Examples of Conditions Treated 

Sciatica is a general term describing pain from irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve that leaves your spine to supply your leg. Its symptoms are generally pain down the back of the legs and can sometimes be felt in the ankles, feet & toes. Even when sciatica originates from the lower part of the spine, low back pain isn’t necessarily present. A prolapsed disc may cause sciatica but there are other conditions, such as the spinal wear and tear of osteoarthritis that can cause irritation of the sciatic nerve. The first hint of sciatic symptoms may include numbness or tingling in one or both legs, occasional shooting pains, and tenderness in surrounding muscles. 

 

Accidents or lifting are common ways of causing a disc injury, especially where severe forces have gone through the spine or where years of poor posture have weakened its structure leaving it vulnerable to damage with only the slightest amount of force. When the spine is forced beyond its natural limits, the ligaments, tendons and muscles that support the spine can become overstretched or torn. The bulging disc can compress the spinal cord and nerves and produce pain in the local area and areas distant from the site of the problem, this can be in the arms or legs or both. 

 

Because of the serious nature of slipped discs, your family osteopath needs to see you quickly to ascertain where the problem is and how serious the injury is. Only after a full examination can a diagnosis be made at which point your osteopath will discuss with you the probable course of the injury and how best to resolve it. In some instances referral to a neurologist or orthopaedic surgeon may be required but only rarely is this the case. 

Although no one has the ideal spine that is 100% straight, sometimes a scoliosis can occur which is out of the bounds of comfort for the patient in both pain and social terms. Whether scoliosis can be corrected by osteopathic care depends on the individual case. Scoliosis often develops in early teenage years and the earlier you intervene, the easier it is to treat. When scoliosis has been present for a long time, the sideways curvature may not always be corrected, however the function of the spine can, in most cases be improved, thus relieving any pain, discomfort and even the breathing difficulties that may occur. 

 

It is very easy with one or two simple tests for your osteopath to determine whether a scoliotic spine has a good chance of being resolved or not, so it is best to pop in and talk to your osteopath to find out more. 

 

You will be assessed to ensure that there are no underlying mechanical issues, such as an imbalance in the pelvis or spinal misalignment, that may be clinically silent, but that may be loading your muscles and tendons to the brink of collapse allowing trauma to occur with only the slightest of excess exertion. 

 

Obviously, where local traumas present such as a twisted shoulder or sprained wrist from a fall, your osteopath will help to reduce the pain and speed up the healing process ready for the next onslaught on the rugby field! 

 

Trauma to the neck is also very common, especially in car accidents and falls. The speed and unprotected elements of these type of injuries can lead to substantial tissue damage and cause a long list of symptoms to arise; neck pain, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, reduced ability to turn and bend, low back pain, pins and needles, and numbness or muscle spasms in the shoulders, arms and hands. 

 

Your osteopath will conduct a thorough investigation of your neck and related areas to determine where tissues have been damaged and then consult with you as to the best way forward for treatment. 

 

Successful treatments for the most severe and chronic neck presentations are common place, but a key to success is getting to your family osteopath for treatment as soon as you can after the event, whether that is days or years depending on your situation. 

Frequently the mother suffers back and neck pain in the weeks and months following the birth and is too busy to seek help. Freeing and balancing the body as soon as possible after the birth helps the mother cope with the new demands of the baby. Craniosacral treatment at this time is particularly helpful in treating postnatal depression. 

 

Compression of the baby's cranium at birth can lead to developmental problems. Injury to the neck during birth can cause colic and distress which disturbs sleep and digestion. Birth trauma can be treated all through life but the sooner it is treated, the faster and more complete the response. 

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, and it is reported that over 50% of people over the age of 65 suffer pain and disability as a result. This type of arthritis begins years before any bone changes are found on x-ray and is primarily the “wear and tear” arthritis associated with every day life. In many cases, your osteopath can help you to accommodate to this change in structure, perhaps by freeing up related joints so that they share more of the load, or even reducing the tensions in the muscles of the area to reduce the inflammation and pain - treatment has proven to be immensely successful. There are also lots of postural exercises and day to day tips that can help you to help yourself. 

 

If you start having aches and pains in joints that you believe are normally are subject to osteoarthritis, and the pain has come on over a matter of days, weeks or a few months (and in some cases years), please don't just resign yourself to it. It could be something far more simple to deal with, so make an appointment with us for a full assessment. 

Emotional stress can increase muscular tension, especially at the base of the neck, head and jaw, irritating nerves and upsetting blood flow to the brain, causing headaches. 

 

Your osteopath will try to accurately diagnose your headache which in the vast majority of cases can be attributed to a mechanical dysfunction and can therefore be treated successfully. 

 

You will leave with recommendations for your future care to try and avoid recurrence of the problem. Tips may include adopting some simple changes in your posture and other simple steps.