Normally treatment is included in the first consultation, unless the case is particularly complex or further investigations are required. The fee is for the consultation, advice and/or treatment, not for the time period involved. It is possible to over treat people and quite often - less is more - in osteopathy, as the body needs time to adjust to changes.

There are many different ways to treat a problem and it is important that you let your osteopath know if you have any diagnosed conditions or if you have concerns, especially regarding manipulation.

Occasionally people experience ‘flare ups’, this is most likely to happen the following day. If this does happen, and we have not advised otherwise, then it is important to do your best to keep moving generally, without over-doing it. This will reduce the build up of inflammation and little & often is the key. Hot & cold compresses (5 mins each) will also help. Other self help advice is often given that may include stretching, strengthening, relaxation exercises, posture, etc., as appropriate. This is to aid recovery and avoid re-occurrence. Follow-up treatments are shorter and charged accordingly.

Generally speaking, the older the problem - the longer it will take to resolve. It is important to be realistic about the outcome and that you need to do your bit - we can not do this alone.

Once the problem has settled it may be recommended that an occasional maintenance or preventative treatment is given to help avoid a further crisis. This also keeps your record open and avoids having to do a re-assessment, with a new case history. Otherwise, we can only keep your record open for 18 months - this is for reasons of legality & safety. If we don’t see you in the meantime then we need to start from scratch and charge accordingly.