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Here are some common myths . The Truths are below
Myth: Osteopaths put bones back in
Myth: Discs can slip
Myth: Osteopaths “put discs back in”
Myth :Osteopaths always “click your joints”
Myth: Osteopathy is a Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Myth: Osteopaths are against drugs
Myth: Osteopaths are against surgery
Myth: You need an x-ray of the spine to tell what is wrong.
Myth: An MRI scan will show everything
Myth: GPs cannot refer patients to osteopaths
Myth: Anyone can call themselves an osteopath
Myth: Osteopaths treat everything
Myth :Osteopathic treatment is expensive
Myth: Chiropractors are doctors, osteopaths are not
Myth: Osteopaths are chiropractors who are more highly trained, or chiropractors are osteopaths who are more highly trained.
Myth: If x-rays show spondylosis or spinal osteoarthritis in the neck, low back or mid back, there is no cure and no treatment and the only answer is painkillers
Myth:Hip pain is felt in the buttock
Myth: Orthotics are the answer for foot and pronation problems
Myth: Bed rest is good for low back pain
Myth: People with osteoporosis sholud not have osteopathic treastment
Myth: After a certain age you should not have osteopathic treatment.
Myth: Osteopaths just feel your joints to know what is wrong with you
Myth: Bad backs need hard beds
Here we debunk some of the common misconceptions about health and osteopathy. See the relevant topic on the ret of the A to Z for fuller explanations.
Myth: Osteopaths put bones back in
Truth: No. Bones in the spine do not dislocate (except with massive trauna, when it is a surgical emergency) or even subluxate (partial dislocation). Osteopathic techniques are not aimed at repositioning bones.
Myth : Discs can slip
Truth: No, Discs are firmly attached between the bones of the spine and cannot slip. They can however rupture or wear
Myth: Osteopaths “put discs back in”
Truth : No (see above)
Myth :Osteopaths always “click your joints”
Truth: No. This refers to the low – amplitude high velocity thrust (LAHVT) to synovial joints of the spine or limbs. It is one among several techniques an osteopath may use, depending on the diagnosis. But it is not the only technique. Some patients would not receive any LAHVT treatment because it would not be needed or would be contra-indicated, Some osteopaths never use LAHVT at all.
Myth: Osteopathy is a Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Truth: The term “CAM” for no good reason tries to lump together completely different approaches to health care. There are many health care practices that are said to come under umbrella of CAM ( a vague word with no real meaning) – herbalism, homoeopathy, acupuncture, Alexander teaching, Rolfing , reflexology and many many others Osteopathy is osteopathy, not “CAM” Osteopathy is complementary only to your GP’s or hospital’s care in the same way that your dentist or optician is. And sometimes it is an alternative to drugs or surgery. Since 1993 Osteopathy has been regulated by the Osteopaths Act and is governed by the General Osteopathic Council (like the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council). The provision of osteopathy under the NHS is limited but growing.. Herbalism, homeopathy, acupunture etc etc - none of these have any statutory status or any link with osteopathy. Although individual osteopaths no doubt have their various views about them. there is no one united osteopathic opinion on them.
Myth: Osteopaths are against drugs
Truth: When osteopathy started, in the 1870s, the only drugs available to treat patients were pretty crude – morphine and alcohol, given in large doses. The germ theory of disease was not yet known (antibiotics only came in in the 1940s!) and x-rays were yet to be discovered. Dr A T Still, who first proposed osteopathy, was very much against the drug practices of his time. Nearly a century and a half later, with great progress in the medical and osteopathic professions, where do osteopaths stand? Osteopaths are not against drugs. But when painkillers are used when the problem causing the pain could be solved instead, osteopaths think that’s not so good. And when anti-inflammatory drugs are used long term when osteopathic treatment instead would be effective, osteopaths think that osteopathy would be the best option. And when the distress of pain over time leads to the patient being put on medication for depression, osteopaths, knowing that they can help rid the patient of pain, wonder whether the patient might be better off with effective treatment. Not only are there possible health costs to some patients in terms of side-effects of some drugs, but there is a huge financial cost to society. If the need for medication for pain and disability can be reduced by osteopathy - and studies show that it can - then the cost – to the NHS, to society – also falls. In some cases osteopathy is a cost effective alternative to painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Myth: Osteopaths are against surgery Truth : No. In fact, the early osteopaths described surgery ( in a good way) as “Osteopathy with knives” (!). Osteopaths recognise that surgery is sometimes needed., as in a few examples to follow. Sometimes a patient will visit an osteopath with cauda equina syndrome (pressure on the tail of the spinal cord giving bladder/bowel problems and/or numbness “underneath”), - the osteopath knows that this is a surgical emergency. Now that hip replacements are so successful, an osteopath will suggest one if they think hip osteroarthrosis is too advanced . The up to date osteopath is clued up about when surgical intervention is advisable. Members of SWOS are especially abreast of the latest surgical advances and can advise patients accordingly.
Myth. You need an x-ray of the spine to tell what is wrong.
Truth: X-rays are only sometimes needed. They only show the bones and most spinal pain comes from other tissues. Undue exposure to x-radiation should be avoided
See also :X-rays
Myth: An MRI scan will show everything
Truth: An MRI scan shows more structures than an x-ray., but is not the imaging procedure of choice for every suspected condition. MRIs, like any investigation, has to be interpreted in the light of the clinical presentation.
Myth: GPs cannot refer patients to osteopaths
Truth: GPs are perfectly able to refer patients to osteopaths. Since 1993 osteopaths are statutorily regulaqted by the General Osteopathic Council under the Osteopaths Act 1993
Myth: Anyone can call themselves an osteopath
Truth: Not since the Osteopaths Act 1993. “Osteopath” is now a protected title and onlt those registered with the GOsC can use it. People have been heavily fined for breaking this law and can be sent to prison.
Myth: Osteopaths treat everything
Truth: No. Osteopaths treat functional disorders related to the musculo-skeletal system that are amenable to manipulative or allied treatments. Often an osteopath will decline to take on a patient but will refer on for appropriate care. Osteopaths treat causes, not symptoms; people not conditions So it is not always easy to say 'osteopathy can help with this and not with that'. Each case is unique, hence osteopathy is bespoke healthcare. Whether or not osteopathy is right for you depends less on the precise condition you are suffering and more on the reasons for the problem and the obstacles to recovery. To find out whether and how osteopathy can help you, it is important to discuss the your case with the osteopath.
See also:When osteopaths can’t help
Myth :Osteopathic treatment is expensive
Truth: Osteopaths’ fees are very reasonable compared to many other health care professions.
See also:Fees
Myth: Chiropractors are doctors, osteopaths are not
Truth: Neither osteopaths nor chiropractors are doctors of medicine. Chiropractors choose to call themselves "Dr" or "Doctor of Chiropractic", just as some dentists choose to call themselves "Doctor of Dentistry". The GOsC has decided that for an osteopath to call themselves "Dr" or "Doctor of Osteopathy" might possibly be misleading.
Myth: Osteopaths are chiropractors who are more highly trained, or chiropractors are osteopaths who are more highly trained.
Truth: Neither is correct, Osteopaths and chiropractors do not train in the other profession first. There are separate colleges for each profession, and separate statutory registering bodies.
Myth: If x-rays show spondylosis or spinal osteoarthritis in the neck, low back or mid back, there is no cure and no treatment and the only answer is painkillers
Truth: There are many people who have x-ray appeance of spondylosis and spinal osteoarthritis and yet have no or little pain. The x-ray appearance may just be the normal for the patient' age and may be irrelevant to there pain. Although the normal wear of getting older cannot be reversed, pain is not inevitable (just because your skin gets wrinkled does not mean it should hurt!) What matters is how the spine and its joints and muscles are working. Osteopath can improve function and alleviate pain even when there is some spondylosis or osteoarthrosis shown on x-ray.
Myth:Hip pain is felt in the buttock
Truth: Most hip problems cause pain in the groin or outside of the top of the thigh.
Myth: Orthotics are the answer for foot and pronation problems
Truth: Not always or entirely, and sometimes never, although they may in patients be part of the solution, although usually not the whole answer.
See also: Pronation; orthotics
Myth: Bed rest is good for low back pain
Truth: It is usually one of the worst things for low back pain
Myth: People with osteoporosis sholud not have osteopathic treastment
Truth: Osteopaths can use techniques that pose no risk even to weakened bones
Myth: After a certain age you should not have osteopathic treatment.
Truth: Osteopathy is effective and safe at any age
Myth: Osteopaths just feel your joints to know what is wrong with you
Truth: No. Osteopaths spend a lot of time taking a full case history and examining you before using palpation as one part of their assessment.
Myth: Bad backs need hard beds
Truth: Beds can be, and often are, too hard. There needs to be enough give to adapt to the contours of the body. A bed should have a springy base that does not sag. the matress should be thick enough and not too firm. Before buying an expesive bed (or any bed), seek an osteopaths advice.
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