a long standing problem.
- Facial pain & Toothache
- Ear Pain
- Stiff Neck - Often this develops for no reason.
- Shoulder Pain - This can extend down the aims into the hands.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tennis Elbow
- Chest infections - particularly if recurrent.
- Asthma
Continued opposite...
- Hip Pain - In the groin and buttocks sometimes for no reason at all.
- Knee Pain - From strains and injuries.
- Ankle & Foot Pain - From strains and injuries or for no reason at all.
- Arthritis and Rheumatism - Don't be put off by the old wives' tale "there is nothing you can do for arthritis" - It is simply not true.
- Whiplash Injuries - Frequently from car accidents or falls.
- Sports Injuries
- Slipped Discs
- Trapped Nerves
- Sciatica
- Indigestion, and Bowel disorders - particularly if recurrent.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Stress and Insomnia
- Depression and Fatigue
- Women's Problems e.g. painful periods, irregular periods, recurrent cystitis, pelvic pain. - In some of these cases there is a mechanical
component, such as congestion in the pelvis or poor hormone function - particularly if the pattern of these symptons seemed to develop within 12 months
of an injury such as a bad fall or car accident or even childbirth. Each case must be assessed on its merits.
- Problems of Pregnancy such as backache, heartburn, nausea, piles or varicose veins. Osteopathy has the added advantage of avoiding drugs.
- Children's Problems - Please see our dedicated Infants and Childrens section for information.
All these can be helped by osteopathic treatment but each case must be examined individually.
