Opening Hours
(Reception Opens 9am- 6.45pm Daily) Mon - 8.30am to 6.45pm, Tues - 8.30am to 6pm, Wed - 8am to 7pm, Thurs - 8am to 6pm, Fri - 8.30am to 6.30pm, Sat - 9am to 1pm
Prices Start From
£43 Per Consultation / Treatment
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2 Birling Avenue, Rainham, Kent, ME8 7HB
Opening Hours
(Reception Opens 9am- 6.45pm Daily) Mon - 8.30am to 6.45pm, Tues - 8.30am to 6pm, Wed - 8am to 7pm, Thurs - 8am to 6pm, Fri - 8.30am to 6.30pm, Sat - 9am to 1pm
Prices Start From
£43 Per Consultation / Treatment
Book Online Now
Check Our Availability
Visit Us Our Clinic
2 Birling Avenue, Rainham, Kent, ME8 7HB
Opening Hours
(Reception Opens 9am- 6.45pm Daily) Mon - 8.30am to 6.45pm, Tues - 8.30am to 6pm, Wed - 8am to 7pm, Thurs - 8am to 6pm, Fri - 8.30am to 6.30pm, Sat - 9am to 1pm
Prices Start From
£43 Per Consultation / Treatment
Book Online Now
Check Our Availability
Visit Us Our Clinic
2 Birling Avenue, Rainham, Kent, ME8 7HB
Established Since 2000 And Treated over 10,000 Patients
registered by the General Osteopathic Council
neck pain treatment in Medway, Kent
Neck pain is a common occurrence and many of the main neck muscles have their point of attachment at the base of the skull. There are also nerves that supply the head that originate in the upper neck. Therefore because of these connections head pain and headaches are often associated with neck pain.
There are however serious causes of neck pain that will be considered when a case history is taken, however they are fortunately relatively rare. Infection, tumours, meningitis and arterial problems are all serious possibilities. The inner lining of the arteries of the neck have the same nerve supply as the spinal joints. If either a plaque of atherosclerosis (fat within the lining of the artery) is tearing off (the beginnings of a possible stoke), or if the lining is coming away (a artery dissection) neck pain can be a symptom. There is some anecdotal evidence of manipulation causing strokes however statistically approximately between 1 per 120,000 and 1 per 1,666,666 neck manipulations (1). It is unclear whether the manipulations cause stokes or whether this process was underway anyway and the manipulations exacerbated or worsened the problem. Unfortunately the research in this area is limited. As the statistics show this is fortunately rare and most neck pain is treatable and safe to treat. If your Osteopath has any concerns these will be discussed with you and a suitable referral will be arranged.
registered by the General Osteopathic Council
Local Neck Pain Clinic Medway, Kent
Neck and jaw pain can also be related to heart problems so any pain that gets worse with exercise, chest tightness or shortness of breath, drop attacks (loss of consciousness) are concerning symptoms.
Loss of muscle strength in the arms is also a potentially concerning associated symptom. This can be due to musculoskeletal problems such as disc prolapses however it can also be related to nerve issues that may require further investigation. If your Osteopathic practitioner is concerned regarding any of the above possibilities you will be referred to either your Doctor or in serious cases accident and emergency (fortunately a rare occurrence in practice).
The concerning but rare issues have been discussed – the main point to take from above is THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF NECK PAIN IS MUSCLE AND LIGAMENT STRAIN AND JOINT PAIN. Wear and tear of the neck joints (Spondylosis) is a common problem as we age. Another common presentation is neck disc prolapses. The spinal discs have a central ball bearing like structure that is the same consistency as toothpaste. If this material breaks through the outside cartilage of the disc it can then compress the spinal nerves. This can require surgery or can resolve with treatment, exercise therapy and time.
Whilst anatomically the neck is made up of bones (vertebrae, sacrum and pelvis), ligaments, muscles, spinal intervertebral discs, nerves, arteries, veins and lymphatic’s (the system that moves fluid and which our immune system works through), pain is due to signals our brain receives from our body. These signals are interpreted and perceived in our brains. Our nervous system receives information from all parts of the body including our visceral organs so when considering neck pain all of these areas above could potentially be involved in generating the pain you feel. Pain is perceived in our brain so our nervous system is key to understanding how pain is regulated. This is why our emotions, beliefs and perceptions are often involved and important when considering low back pain.
What do Osteopaths do?
When considering low back pain Osteopaths take a detailed case history, this gives clues and indicators to potential areas of consideration regarding your neck pain. The Osteopath will then examine the mobility and tension in your body and through their knowledge of anatomy and physiology will formulate an understanding of your body’s function.
registered by the General Osteopathic Council
Osteopaths use key principles when assessing the function of your body
The body is a unit – each tissue is interconnected, our body is like an Orchestra – made up of individual parts doing their own thing but also working closely with those around it but also paying attention to a conductor trying to run the whole show. Our body therefore has cellular connections with local tissues but also is receiving fluid from arteries and controlled via the brain through the nervous system.
The rule of the fluids is supreme – The body is approximately 60% of water by weight, so we are therefore a gel of sorts. How our fluid moves through and around the body is fundamental to health and normal function. Therefore how the pressures are regulated between each area of our body is important and considerations like how you breath will be considered. Mechanical impediments can therefore cause changes to the circulation and respiration that affects congestion and swelling in the tissues and can contribute to your pain.
Structure and function affect each other (if you change the structure you change the function and vise versa). Therefore the trauma your body has sustained over time, affects the structure and function through the biomechanics of the body.
Osteopaths consider how your lifestyle can affect your bodies’ function and therefore whether this contributes to your pain. Stress effects immune function and inflammation, our exercise, diet and behaviour effect the function of our body and the pain we experience.
Neck pain therefore is complex and related to you as the individual with multiple factors contributing and affecting how your body functions. As Osteopaths we use differing techniques to connect with the tension in the tissues of the body to improve mobility. By improving the function of the tissues the whole system changes. This changes the pain signals and therefore whether pain is perceived in the brain.
Osteopaths may also refer to other health care practitioners if there is any concerns that may need further investigations or if it is felt that the problem may respond more affectively to another treatment approach. Exercise and lifestyle changes may also be discussed within your treatment plan. Throughout this process options and concerns will be shared so your treatment plan can be agreed.
Common Issues
You can find full details regarding Osteopathy on the Osteopathy and our patient information pages of this website. There is also the health zone page which has lots of information that supports and supplements the treatment you may receive at the clinic.
Neck pain is a common occurrence and many of the main neck muscles have their point of attachment at the base of the skull. There are also nerves that supply the head that originate in the upper neck. As a result head pain and headaches are often associated with neck pain. The function of upper back and ribs and even the way we breath can affect the neck. Posture and exercise are considered and used when considering the treatment of neck pain.
Sports injuries can be either due to direct trauma or strain over time. Our Osteopaths wil typically examine the whole body as the body is a unit and linked though the connective tissue. At Rainham Osteopathic Clinic we focus on prevention rather than cure and give sports people advice on warm ups and warm downs, stretching and/or strengthening specifically to their individual requirements.
60 to 70% of us may suffer with an episode of low back pain at least once in our lives in industrialised countries (WHO). The World Health Organisation describes low back pain in this context “…the causes of the onset of low back pain remain obscure and diagnosis difficult to make. " At the Rainham Osteopathic Clinic through examination we endevour to understand your back pain and work together for the best outcome possible for your diagnosis.
The human body is designed to move, it is key to our health. The modern lifestyle unfortunately forces us to sit for prolonged periods of time at desks, in cars, even on the sofa at home. This can cause stiffness and other problems in the musculo-skeletal system such as muscle and tendon injuries, slipped discs etc. Our Osteopaths can assist in improving the range of motion of joints and reducing stiffness.
The process of aging means that our body is constantly changing and that aging results in degeneration of the joints. Symptoms can range from stiffness, mild aching or severe pain. Our Osteopaths identify areas of poor movement within the tissues of the body and improve function to reduce mechanic load on worn or arthirtic joints. Exercises and a management plan can be tailored to the individual.
We Treat For
We provide Osteopathic healthcare to all patients from across North Kent including Rainham, Sittingbourne, Medway, Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester, Strood, Sheerness, Maidstone and Faversham.
Adults
Osteopathy considers mind, matter and motion or in modern terms Body, Mind and Spirit. Problems with the body arise due to mechanical strain, biochemical strain and emotional strains. At the Rainham Osteopathic Clinic we endeavour to understand what is most important for you. A thorough case history begins the investigation of understanding. An examination primarily using the use of touch to ascertain tension in the body in relation to anatomy and fluid mechanics then gives further information. We then discuss our findings and if appropriate treatment with massage, specific joint and ligamentous adjustment, muscle work and fluid mechanic work through gentle cranial techniques and breathing and visualization exercises may be given. Exercise therapy can also be given to help improve or maintain the motion in the body. Ergonomic assessment and exercise assessment as with some patients the problem may be not enough exercise and others may be too much of the wrong type of exercise.
Children
It is one of the most common misconceptions that because children are so flexible, mechanical strain does not affect them as it would adults. However they experience mechanical strain, chemical strain and emotional strain just as the rest of humanity does and currently our children move less than at any time in human history. The too little or too much is just as important for them as adults. Growing bodies adapt around strain however they can struggle. “Growing pains” are a misconception, any pain felt means something and at the Rainham Osteopathic Clinic we endeavour to understand what is causing this pain. Falls, accidents, diet and stress all contribute to that child’s function and often at the clinic there is no known onset to the young persons pain until when our osteopaths feel the function and describe then tension in the body the parent often remembers the fall off the scooter, a poor football challenge or fall down the stairs a few months before.
Babies
The body is designed to cope with the strain of birth however very quick births, Cesarian sections, emergency delivery (when babies get struck in the birth canal), the use of Ventouse or forceps can put significant strain in a babies body. When we have strain and pain we often feel sorry for ourselves and rather grumpy. This presents as an unsettled uncomfortable child. This is often termed colic and colic and can be very distressing for both parents and the childen. Biochemically formula milk that is based on cows milk can also upset some babies and this results in significant tension in the babies stomach and can present with green coloured nappies (after the initial first week of birth). The baby can struggle to cope and therefore be unsettled. Our osteopaths at the Rainham Osteopathic Clinic will assess the baby and if they have any concerns may recommend a referral to someone more appropriate if needed, however if unsure always consult your midwife, doctor or hospital. Quite often patients bring in their children for a check up post delivery.
Mums To Be
The body undergoes significant changes in the process of pregnancy. The anatomical function of the pelvis is important in the delivery of the baby during delivery. At the Rainham Osteopathic Clinic an assessment of the mechanical function of the pelvis is made to maximize function both regarding symptoms and also in relation to the function of the anatomy required to change during the birth process. The function of the thoraco-lumbar fascia, the sacro-iliac joints and the pubis cartilage joint is all key to enable the passage of the baby from the mothers womb into the world at delivery. If the pelvis function is not ideal due to mechanical strain the lower back can often be affected and pain ensues. It is also possible to have other problems and strains during pregnancy and normally these are often treated with medications. Osteopathy therefore provides a natural way to help when the use of medications is less appropriate.
Ageing
Just because we are aging it does not mean we cannot help the body to function as well as possible. Maintaining mobility is key to health and at the Rainham Osteopathic Clinic we strongly believe in helping the aging population encouraging mobility and exercise. As we age it is fundamental for good health to encourage social interaction and learning. Therefore the Osteopathic treatment approach is to understand our patients both physically and emotionally. This is more important in our aging population as social isolation and loneliness are unfortunately a part of modern society. Losing confidence physically therefore can further impact health. Helping our elderly patients to remain active and flexible is therefore a key factor in health.
Everyone
We all pick up mechanical strain in our day to day, a slip up the stairs, hitting your head on the kitchen cupboard, a fall over the dog, the list is endless of how our day to day physical life can impact our mechanical function. Weeks later we can wake with some neck pain or back pain that does not seem to have any real reason to its onset. As Osteopaths we use the sense of touch to understand when the tissues of the body are not moving in their normal range of motion which can then result in pain being perceived in our brains. This is why sometimes Osteopaths can work in areas not seemingly connected to our pain. Our Osteopaths will explain the possible connections and why this may contribute to your pain. Sports injuries can also be involved in this way as any repetitive action on our bodies can give issues from time to time.
How much does Osteopathic treatment cost?
Subsequent treatment sessions (30 minutes)
Homes visits - disabled & non-disabled
Subsequent treatment sessions (30 minutes)
Homes visits - disabled & non-disabled
Many private health insurance schemes give benefits for Osteopathic treatment. Some will reimburse the total fee that you have paid, some only a percentage. All insurance companies have help lines to explain your benefits and methods of claiming.
