Inside our limbs, muscles are grouped into compartments, separated by a layer of connective tissue. Alongside the muscles there are veins, arteries, and nerves. If there is swelling within a compartment, it can reach a point where the pressure cuts off blood flow and irritates the nerves. This is compartment syndrome. There are two types: …
Chest pain can be worrying, especially when there’s a potential threat of heart or lung conditions. But if those have been excluded by your doctor, the pain may be musculoskeletal. In this case, the culprit might be the joints between your ribs and breastbone. This is known as costochondritis. What is Costochondritis? Costochondritis is a …
Often mistaken for a trapped nerve, referred pain causes aches and pains beyond the problematic area. When the lower back or pelvic joints are involved, it can cause an ache down the thigh as far as the calf; but a few details make it easy to distinguish from true sciatica. What is Referred Pain? Any …
The TMJ is always an interesting one to treat. It often comes up as an aside when a patient comes in to address another area. Sometimes the problem has been present for a long time, but the patient never really knew who would be able to deal with. Is it a dentist job? Would a …
The knee is made of a few joints, supported by ligaments, cartilage, and muscle. Any of these can be susceptible to injury and sometimes these issues come in groups. Your osteopath can diagnose and treat at your first appointment, so you don’t need to wait for a referral to start getting on top of your …
When joints move further than we expect, we consider them to be hypermobile. There’s often not much reason why you have a hypermobile joint, or it might be due to injury or a connective tissue disorder. Widespread Hypermobility Some people are “just bendy”. Sometimes this comes down to bony anatomy, like being able to squat …
Most cases of lower back pain, although disruptive, are considered simple. Osteopaths see a lot of lower back pain, so we know what “simple” looks like, and are well placed to identify complex cases. What Constitutes a Red Flag in Lower Back Pain? Most lower back pain is caused by something mechanical. That might include: …
Chronic pain is defined as pain that has continued for 6 months or more. It can be broken down into two types: primary and secondary chronic pain. Primary Chronic Pain Primary pain exists without, or after resolution of, another condition. For example, a back injury might cause the expected pain initially, but after the injury …
Welcoming a new baby is wonderful, but for new parents, it can lead to a handful of aches and pains too. Osteopathy can help with fatigued muscles and joints that ache from holding an awkward position for too long. But there are also things you can do to prevent or limit the discomfort in the …
The pelvic floor is integral for continence, and plays a significant role in the function of the lower back. But it’s an area often overlooked or ignored. Sometimes that’s because we assume our symptoms are normal, and just something we have to get on with. Other times it’s because we don’t know who can help. …