Osteopaths at Osteopath in Bristol are happy to help patients with any treatment listed above.

Sucking Difficulty

A baby having difficulty feeding may be suffering from a nerve compression. Cranial osteopaths would be quick to look at the area at the base of the skull to determine if the nerve was affected. From an osteopathic perspective, a child that has or had difficulty latching-on to its mother's nipple during the first few weeks after birth is a potential indicator that there may be some compression of an important nerve that controls the tongue. Whilst the sucking problem may clear up after a few days or weeks, the issue of compression of the hypoglossal nerve - or indeed other nerves - may not actually be resolved fully in the intial period after birth. A detailed patient history for a child should certainly cover this issue even if the condition for which treatment is being sought is rather different.

Edema

From an osteopathic perspective edema - or an abnormal concentration of fluid in any part of the body - is most frequently the result of a blockage of the body's normal absorptive flows which may be caused by a trauma or by post-operative scarring for example. The danger is the viscious cycle whereby edemas cause further blockages to blood vessels and nerves which impedes their function giving rise to tissue congestion exacerbating the problem. The recommended treatment for edema is to restore free movement to the lymphatice drainage system via gentle manipulation or massage. The intended effect is improve circulation, increased resorption, and a system that can naturally heal itself.