Your First Visit to Bribie Osteopathy

What to Expect in you First Osteopathic Appointment?

Taking Your History – where do we start?

Firstly, you will be emailed a patient history sheet to fill out. This gives you time and space to think, if you have a long history of challenges.

Anything that has happened to your body, particularly traumas (physical and emotional), falls surgeries, injuries etc., are all important to me.

If you have a long history, I always suggest putting it on your computer so you can update it and print it out whoever you see.

Your history gives me a conversation starter and some clues to where we need to head so don’t let it be stressful.

Can I do anything to prepare for treatment?

I strongly suggest you hydrate yourself and don’t rush to the appointment if you can help it. You will receive far more out of your appointment if you relax and settle into the idea of treatment. I always recommend patients wear loose, comfortable clothing our bring something comfortable (tights etc.) to change into, as I work with you fully clothed.

What will happen in the session?

After our initial conversation, I will conduct a brief or more extensive physical examination depending on the requirements for your case. It is always gentle (we may find a couple of tender areas) and entirely focused on what we need to know for the treatment.

You will usually lie supine (face up) for most of the treatment. Sometimes it may be necessary to be moved onto your side and/or front. I will move my hands to different points of your body feeling for movement, tissue changes and encouraging the body to release. The movements are often very gentle but can be very strong depending on the degree of tissue tension that needs to be matched (which often relates to areas of old trauma).

What does it feel like?

People often describe warmth, changes in pressure, gentle releases or fluid feelings. People often have gurgling in their stomachs and changes in their breathing patterns, even yawns (your eyes might even water) or coughs. These are good solid signs that the Autonomic Nervous System is going from Sympathetic “Flight or Fight” to Parasympathetic “rest and digest”. In other words what I like to call “healing mode”.

Sometimes emotions may come and go, memories may surface as the body releases old strain patterns . Sometimes this is when people remember what happened to their body years ago.

There is no right or wrong, everyone is different. Some people may feel absolutely nothing but after a couple of sessions they feel lighter and it is easier for them to move.

What could I feel afterwards?

You may be surprised to experience some discomfort over the next couple of days or anytime within the first week after treatment. It is normal to have some inflammation as the circulation flow improves and the body goes to work healing itself (most of the changes will happen when you are resting or sleeping).

Please drink as much water as possible over the next few days after treatment.

What if I am sore after treatment?

Taking a warm bath with ½ to 1 cup of Epsom Salts can ease muscular pain. Do not soak for more than 20-30 mins.  Epsom Salts contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant. Epsom salts can be drying to the skin, but the addition of an equal amount of baking soda to the bath will help keep the skin soft.

If pain is mild, heat and gentle movement will help to ease it.  Apply heat for 15-20 minutes only.  Too much heat application can make things more painful. Shorter frequent applications (2-3 x per day) is better. Leave at least 2 hours between applications.

If the pain is more severe then ice or switching ice and heat intermittently may help. Use the same time scale and NEVER APPLY DIRECTLY TO BARE SKIN – use a towel between your skin and the ice bag/heat pack.

With chronic, long term problems, it is often estimated that it will take one month of treatment for each year the problem has been present. This varies between lifestyle, age, health, genetics. It is a very broad estimate but often ends up being true.

Many people immediately feel better with osteopathy. Most people feel that something has changed or “feels different” as they walk out the door. Frequently patients will notice a gradual improvement in how they feel over time with treatment.  Some patients will feel no change until nearly all their somatic dysfunction has been corrected.  This may take a few visits, so please be patient with your body and your Osteopathic Doctor as healing occurs.

Please call me at the clinic if you have any concerns about your response after treatment.