Osteopaths at Blandford Osteopathic Clinic are happy to help patients with any treatment listed above.

Digestive Upset

Patients with chronic digestive discomfort frequently resort to Gaviscon or other over-the-counter drug remedies to ameliorate their conditions as they arise. But the root cause can be effectively addressed by osteopathy. There are many nerves at the base of the spine connected to the rib cage and the diaprhagm. If the diaphram is excessively tense these nerves are unable to function properly which is a common cause of chronic digestive issues. By releasing this tension, cranial osteopaths are often able to dramatically reduce the pain and discomfort. The muscular tension may be the result of stress or other emotional blockages. As a result the treatment needs to be very gentle to help remove the stress and free-up the body's own healing capablilites. Exercises to help reduce stress in the first-place and manage it down may also be recommended.

Sciatica

Sciatica is caused by damage to one or more intervertebral discs which bulge causing compression of the sciatic nerve. This compression sends pain shooting down the leg on one side of the body, even as far as the foot. If, in the worst case, one of the nerve roots is irritated the condition can cause extreme pain, numbness and loss of muscle control. A damaged nerve root can take many weeks or even months to recover and, even then, residual numbness may take as long as a year or more to fully subside. Osteopaths treating sciatica will use very gentle techniques to address the bulging disc without irritating the nerve root. Experienced professionals will try to relieve any pressure on the root of the nerve, however this is an extremely delicate procedure as the treatment may risk exacerbating the underlying problem.