Abdominal Pains
Stomach cramps, bloating, indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation can severely disrupt your daily routine. These symptoms should not be ignored as they can be caused by a wide range of medical conditions. So, talk with your GP about them before you consider osteopathic treatment. This way you can make sure that you get the best possible care.
Why do I get pain?
What can be causing the abdominal pain, if there is no medical explanation for it? Your stomach and guts form a long muscular tube, which occupies the largest space in your abdomen. As muscle tissue, they can be affected by similar injuries as any other muscle in your body. For example, if you are suffering from constipation, your guts have a hard time to push the digested food forwards. Eventually, they will go into a cramp like your calf muscles would do if you ran a marathon without training.
Scar tissue from abdominal surgeries, including Caesarean Sections, can also interfere with the normal function of an organ. The organs are covered with a thin layer of connective tissue called fascia. It is the same layer you remove from meat before you prepare it. These fasciae contain all the blood vessels and nerves, which supply your organs and the need to be gliding on each other for optimal function. With the formation of scar tissue, the layers stick to each other rather than gliding. This impairs the supply of nutrients and removal of metabolic waste in the affected organ. The result can be stomach cramps, indigestion or disturbed bowl movement.
How can we help?
Osteopathy is a very non-invasive way to treat your abdominal pain. No chemicals or sharp metal objects are involved in the treatment. Typically, for the examination, you will be asked to do certain movements, while the Osteopath places their hands on the symptomatic area. The treatment often involves stretching and mobilisation of an organ, which can cause slight discomfort during the procedure. When the Osteopath holds your head without much physical movement, he/she is using cranio-sacral techniques to work on your central nervous system. Articulation and manipulation techniques for the spine can be added to help normalise the nerve supply to an organ.
WHAT’S NEXT?
If you suffer from abdominal pains and have had other medical reasons ruled out, then you should consider seeing us. Call now!