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Do I need to have a referral from my GP?
Osteopaths are trained in diagnosis, so there is no need for you to go to your GP before seeking treatment. However, some medical insurance companies require a GP referral to an osteopath if you want the company to reimburse the fees. It is always advisable to check with your insurance provider before you book an appointment. We are happy to communicate with your GP at any time, should you wish.
What happens when I visit an osteopath?
If it is your first visit, we will take a full case history and give you a physical examination. Usually we will ask you to remove some of your clothes so that we can assess your posture and movement. We will then ask you to lie down on the treatment table and gently examine the area of pain or dysfunction and, when necessary, conduct other medical examinations such as cardiovascular or neurological examinations. If required we will order additional investigations such as x-rays, MRI scans or blood tests. We will then discuss the diagnosis and treatment options and, where appropriate, give you the first treatment. You will normally be advised of activities and exercises you can do to hasten improvement and warned of things that you should avoid doing. If we do not think that osteopathic treatment can help you, we will endeavour to find you the appropriate practitioner for your needs within the practice (See Broadgate Spine Centre website) or refer you to your GP. This initial consultation can take up to an hour.
Subsequent visits are shorter and involve monitoring improvement and giving treatment.
What do osteopaths do?
Joyce and the other osteopaths in this practice work entirely with their hands; they do not use any sort of machinery or other treatment equipment. Treatment usually consists of gently working on muscles, moving joints passively, working with some of the small movements in the body, and sometimes using high velocity low amplitude movements to joints which result in a “click”. There seems to have been a widespread view that this “click” is essential to osteopathic treatment but in practice, we find we do not use it that often. We discuss with patients how they would like to be treated, as there are usually several options. We see osteopaths as a resource for patients to use in order to maintain and improve their own health.
Why did the osteopath look at my feet when the pain is in my back?
The osteopath may have started by looking at your feet, but they probably went on to examine your back and the rest of your spine, as problems in one area can lead to repercussions in another. From the osteopathic viewpoint the body is seen as an integrated whole. Osteopaths will treat the tissue that is causing symptoms, though they may need to give attention to other parts of the body that have either caused the problem in the beginning or have undergone secondary change as a result of the problem.
If you still have a question and you cannot find the answer here or on the about Joyce page, please contact Joyce for an answer.