Ask Graham - Healthy Life's Resident Osteopath |
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| SCIATICA | STRESS & BACK PAIN |
| LOWER BACK PAIN | STIFF NECK |
| AUTUMN DAYS | PAIN, WEAKNESS AND REPETITIVE STRAIN |
| HOLIDAY BACK PAIN |
Q - Cranial Osteopathy
I have heard about the benefits of Cranial Osteopathy and I would like to know more. Is it only concerned with the head and neck or can you also treat problems in other areas of the body? Who might benefit in particular from Cranial Osteopathy and what types of problems do you treat with this approach?
A - Cranial Osteopathy is a very gentle, yet profoundly effective therapy. The name, Cranial Osteopathy, implies some form of treatment for the head but this subtle technique can be used to treat the whole body.
Cranial Osteopathy is essentially the art of listening with a highly developed and sensitive touch to the body’s own unique story, its traumas, strains and restrictions. Every patient has their own unique individuality, their own story to tell and that makes every treatment session special.
One of my patients had a very tender and painful back, and headaches that could last all day long. She was so uncomfortable that she doubted I would be able to even touch her back. As I lightly placed my hands upon her spine she felt the gentle, healing warmth; she began to relax and could feel the tender muscles releasing her pain. Over a period of visits she learnt how to relax more deeply, allowing the body to release its tensions and rebalance itself.
Due to its gentleness Cranial Osteopathy is often my patients preferred form of treatment for a range of problems from neck and arm pain to low back, pelvis and leg problems.
Benefits of Cranial Osteopathy for the whole family
Graham believes that combining a Cranial Osteopathy approach with a healthy lifestyle can bring benefits for the whole family, providing safe, natural health care through the stages of family life.
Children
Correcting strains that may occur during birth and treating posture problems while a child is still growing, may help to prevent problems occurring later in their lives, children become calmer, more relaxed and happier in themselves. As every parent knows, a happier child means happier parents!
Stress, Neck and Back Pain
Our modern lives can be exciting, demanding and fast moving but all this can result in greater stress and worry. For some people stress can eventually lead to an inability to relax and associated problems such as tiredness, irritability, muscular tension, neck and back ache. Each Cranial Osteopathy session can become a deeply relaxing experience, calming the mind and enabling the body to let go of physical tension and pain.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Q - ARTHRITIS
I suffer from arthritis and have been told that there is little that can be done other than to take pain killers. What advice could you give me?
A - Have you thought about your diet? It is generally considered that as we grow older, sound eating habits and gentle sensible physical activity become evermore important. Try to include more natural unprocessed foods in your diet such as fresh vegetables that help to encourage a healthy constitution.
Gentle osteopathy combined with individual advice on diet, exercise, posture and relaxation can often help to relieve the pain, giving arthritis sufferers increased mobility and more control over this often debilitating condition.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Q - SCIATICA
I enjoy walking for health and relaxation but recently I have been plagued by sciatica. Can you suggest anything to help relieve this painful condition?
A - Sciatica is caused by irritation and inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This important nerve emerges from the lower spine and travels through the heavy muscles of the buttock, right down the leg, to the tip of the big toe. It is the longest nerve of the body and can give rise to a variety of painful conditions, from low back pain, pain and tenderness in the buttock area, knee problems and severe pain anywhere along the length of the sciatic nerve. The intensity of the pain can be compared to toothache.
My approach is to examine the low back to see if the sciatic nerve is effected, sometimes commonly called a “pinched” or “trapped” nerve. Then I assess the muscles of the leg to see if there is any strain or tension along the length of the sciatic nerve.
Gentle Osteopathic treatment can then be given to help relieve any tension and irritation of the sciatic nerve. Osteopathy has been shown to be successful in healing this often crippling condition.
Self-help measures include wearing shoes with cushioned soles and avoiding high heels. Try not to lift or carry anything too heavy. Parents should try to avoid carrying a small child on their hip.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Q - STRESS & BACK PAIN
I have been told that stress can cause backache. Is this true and what can I do to help alleviate the problem?
A - Stress and anxiety can lead to muscular tension. This in turn restricts the natural freedom of movement, giving rise to joint stiffness and pain. For many people the problem areas are often found in the neck and shoulders, or the lower back area.
This cycle of stress, muscle tension, joint stiffness and pain, can all too often become a vicious circle, as the resulting pain causes yet more anxiety. When allowed to continue, the result is an ever deteriorating spiral of distress, eventually leading to physical ailments such as tension headaches, tiredness, irritability, back and neck pain.
Take steps to break the cycle of stress and pain as soon as possible by making time available in your busy life for some much needed relaxation. Gentle exercise such as walking and swimming may help. Relaxation is an important part of a healthy lifestyle along with good diet and gentle exercise.
If you need more help with overcoming an inability to relax gentle Cranial Osteopathy may help. This is a very gentle, yet profoundly effective therapy and is so easy on my patients body that it is often the patient’s preferred form of treatment for a range of problems from muscular tension to neck and back pain. Each treatment becomes a deeply relaxing experience with the patient feeling only the light, gentle, warm healing touch of the osteopath’s hands, the body is led into releasing its restricted patterns of movement and naturally rebalancing itself.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Q - LOWER BACK PAIN
I play tennis and often suffer from muscle stiffness in my lower back and pelvis; also, I recently experienced a pain that reached down to my left knee. What advice could you give me?
A - In tennis, squash, badminton and golf - sports where the player twists at the hips – the pelvic bones may become strained as the pelvis is repeatedly twisted.
The pelvis is made up of three bones – the sacrum, a triangular shaped bone in the centre and a hip bone, the ileum, on either side. All three bones should be perfectly aligned and balanced; however, frequent swivelling or twisting of the hips can affect this balance
If the misalignment irritates the lower lumbar nerves - these nerves travel from the spine down through the muscles in the buttocks - this can result in pain travelling right down to the knee and foot.
Since the pelvic area has some of the largest bones and most powerful muscles of the body, it would be wise to have a thorough osteopathic examination to assess the treatment required to correct the problem.
Cranial osteopathy can gently work with the lumbar spine, sacrum and pelvic bones thereby helping to relieve muscular tension and ease pain and discomfort in this area.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Q - STIFF NECK
I have been suffering from a stiff neck for some time but now the pain and stiffness has moved to my shoulder. I have also experienced pins and needles and numbness in my arm. A friend told me that cranial osteopathy may be able to help me; is this correct?
A - Cranial osteopathy is often my patient’s preferred form of treatment for trapped and irritated nerves in the neck.
The nerves that control the muscles which co-ordinate the movements of the hand, arm and shoulder leave the spine in the lower cervical area and travel to the shoulders, along the arm and through the elbow to the wrist and hand.
When the nerves are impaired the arm and shoulder muscles can become weaker. As the muscles become weaker, there is a much greater risk of strain injuries which bring the associated neurological symptoms of pins and needles, tingling sensations and numbness.
Cranial osteopathy and osteopathy can be very effective in relieving neck pain and stiffness especially as the gentle approach of the treatment enables the patient to deeply relax, relieving the effects of accumulated stress and tension in the neck and shoulder muscles.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Hi Healthy Life Essex,
Earlier this year I was in pain and had very little use of my left arm, I had a couple of NHS referrals which only made matters worse. Reading your magazine I came across and article by Graham Hiscott which related to how I was feeling. I phoned Graham, that call was to change my life, I visited and was told it's your neck, you have trapped nerves. I followed Grahams instuctions (opposite to previous advise), improvements started to happen, pain lessened. Nine months later of regular treatments from Graham and I have about 80% use of my arm returned. I will jive dance again and enjoy holding my new Grandchild due any day. Gladly recommend Graham Hiscott for his skills and never giving up.
Sandra Hyams
Q - Shoulder and arm pain
I work as a secretary in a busy office and enjoy an active lifestyle, playing tennis and swimming twice a week.
However, for several months now I have suffered from a stiff neck with an aching shoulder. I had a medical consultation and a course of anti-inflammatory medication but there is little sign of improvement.
Recently my arm and hand have started to become weak when typing and I am getting pins and needles in my fingers.
I would appreciate any help or advice.
A - You may be relieved to know that I am consulted by patients with problems just like yours every week at my Burley House practice.
Problems relating to the hand, arm and shoulder often have there origin in the neck. The neck has seven moving bones, called cervical vertebrae. Between the vertebrae delicate cervical nerves leave the spinal cord and travel outwards to the muscles of the shoulder, arm, elbow, hand and fingers.
There are two types of cervical nerves known as the motor and sensory nerves. Briefly, the motor nerves control the activity of the muscles and the sensory nerves provide the sensations of touch, heat and cold.
The cervical spine is designed to be very flexible whilst at the same time able to support the weight of the head. Even a small loss of mobility in just one of the cervical joints may lead to compression or irritation of the motor and sensory nerves. Normal cervical nerve function may thus be impaired causing pain, weakness and other symptoms.
Impaired cervical motor nerve function may lead to muscle weakness, loss of strength and strain of the shoulder, arm and hand.
Impaired cervical sensory nerve function may lead to sensory symptoms such as tingling, pins and needles or numbness of the arm hand and fingers.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Autumn Days
What could possibly be more invigorating at this time of the year, than to wrap up well and enjoy the uplifting experience of a walk through the golden russet hues of the English countryside? But as Mother Nature prepares for her winter sleep, for many of us the misty mornings and cooler evenings can only mean one thing: the return of aching muscles, stiff joints and that painful back.
Why is autumn a trial for so many back pain and arthritis sufferers?
As a practicing osteopath, I find autumn is a time when those painful back and joint problems tend to resurface. This seasonal change brings many patients into my practice suffering in pain and distress.
Of course the immediate aim is to relieve their pain, but my concern does not simply end there. Once the presenting pain has been relieved, I turn my attention to the important question of preventative care and helping to avoid a further recurrence in the future. This is one instance where a little knowledge can be a very useful thing.
Autumn brings with it cold, damp days and longer evenings; this change in climate can affect our joints. These are kept moving thanks to the special lubricating oil that we call the synovial fluid. Just like the oil in your car engine, the synovial fluid works best when warm and moving.
Imagine it is a cold damp morning and you are late for work. You jump into the car, start the engine and fly off at full throttle. What happens next? You guessed it: the engine probably shudders and stalls. We all know the mistake was to drive the car flat out from cold; ideally we would have allowed time for the engine to warm up before driving away. This same principle applies to the muscles and joints of the body.
Those who suffer with joint stiffness and back pain often feel better in the mornings once they have been up and active for some time. Inactivity and cold stiff muscles make us more prone to injury, so, with longer evenings often spent slumped in front of the television, autumn is a time when we should take extra special care so as not to strain or injure ourselves.
DO
- Wrap up well, taking particular care to keep the lower back protected from cold draughts when working outdoors.
- Prepare your muscles before working in the garden or tackling those outdoor DIY jobs, with some suitable gentle, stretching and warming up exercise first. When our muscles are warm they are usually more supple and flexible. This is why sporting people begin with warm up exercises before a match or game.
- Try to keep active if your health allows. Walking and swimming can be excellent ways to keep active and exercise those muscles and joints.
DON'T
- Reach up too high doing jobs such as hedge and shrub cutting. This often causes neck, shoulder and upper back strain.
- Work in the garden, standing and bending forward from the waist. This is how many gardeners strain the low back whilst weeding the flower bed.
- Carry heavy loads. It is better to half fill that wheel barrow and make another journey than to injure your back. A back strain can take weeks or even months to heal so prevention is always the best policy.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Q - Holiday back pain
I had been looking forward to my summer holiday but now I am worried that my troublesome back will give me pain and spoil my relaxation. I have been pain free for quite some time but whenever I go away the back problem returns. What advice can you give regarding back care during the holiday season?
A - I do sympathise - back pain does have a habit of returning when you least expect it to and holiday times are no exception.
If you are prone to back problems my advice would be to have an Osteopathic check up and treatment on a more regular basis, and not just when you are in pain. My experience has shown that this type of preventative approach can make a real difference in helping to maintain a healthy, pain free spine. As summer holidays are now fast approaching I have put together my tips and advice for the holiday season.
Graham’s 10 Holiday Tips
Back strains often occur while travelling to our holiday destination so keep luggage as light as possible to minimise the risk of injury from lifting and carrying.
- A suitcase with wheels and an extendable handle can be a good investment.
- If you do need to carry hand luggage it is usually better to equal out the weight evenly between two bags and carry one in each hand.
- Lift correctly. Bend your knees keeping the spine straight.
- At the airport take particular care when lifting your suitcases from the luggage carousel. The spine is especially vulnerable to injury when lifting and turning at the same time.
- Before you set out on a long car journey adjust the car seats for both the driver and passengers comfort.
- A more upright seated posture and a lumbar support can help to alleviate the postural strain associated with driving.
- Take regular breaks from driving. Get out, have a stretch and walk around.
- If you have had a long drive, it is important to relax stiff back muscles before unloading the luggage.
- If you suffer from neck stiffness take a comfortable pillow with you. Hotel pillows are not always as comfortable and supportive as your own.
- Avoid becoming dehydrated in hot climates, drink plenty of pure water. Dehydration predisposes the body to cramp and muscular spasm.
Benefits of Water
A Thought for the Summer
Your spine, muscles and joints depend on water. It transports essential nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, carries away the waste products from muscular activity, and helps to detoxify the joints.
A lack of water leads to dehydration, the body becomes sluggish and muscles become less efficient. All this is bad news when it comes to back pain!
Summer Tips
- Caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee are not good substitutes for pure water. They tend to have mild diuretic properties and can therefore encourage dehydration. Alcoholic drinks also have a similar effect.
- Try replacing some of those cups of tea or coffee you are drinking throughout the day with pure water or fruit teas.
- Don’t rely on your thirst to tell you when to drink. By the time your body tells you that it is thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated.
- Keep a bottle of pure water handy, when you are out and about, or a cool glass by your side whilst relaxing by the pool. This way it is easier to maintain a regular intake of water throughout the day and avoid dehydration.
When in doubt always seek the help of a medical professional.
The advice contained in this article is for general information only. If you have a health problem you should seek specific professional advice.
Graham Hiscott BSc Ost. DO, Registered Osteopath
The Burley House Osteopathy Clinic
Picture Credits
(1) © Photographer:Sebastian Kaulitzki | Agency: Dreamstime.com
(2) © Photographer:Gansovsky Vladislav | Agency: Dreamstime.com
(3) © Photo Courtesy of Kampner Photography