MUSCULOSKELETAL CONSULTATION AND EXAMINATION

 

During your first visit your osteopath or another clinician will spend some time taking a medical history, which will include questions about your general health and lifestyle as well as asking you about the symptoms or injuries that you are seeking help with. With your consent, the clinician will then perform a physical examination which is likely to involve examining areas of your body where you are experiencing pain and asking you to move around. The clinician may also look at test results, x-rays and scan reports if these are available.

 

It may be necessary for the clinician to ask you to remove some clothing so that they can see and examine the areas of the body causing concern. If you are uncomfortable undressing the practitioner may be able to suggest clothing, such as shorts and a t-shirt, or a close-fitting garment that will enable them to work effectively without making you feel uncomfortable, so please do discuss this. You are welcome to bring someone with you into the examination room if this puts you at ease.

 

Following clinical findings, the clinician will then make a diagnosis and discuss a course of treatment with you. This may involve visiting a few times for treatment. The osteopath or other clinician will discuss the likely cost of this treatment and ask for your consent to begin treatment. If they believe that your condition needs further assistance, then you may be referred to your GP or another suitably qualified professional.

 

 

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Is the treatment painful?

 

We work very hard to make treatment as painless as possible, but you may experience some discomfort during and after treatment. Your clinician will warn you if they think that the technique that they are about to use is likely to be uncomfortable and will stop if you tell them that you are feeling too much pain.

 

Following treatment about half of the patients report some mild soreness in the area of their body that was treated, this can usually be relieved with an over-the-counter painkiller and will go away within 48 hours. If you experience serious or unusual symptoms after treatment you should contact us for advice straight away.

 

 

Further information on osteopath-related assessment and treatment can be found here, DYNAMIC OSTEOPATHS

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