Going to see an osteopath for the first time can be daunting. Most likely you are in some pain and, particularly if you haven't seen an osteopath before, worried that you have everything you need for a successful appointment.
That is why I put this checklist together so that you can get ready for your appointment with the minimum of worry and together we can get you started on your healing journey.
So what do you need to remember?
Don't worry
This might seem obvious and a bit of a throw away line but there is really no need to worry. Worry and stress won't help your pain for starters. Also we can address any questions you have before we start. Not sure what the appointment entails? We will go through it before we start (or you can check out my blog on this subject). Turned up in the 'wrong' clothing? No problem, we can work round that. Whatever your question or worry we can address it and find a solution you are happy with.
Wear sensible clothing
Like I said, we can work with and work around almost any clothing. That said for manual therapy, such as osteopathy, clothing that allows for easy movement are best. Sportswear such as a t-shirt as shorts or leggings are ideal. There may be times, particularly during the initial examination where I ask if you are comfortable to dress down to allow observation of your skin and or to allow better movement, which can help me figure out how best to help you. As before, if you're not comfortable then we will work around that.
Gather your medical history
As an osteopath I consider your whole being when working out what is wrong and how to help you, so information about other medical conditions you have or have had, the medication you take and any scans or imaging you have had are useful for me to see. If possible come armed with a list of any medications you take - both prescribed and over the counter, and be prepared to talk about your medical history. All information taken is confidential, used only for the purpose of your treatment and will not be divulged to any other party without your explicit consent.
Think about your goals
In my experience having clear goals when beginning treatment can be really important to recovery and allows us to measure your progress. These goals do not have to be complicated but do need to be significant to you. For example if you are a runner you may want to target a specific distance or time, or to play a full match without pain if you are a footballer or hockey player. You may want to be able to walk the dog round a favourite route or be able to sit down on the floor to play with the grandkids (and get up again afterwards!). And it's important to note that there is no problem in changing these goals as we go along - they are your goals after all!
Be prepared to do some work
Now I'm a bit biased but I think the job that osteopaths do in helping people out of pain and back to what they love to do is pretty amazing. However, I can't (and nor would I want to) do it alone. When I am working with you, we need to be working together towards your goals. One of the principle tenets of osteopathy is that the body has an inbuilt medicine chest and the ability to heal itself, essentially to bring itself back into balance. The work we do together aims to put you (including your body) into the best place to allow that healing process to occur. In almost all cases I will suggest some exercises to help with that between appointments. This may be in the form of some specific stretches or movements or something less direct that may influence stress levels or sleep for example. What I have found is that those who report being consistent with their 'homework' tend to have the more positive outcomes. I will work with you to find what is possible within your physical and time constraints and encourage you to be consistent where you can.
Be open minded
This is critical. Because the practice of osteopathy is holistic I often find that the site of the symptoms is not necessarily the site of the issue. For example neck pain can be a result of a mobility issue further down the spine, knee pain may be a result of a problem with the hip. So you may find me examining areas which feel OK or asking questions which don't seem immediately relevant. I encourage you to ask me why if you are not sure but also to understand that in order to get a lasting solution we need to look for the root of the issue, which may not be immediately obvious.
So, there we have it. Your checklist for your first appointment. Hopefully this has given you some insight about what you need to think about before your appointment and take some of the worry away. If you have any further questions about this or you are not sure if osteopathy can help you please do get in touch, via the contact form, email or just give me a call. I'll be happy to help you.
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