Chronic pain osteopathy treatment in Ilkley
Chronic pain can be hugely debilitating, persistent and exhausting, leaving a negative effect on our lifestyle, daily routine and our physical and mental wellbeing. It can often be caused by chronic conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. As a registered osteopath, I'm experienced in assessing and diagnosing chronic pain and, through osteopathic treatment, can help you manage your symptoms and get you back doing what you love to do.
Treatment is available at my osteopathic clinic in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, or if you’d prefer treatment in the comfort of your own home, I'm more than happy to arrange a home visit instead. I also run a home-based clinic in Scotton, near Knaresborough.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is an extremely common condition, affecting 34% of adults (according to NHS Digital data on the NICE website). Everyone experiences pain differently, but chronic pain is often defined as pain that continues for more than 12 weeks, despite treatment or medication.
There are many underlying causes of chronic pain and, as mentioned above, it can often be a result of various chronic conditions, including fibromyalgia and arthritis. Unfortunately it isn’t always easy to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain being experienced, given that sometimes the tissue damage will resolve but the pain remains.
How can you manage chronic pain?
Just like with any type of pain, there is never a one-size-fits-all approach. Chronic pain can be a complex condition to manage and treat, but I often find that the most successful way to manage chronic pain is through a combination of treatments, such as physical or manual therapies (including osteopathy), medication, diet and exercise or relaxation techniques.
How can osteopathy help with chronic pain?
The way in which chronic pain presents itself, including the symptoms experienced and the underlying cause behind it, varies hugely from person to person. It’s a very individualistic condition, and this is what can make it a rather difficult and complex condition to treat.
Regulated by the General Osteopathic Council, osteopaths are trained to assess, diagnose and treat various musculoskeletal and neuromusculoskeletal conditions, and this includes chronic pain (as well as other acute or sub-acute conditions that could potentially develop into chronic pain). Osteopaths take a highly personalised approach – we treat the person, not the condition – and we look at your body as a whole, taking into consideration your medical history, your physical and mental health, and your goals and expectations, so that we can provide you with treatment that’s specific to your experiences. It’s this personal approach that can make osteopathy a highly beneficial treatment for managing chronic pain.
Osteopathic treatment usually focuses on certain massage or manipulation techniques to alleviate the underlying cause of the pain you’re experiencing, and we’ll work in partnership with you not only to alleviate your symptoms, but also address any functional, physical or psychosocial obstacles, in order to help you take back control of your life and make it that little bit easier on you. Chronic pain (especially if a result of an injury) can be difficult to cure, so treatment usually involves looking at how we can manage and minimise your symptoms as much as possible.
Visiting us for an assessment is the best way for us to identify the most appropriate course of action for you. It’s quick and simple to book an appointment at either my Ilkley practice or my home-based practice in Scotton – simply click the button below. You’ll be able to choose an appointment at a time and place to suit you. Alternatively, please get in touch if you’d like to request a home visit.
Further resources
The NHS has a useful webpage about the ways in which you can manage chronic pain. It also offers advice on where you can seek online help and support if you’re living with chronic pain. WebMD and Cleveland Clinic also provide a wealth of information about the condition and its management and treatment.