Understanding Osteopathic Therapy
If you are experiencing body aches or pain as a result of an injury, strain or bad posture, you might need the services of an osteopathic technician. He or she provides treatment through manual manipulations (massage, exercises, stretching, etc.) and prescribing medicine. You may also be required to visit a chiropractor, but this is a specialist who mostly deals with spine-related conditions. Here's what you need to know about osteopathic therapy:
How Do You Get to See an Osteopathic Therapist?
The first specialist you visit when having any kind of health problem is your family doctor. He or she examines you to identify whether his or her skills and expertise are enough to offer you the best care. If they are not, you are referred to a specialist who can. This is how you get to visit an osteopathic therapist; your general doctor refers you to him or her.
What Can You Expect On the First Visit?
The osteopathic specialist might have several questions for you to mostly understand your medical history and find out more about your condition/pain. Try and answer as detailed and accurate as possible to help the osteopathic specialist provide the right treatment.
After answering the specialist's questions, you might be required to change into a hospital gown for easier access to the area you are experiencing pain or discomfort. The osteopathic therapist uses his or her hands to examine the area of concern. He or she might also request for X-rays or MRIs for better visualisation.
After examination, the osteopath will have a diagnosis for you. The osteopath then explains what he or she plans to carry out as a treatment remedy. This may include massage, exercise, stretching and even swallowing or applying prescribed medication. You should note that sometimes some kinds of pain cannot be fully eliminated, but can be managed through therapy.
What Can You Expect After Osteopathic Therapy?
This is different for different people and also depends on your condition. You might feel some kind of relief or experience some soreness on the first few days. However, after some rounds or sessions of therapy, you should start noticing some improvement and even sleep better. If you feel worse, don't keep quiet about it; inform your osteopath.
Cost
Osteopathic therapy is not cheap. It is therefore important to have medical insurance and ensure that the osteopath accepts payment from your medical insurance company.
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