MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT

Means many different things to different people. To most manipulative health professionals spinal manipulation implies manual medicine to restore normal function of the spine and body. There are some main different intentions in spinal manipulations, the major types of approach consist of Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy and also Orthopaedic medicine. All these approaches have their successes.

In theory, different schools of thought and philosophy possess different ideas on the nature of spinal lesions. Osteopathy looks at the patient in a holistic manner,i,e, mental, spiritual and physical, not forgetting diet and nutrition.

LOW BACK PAIN

Acute or chronic lumbar joint strain. Muscle contraction. Pelvic torsion. Sacral joint pain. Lumbar disc pathology,eg, Disc herniation (Slipped Disc). Patients often present with lumbar facet joint subluxation, in laymans terms this means that the spinal joint has fixated in an abnormal position,causing pain and dysfunction. Spondylosis,which refers to intervertabral disc degeneration, is a common feature in the older age group (50 - 70yrs), causing one level nerve entrapment or joint pain, or, in some cases both.

SCIATIC NERVE PAIN

OTHER

Causes of sciatic nerve pain may be due to deep muscle involvement around the hip joint, or neuro-muscular trigger points which transmit pain along the sciatic nerve pathway. In some cases there may be a pathological cause, such as prostate disease or spinal tumour.

Sciatica is a condition causing pain along the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back,and the back of each leg. Sciatica is a fairly common type of back pain and leg pain. Sciatica is usually caused by pressure on the Sciatic nerve, which can be caused by any of the following conditions: Herniated Disc or Ruptured Disc Pinched Nerve / Radiculopathy Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Degenerative Disc Disease and Spondylolisthesis

NECK (Cervical) PAIN

The most common causes are muscle strain or contraction affecting the superficial or deep muscles of the neck. Cervical joint degeneration and disc degeneration are commonly found at lower neck level (C5-C6-C7), producing various pain syndromes.

Cervical joint subluxation (joint fixation) is often found to be a common cause of neck pain and dysfunction. Whiplash injury to the neck may be mild - moderate or severe,depending on speed and impact (usually rear end shunt) when accident occurs,resulting in acute pain and restricted neck movement. Most cases of whiplash injury involve soft tissue and respond to Osteopathic treatment within 6-8 weeks, but, a more severe injury which may involve spinal joint and/or disc structure (sometimes Stellate nerve ganglion) may take 3 -6 months for recovery, and even then prognosis is not always good. Osteopathic treatment for all the above mentioned conditions is based on thorough history taking and examination before any physical/manual therapy be given, such as, deep tissue massage, Neuromuscular therapy, accupressure, mobilization, traction, manipulation. Electro-therapies such as TENS, Interferential and Faradic stimulation are also used to aid recovery, especially in cases presenting with nerve and joint inflammation.

REFERRED PAIN

Many pain syndromes quite often originate from a distant site or location,examples of this are; Lumbar nerve root injury referring into the lower limb. Cervical nerve root injury referring into the upper limb. Gall bladder disease may refer into the right shoulder.

Uterine disease may refer into the low back. Prostatic pathology may refer into the posterior lower limb. Ectopic pregnancy may refer into right or left shoulder. Carpal tunnel (wrist) syndrome refers pain into the hand and fingers. Trigger points can develop in muscle (myofascial) tissue and are a common cause of referred pain throughout the body.

MIGRAIN AND HEADACHES

Many headaches are the result of stress and tension affecting the muscles of the neck and shoulders. When discussing MIGRAIN HEADACHES the first fuction to be evaluated is the flow of blood through the arteries to the head. Lack of blood to the brain during arterial spasm upsets the function of various nerve centres in the brain. This will cause symptoms such as……

Visual disturbance and pins & needles sensation in, say, an arm or hand, and there are other symptoms which each patient learns to recognise and associate with onset of a headache. The next stage is the flooding of the brain which, due to the rise of pressure in the skull, causes headache, sickness, usually severe vomiting,and various other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound.

Some of the stimuli which trigger a migrain can be due to anxiety, fear or excitement. Bright lights, food sensitivity, allergy or intolerance.
Psychological overload and as mentioned above, congestion of the neck.

The following medical conditions known to produce headache require urgent medical attention,they are; Raised Intracranial Pressure. Temporal Arteritis.
Meningitis. High Blood Pressure.

PELVIC PAIN / MENSTRUAL DISORDERS

Of mechanical origin or stress related respond well to Osteopathy and Complementary Therapy.

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

Responds well to acupuncture and special massage techniques which elevate and strengthen the immune system,this,and nutritional advice along with stress reduction brings about great improvement in this debilitating condition.