When you have adjusted the physical to its normal demands, nature supplies the remainder. ~Dr. A. T. Still, founder of Osteopathy
Pain, Trauma and Healing
Patients who are suffering from many structural as well as medical ailments can be helped by Osteopathic Medicine. Treatment helps the body to function better, and for all the physiological systems of the body to work together in a more effective way. This is especially beneficial when experiencing pain or recovering from trauma.
Pain is an alarm to the body that something is problematic. While there are so many reasons for pain, many of the underlying causes will improve once the tissue has reached a state of balance and improved motion. This promotes release of musculoskeletal tension and strain, but also allows the free flowing of circulation, nerve innervation, and lymphatic movement. The means the body has a better chance to heal a pathological condition.
When trauma has occurred, one’s tissue and body is in a state of compromise. Damaged cells produce inflammatory chemical signals leading to swelling. Damaged tissue needs this increase in circulation of vascular system, but also optimal lymphatic flow to remove by-products of healing tissue and fighting infection. Musculoskeletal strain can cause pain and compromised movement, but also will impede the fluid flow necessary to properly heal the injured tissue. The body can heal well, in most cases. However, if these underlying strains and decreased dynamic fluidity of the body is not improved, healing will be prolonged and leave one vulnerable to infection and discomfort.
Additionally, as the body works to survive and function as one needs it to, it is common to adapt around a strained and compromised state of functioning. The longer this proceeds, the more it becomes ingrained into one’s structural and functional pattern. Unfortunately, this can lead to ongoing pain, but can also compromise of other aspects of life. Osteopathic treatment works to restore optimal positioning of the tissue and anatomy, but more importantly, an increase in dynamic fluid movement, and an improved relationship of all the systems of the body. In this way, healing can occur more in sync with the body’s innate ability to function optimally and return to a healthy way of being.
Once a patient is evaluated and stabilized to the degree appropriate depending on the severity of the trauma, the closer to the time of injury the better for receiving an Osteopathic treatment. A treatment can be as gentle as is needed to support acute care that is personalized, appropriate, and still profoundly effective. However, even in chronic injuries, when months, years, or even decades have passed, the truly astounding capacity for the human body to shift and heal can be amazing. Even in long ago childhood trauma, Osteopathic treatment can be beneficial. Sometimes the root of old trauma and symptoms can be resolved, or at least given an opportunity to rebuild, reorganize, and improve significantly. This helps with pain and symptoms, but also in improved function and engagement in life. The sooner the better, but it is never to late for Osteopathy to be an option.