Osteopathy as we get older
Most patients feel that nothing can be done to treat arthritis. At first, pain killers seem to take the edge off but soon they find they are relying on them more and more and doing less and less of what they enjoy. This is not how it should be.
Current government advice (NICE guidelines) suggest the use of manipulation and exercise for most types of arthritis, especially of the hip, to keep the joint functioning normally and even allow a pain-free reshaping of the joint.
Treatment can help relieve pain by:
- Improving stiffness
- Eliminating muscle spasm
- Improving stiffness
- Restoring joint mobility
- Preventing neighbouring joints from stiffening up.
Reducing inflammation and muscle spasm helps prevent further damage.
Pain is not nice and stops you from moving the joint comfortably. One of the reasons we get pain with joint degeneration is due to muscle spasm and guarding, not the joint itself!
Once pain sets in you start to avoid using the joint. This may cause you to over-use other parts of your body which in turn puts extra stress on them.
By gently moving your joints we can begin to break the cycle and greatly improve the stiffness and pain. Using various techniques we can help pump fluid out and reduce the swelling. Once the swelling decreases and the muscle spasm has eased you can begin to use the joint again, and help prevent damage to other parts.
With improved movement you will need less pain medication.
Once you are able to start using your joint more efficiently and you gain more confidence the pain will automatically be reduced. This means you won’t need to use as much pain medication or anti-inflammatories. Consequently, side effects such as stomach ulcers and constipation can be avoided.
Our aim is to get you back doing what you enjoy most with little pain.
Read the NICE Guidelines on osteoarthritis (page 53 is relevant to us)
Click to download a printable leaflet on osteopathy and getting older.Click to read how osteopathy helped Tom with his arthritic pains.