Symptoms suitable for Osteopathy

Acute & chronic back pain, spinal pain, prolapsed slipped disk, sciatica, neck pain, shoulder arm & hand pain, trapped nerve, frozen shoulder, sporting injuries, headaches and migraines, stress related conditions, muscular skeletal pain, cranial osteopathy, antenatal care for pregnancy related problems, neonatal care for babies.   Osteopathy for children. 

Acute & Chronic back pain

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people consult osteopaths and it is for this reason that we are experts in dealing with back pain of all types and severity. Currently, back pain affects over 80% of the population at some stage of their lives, and the pain may vary from a slight niggling ache to sharp debilitating pain that can affect every part of the back and also radiate to other areas of the body too.

Your osteopath will provide a safe and effective treatment for your back pain using proven ways of relieving pain and rehabilitating the spine. The aim is for a long term solution to keep you feeling well and pain free, enabling a full lifestyle. Please note that long term back ache is not something you have to put up with.

Sciatica

The pain may hit suddenly like a lightening bolt, or may be like an excruciating "toothache" in your legs – either way sciatica is a painful experience that osteopaths are able to help with in most cases.

Sciatica is a general term describing pain from irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve which leaves your spine and travels down your leg. Symptoms include backpain; pain down the back of the legs; discomfort or pins and needles in ankles, feet & toes; and sometimes numbness in the legs and feet. Causes of irritation to the sciatic nerve include a prolapsed (slipped) disc, spinal wear and tear or muscular compression, of the sciatic nerve, in the buttocks.


Shoulder, Arm & Hand pain

Arm and shoulder pain isn't always as clear cut as it would seem as sometimes the hidden cause can be far more complicated. The anatomy of your shoulder makes it vulnerable to injury, but as with leg pain, the most important thing to do is to determine what is causing it. An osteopath has been trained to accurately diagnose the problem and treat accordingly. Whether the pain is arising from a frozen shoulder, tennis/golfers elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury, sports injuries, awkward sleeping positions, or your posture at work for 8 hours a day.

Prolapsed Slipped Disc

The intervertebral discs are the shock absorbers of the spine and are essential for the day to day as well as long term health of your spine and the nerves that run through and around it. Technically, discs cannot slip; however, they can bulge, herniate, collapse and even rupture. 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.

Neck pain

Bad posture can cause your head to deviate from its most comfortable position to one that can substantially increase the weight that the muscles and joints in the neck and shoulders have to hold, net result being pain in the form of local tension, arm pains and often headaches spreading from the neck to up and over the head. Trauma to the neck is also very common, especially in car accidents, the speed 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. Successful treatments for even the most severe neck presentations are common place, but a key to success is starting treatment as soon as you can after the event.

Trapped nerve

Nerves trapped by bones are rare, but they can become irritated easily by inflammation, abnormal function or loading of the spinal vertebra and muscle tensions. Irritation and compression of nerves can result in pain, muscle weakness, pins and needles, numbness and burning sensations. An osteopath is highly trained to diagnose the exact location of the nerve irritation and once this has been found, can effectively treat to reduce the tension and irritation gently, safely and effectively.