Frequently asked questions
- What should I wear? In order to perform a thorough examination it is necessary to see the affected areas and test adjacent or distant joints and muscles. You may be asked to undress down to your underwear (especially if there is low back pain). It is quite acceptable to wear loose fitting shorts.
- Does the treatment hurt? If you are uncomfortable with a particular technique, tell your osteopath, so they may adjust their technique. Sometimes, if your tissues are very inflamed due to injury, treatment may seem a little sore because your tissues are so inflamed and tender.
- I feel worse after treatment: Roughly half of all patients treated by an osteopath will experience some localised soreness in the area treated, which will usually go away within two days and can be relieved with over-the-counter painkillers. If your discomfort persists, please contact your osteopath for advice.
- Will I feel better straight away? The answer to this question depends on the condition you have. It is possible to leave an osteopathic treatment pain free, but this is very rare as the majority of patients present to an osteopath as a last resort, after having been in pain for some time. The earlier you visit your osteopath, the quicker they can get you better.
- How many treatments will I need? The number of treatments you need will depend entirely on your problem. When you attend for your initial assessment, your osteopath should be able to give you a guide as to how many treatments you need. Some people may visit their osteopath a few times a year for maintenance treatment, whilst others who present with simple back pain may only need 2 or 3 treatments.
- How do I arrange an appointment? Consultations are by appointment only, although it is sometimes possible to obtain an appointment for the same day. We do not need referral notes. To arrange an appointment call us on (01395 222666) and speak to a Receptionist.
- Can I bring a friend/partner?
Yes, osteopaths are happy for you to be accompanied by another adult during all or part of your treatment if it makes you feel more comfortable. Children should always be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout treatment.
- What is the difference between physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic? This is a commonly asked question and whilst all three techniques involve manual therapy they are all based on very different schools of thought and their approach to patients is different Chiropractors have a similar approach to osteopathy but they focus on the spine and nervous system, basing treatment on radiography and radiology reports.Physiotherapy have a very broad based training and work with a large spectrum of conditions ranging from breathing, to sports injuries to postoperative rehabilitation. If you do see a physiotherapist, make sure to check their speciality so that it suits your needs. They are less ‘hands on’ than chiropractors and osteopaths using more self motivated exercise-based rehabilitation. Osteopathy is based on the principles of Andrew T. Still. Osteopathy has the most holistic approach of the three, believing that the body has the capability of healing itself rather than using drugs or invasive treatments.
- Do we contact your Doctor? We are bound by the same confidentiality rules as your doctor and would not discuss your condition with anybody (including your doctor) without your agreement.
- Private Medical Insurance. Many insurance companies provide cover and pay for Osteopathic treatment. We are registered with most of the major health insurance companies including AXA PPP. Different companies have different rules so it is always wise to check with your own insurers. Due to the extra time and office costs to us we do not usually run accounts with insurers but ask that each patient settle their fee directly with us and we will provide a receipt so that you can reclaim the fees.
