How can a Bristol Osteopath help with spinal conditions and back pain?

One of the most-asked questions I get from patients is how can a Bristol Osteopath help with spinal conditions and back pain.

According to the NHS, (hyperlink with https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/charles-greenough/) back pain is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, with referrals for spinal surgery increasing annually and patients waiting on average 18 weeks from referral to treatment.

Spinal conditions come in many different grades of severity, pain and disablement.

A Bristol Osteopath can help with many issues to do with the spine and back, but severe problems may need referral.

Osteopaths in Bristol are well-placed to accurately diagnose spinal conditions and to manage them accordingly with either osteopathic treatments or referral.

The spine is a complex structure that provides the main support for our musculoskeletal framework.

The spine is made up of vertebral bones that stack on top of each other to transmit body weight, while also allowing movement at each level.

Between each vertebrae is a disc, a spongy rubbery washer that absorbs shock.

A complex network of ligaments, muscles and fascia stabilize the spine and control movement. Within this, elaborate nerve networks control movement.

When the spine goes wrong, it is rarely (if ever) one structure in isolation affected, as all the parts are so intimately connected, and interdependent in function. It is very complicated!

Bristol Osteopaths are trained specifically to understand the intricacies of this musculoskeletal network and how the structures inter-relate.

Osteopaths can diagnose most spinal conditions and if the picture is uncertain they are able to refer a patient for further medical testing or to see another specialist.

I often find that the joints allowing movement between vertebrae (the facet joints) can be strained or injured. These can get inflamed and very painful.

The ligaments stabilizing these joints can also be strained or stretched, leading to sensitivity and pain.

Discs can be damaged, often in the lower back and neck.

Disc damage can often be minor and responds well to Osteopathic treatments and specific exercises.

In more serious disc injuries, they may require referral and possibly surgery.

As a leading Osteopath in Henleaze, I'm able to differentiate this for patients.

Muscles are almost always involved in spinal injury, because they act as a protective mechanism for any painful structure in the spine and back.

Muscles can become strained and overly-tense, which in turn can cause movement restriction and discomfort.

Nerves in the spine and back can be irritated by injury and sometimes refer pain to other areas of the body.

For example, a low back disc injury could implicate a nerve causing leg pain. This is often referred to as Sciatica.

Osteopathic diagnosis is aimed at identifying all the structures involved in spinal or back injury.

This can include those structures that are distant from the site of pain.

Osteopathic treatment and ongoing management of spinal conditions and back pain is aimed at treating all the components of an injury, allowing the injured structures to repair.

An experienced Bristol Osteopath will provide treatment that promotes healing and restores equilibrium to the patient's body.

I often prescribe exercises to promote repair, and to stabilize and strengthen the spine and back, so an injury is not repeated.

To see how I treat low back pain, please visit here.

Read here to find out how a Bristol Osteopath can help with slipped discs.

Posture and sitting often contribute to spinal issues and back pain - read here to get free tips on better posture.

If you would like to discuss how osteopathic treatments in Bristol could help you with a spinal condition or back pain, please book a consultation with me online here.

To find out more about the full range of osteopathic treatments that I provide in Bristol, please visit here for details.