Thank you for booking an appointment with
our practice. We know that attending your
first appointment with an osteopath can
be a little disconcerting to begin with. The
following fact sheet has been developed to
explain exactly what to expect and answer
some of the questions you might have. If
you have any other concerns, please contact
the practice by phone prior to attending
your first appointment.
At the start of your first session, your
osteopath will ask you to tell them about
your problem. They will ask questions
about your medical history and lifestyle
as well as your symptoms. This is very
important as it will help them to make an
accurate diagnosis and suggest appropriate
treatment. They will write down what
you say in your records. These will be
kept confidential in compliance with the
Data Protection Act 1998. If you wish,
you may ask for a copy of these notes, an
administration fee may be charged for this.
The osteopath will need to examine the
area(s) of your body causing discomfort.
Sometimes the cause of the problem may
be in a different area to the pain, (For
example, a difference in leg length may
result in compensations in the upper back
which might result in neck pain) so they may
need to examine your whole body.
They will need to feel for tightness in
the muscles and stiffness in the joints
and may need to touch these areas to
identify problems. They will explain what
they are doing as they go along. If you
are uncomfortable with any part of this,
you have the right to ask them to stop at
any stage without prejudicing your future
treatment.
In order to examine you effectively, it may
be necessary for your osteopath to ask you
to remove some clothing as appropriate for
the condition, which might mean undressing
down to your underwear. If this is a problem
for you, make your osteopath aware of this,
and discuss whether it might be appropriate
for them to treat you while you wear shorts
and a t-shirt.
The osteopath will suggest a course of
treatment, which may require several visits.
They may be able to give you an estimate
of how often they need to see you and
any associated costs by the end of the first
session. They will ask for your permission to
provide treatment and you may be asked to
sign a consent form.
Most osteopaths will begin your treatment
at your first appointment, but sometimes
they may require further tests first i.e.
blood tests or scans. Occasionally they may
diagnose an illness that they are unable
to treat and may suggest that you consult
your GP or another appropriate health
professional.
You may experience mild discomfort with
some of the treatment techniques used,
but osteopathic treatment is usually a very
gentle process. Your osteopath will let you
know if any discomfort is likely and it can
be helpful to let them know what you are
feeling. If pain persists after treatment,
contact your osteopath for advice.
You are welcome to bring someone with you
for all or part of your consultation. Children
should always be accompanied by a parent
or guardian.
If you have any other questions, ask your
osteopath.