Does it hurt?

The general rule is no as all techniques are specifically chosen to suit individual patients and a consultative approach is taken to ensure that you the patient are comfortable at all times. The golden rule is ""do no harm"", so the "no pain no gain" saying is not applicable here." Occassionally, some of the osteopathic techniques used can feel slightly awkward and unusual but they should never hurt.

Can I use my health insurance?

Most insurance companies have standard procedures for osteopathic consultations. The easiest way is to pay the Osteopath directly and claim from your health insurance.

How much does a home visit cost?

Initial consultation (1hr) £50

Follow up consultations (30min) £45

Double appointment £80

How many treatments does it take to get me better?

Our aim is to get you back to full health as quickly as possible. Each person is an individual and different in the way they are made, the way they look after their bodies, how long they have had the injuy, and the way they react to treatment and act on the information they are given, so an exact number of treatments is hard to say. Please note that taking on board the advice that your osteopath gives is essential for your recovery and can have a large impact on your recovery time. Your osteopath does not want to wrap you in cotton wool and stop you doing the things you love, far from it, we want you to be able to enjoy everything, but a few simple changes and sometimes a little rest can go along way to ensure that your enjoyment is never curtailed.

Do I have to undress?

We care about your health and never want a state of undress to be a barrier to you getting the treatment you need, so please speak to your osteopath and express your concerns and we will do our utmost to cater for your needs. Osteopathy is a medical intervention and we are trained primary healthcare practitioners who have your safety, effective and ethical treatments at the foremost of our minds at all times. In most cases, light and loose clothing is suitable. Your privacy and modesty is respected at all times.

Remember that you are free to have a friend or relative with you to act as your chaperone at any time.

What is the difference between an osteopath and a chiropractor?

Historically this is a political answer relating to the founder of osteopathy, Dr Andrew Taylor Still, falling out with his student, D.D. Palmer, who then went on to be the founder of chiropractic. Nowadays, the differences between us are little with many osteopaths working like chiropractors and vice versa. From an academic point of view, the training is almost identical now, being over five years and both healthcares are fully regulated by statute law. The principle working difference that we have gleaned from our own patients experience, has informed us that osteopathy tends to involve more rhythmical and gentler techniques (less spinal manipulation that can produce “the popping sound”) over consultations that last a little longer and are fewer in number. Further that we tend to work on a wider area of the body rather than concentrating primarily on the spine and pelvis.

Is Osteopathy safe?

Yes, stringent and extensive training over five years and regulation by statute law ensures that osteopaths have the skills necessary to care for you in a safe and gentle fashion. It is more important that your osteopath knows when not to treat than when to, and for that reason alone, substantial training to diagnose and understand circumstances when treatment would not be safe is given.

Most treatments are gentle and are always aimed at getting the maximum healing from the minimalist intervention, your osteopath is not trying to force your body back to health, instead we assist the body to return to normal.

All intervention that has the ability to do good, can potentially do harm, however in the vast majority of cases this is far from the case and in those few patients that do experience some kind of side effect from osteopathic treatment, they experience no more than that which might be expected the day after a heavy work out at the gym.

It must be stated however, that a treatment reaction may happen and is most common for a couple of days post treatment. Your osteopath is experienced in dealing with this and views it in a positive way as it means in most instances that a change in your body’s ill health has occurred. If you have experienced this, then it is important that you let your osteopath know at the next appointment so that they can adjust and tweak your management plan accordingly. Remember, your osteopath will gladly talk to you if you have any queries relating to the treatment you have had, so if in doubt call.

Some manipulative techniques (the ones that make the popping noise) have had a lot of bad press recently, with particular emphasis given to forceful manipulations of the upper neck which have in a very few patients caused minor temporary strokes, and in some cases these have been permanent. The exact figures relating to the numbers involved is not known but is thought to be in the one or two cases, which must be seen in the context of a recent report which estimated that 1220 patients deaths occur in those who take a 2 month prescription of NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatory) in one year alone (please click on web link at the bottom of the page for references). However, putting statistics to one side, any risk must be weighed up, and, no manipulation of the upper neck is given without prior consent having been received from you the patient and after attempts, which are most often successful to release the tensions in a more gentle and safe manner have failed and then only when all risks have been eliminated by careful and thorough testing. All osteopaths are trained to perform upper neck manipulations in a way that minimises the risks still further. For more information please do speak with your osteopath who will be glad to explain in more detail.

http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20000318/clinical/longtermnsaid.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14763348&dopt=Abstract

Will you consult with my GP?

Your osteopath is a primary care healthcare professional and as such is able to communicate with others healthcare professionals should the need arise. However, you are entitled to the same confidentiality as you would expect from your GP, therefore, any communications with your GP or others will require your express consent, which, you are fully entitled to withhold should you wish to. On some occasions, a referral to your GP is essential so that you may receive the best healthcare available, in these instances and with your consent, a letter of referral detailing your case will be sent to your GP.

Do I have to be referred by my doctor?

No is the simple answer, although most GP’s actively refer their patients to osteopaths but no official referral is required. If you are uncertain about your suitability for treatment then we welcome you to either call us for an informal chat or check with your GP.

Currently osteopathy is fully recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC) and British Medical Association (BMA), however only a few osteopaths are working within the NHS.

Regular check ups?

More and more of our patients are taking a longer-term view of their health resulting in preventative treatments becoming increasingly popular. Just as you might visit an optician or dentist for regular check-ups or when needed.

The contract of care that your osteopath discussed with you on your first consultation will have given your osteopath a good idea as to whether maintenance treatments might be beneficial to you, but only after the course of treatments in the management plan have been fulfilled will it become clear as to whether you are a candidate or not for maintenance.

Candidates for maintenance tend to be those who place a continued heavy burden on their bodies such as builders and sports enthusiasts (playing not watching!) and also patients who are coping with long term disability and or significant arthritic issues that require regular intervention to manage the issues rather than solve completely.

Either way, the choice is entirely up to you and we will gladly discuss through with you the options available, and will be happy to see you on your terms.

For further information please call us on 0754 511 8978 or via email at