We know that attending your first appointment with an osteopath can be a little disconcerting to begin with, but you can rest assured we will do our utmost to make sure you feel comfortable and at ease.
If you do have any other concerns, please contact the practice by phone or email prior to attending your first appointment, and we'll be glad to discuss things with you.
At the start of your first session, your osteopath will ask you to tell them about your problem. They will ask questions about your medical history and lifestyle as well as your symptoms. This is very important as it will help them to make an accurate diagnosis and suggest appropriate treatment. They will write down what you say in your records. These will be kept confidential in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
The osteopath will need to examine the area(s) of your body causing discomfort. Sometimes the cause of the problem may be in a different area to the pain, (For example, a difference in leg length may result in compensations in the upper back which might result in neck pain) so they may need to examine your whole body. They will need to feel for tightness in the muscles and stiffness in the joints and may need to touch these areas to identify problems. They will explain what they are doing as they go along. If you are uncomfortable with any part of this, you have the right to ask them to stop at any stage without prejudicing your future treatment.
As with a visit to a GP or other medical professional, for us to examine you effectively it may be necessary for them to ask you to remove some clothing as appropriate for the condition. This may mean undressing down to your underwear. If this is a problem for you, make your osteopath aware of this. Some patients feel more comfortable wearing shorts and a vest top or t-shirt and we are happy to work with this.
The osteopath will suggest a course of treatment, which may require several visits. They may be able to give you an estimate of how often they need to see you and any associated costs by the end of the first session. They will ask for your permission to provide treatment and you may be asked to sign a consent form. Most osteopaths will begin your treatment at your first appointment, but sometimes they may require further tests first i.e. blood tests or scans. Occasionally they may diagnose an illness that they are unable to treat and may suggest that you consult your GP or another appropriate health professional.
You may experience mild discomfort with some of the treatment techniques used for up to 48 hours after your treatment, but osteopathic treatment is usually a very gentle process.
Your osteopath will let you know if any discomfort is likely and it can be helpful to let them know what you are feeling. If pain persists after treatment, contact your osteopath for advice. You are welcome to bring someone with you for all or part of your consultation. Children should always be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
If you have any other questions, Please email [email protected]