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Children's health

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Original poster

Do you think cranial osteopathy would help?

42 replies

DUSTIN · 22/07/2009 09:53

My DD is 11 weeks old. She suffers with reflux and has been prescribed Gaviscon. She also has a problem with her neck muscles and can only look right. We are waiting for a referral for the neck problem.

I have read lots of positive stories about cranial osteopathy on here but DH and GP sceptical. Has anyone had babies with these type of problems and did cranial osteopathy help? Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

thumbwitch · 01/08/2009 12:11

DS didn't like some parts of the treatment and would whimper through them, a good CO will stop at that point rather than try to force through a change that the body isn't ready for. Slowly slowly works better than rushing it, as the change is more likely to be permanent. IF you rush a change, it could "spring back" to its previous position (have had this happen myself, MOST unpleasant) so accept that it will take a few goes. Your DD will get better with each treatment and the crying will stop.

Original poster

DUSTIN · 01/08/2009 14:47

Thanks everyone.

I am a born worrier!!

I was told this CO was experienced with dealing with children. She spent alot of time cradling DD and jiggling her trying to get her to stop crying. I think at the same time she was getting the rest of her body into alignment. I just thought they worked on the head and it would be more gentle- especially for a baby.

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stuffitlllama · 01/08/2009 18:12

Maybe try a different CO.

It helped my baby with terrible gut problems. But when the CO handled her she went instantly floppy (in a good way) and relaxed, and she'd been so tense and stiff all week.

It was astonished. I might try a different CO if I were you.

stuffitlllama · 01/08/2009 18:12

I don't mean it was astonished, I mean I was astonished, it was astonishing.

As you were.

Original poster

DUSTIN · 02/08/2009 21:00

Thanks stuffitlllama I did think maybe I should go and see a different CO.

I have heard such positive stories on here about CO so it must be good.

OP posts:

coveredinsnot · 02/08/2009 22:04

I'm just wondering whether your money might be better spent on seeing a private version of whichever professional your GP has referred you to? In my opinion, cranial osteopathy does not have a sound evidence base, and it seems to me that this is an issue that needs to be dealt with asap, and properly. Paying the fees of a private doctor/ physiotherapist/ whoever would be money better spent. Ask your GP if they can recommend a good one, as they often can.

thumbwitch · 02/08/2009 23:00

DUSTIN - cranial osteopathy is a bit of a misnomer really as it is much more than the head that is worked but it is meant to be a really gentle form of osteopathy.

As a deep tissue massage therapist, occasionally I have had to rock my patients' body in order to persuade their muscles to relax a bit more because they are holding themselves so tightly, so it is possible that is what your CO was doing; otoh if it seemed overly rough to you then do try and find another CO.
Sometimes therapists just don't "click" with their patients, even babies (my own DS hates my osteopath, for e.g., and would never let him touch him! But he had no problem with his own CO, she was lovely), so finding a different one may work better for you.

lilacpink · 02/08/2009 23:11

We saw a CO at around 2 weeks (and GPs/midwives/HVs) who couldn't find anything wrong with our v. collicky DD, and had regular visits from a CP who is a family friend (who did 'adjustments' to her neck and said they would help). For us time was the real healer, we'd stopped all the treatments at around 5 weeks (just made DD howl) and at 7 weeks her digestive system started to improve. It took another 6 months for her digestion to be 'normal', but she's fine now, a very calm child(3yrs). Another point-of-view to add in!

macherie · 02/08/2009 23:16

Ds 1 had very severe reflux, and was on very heavy duty medication that was not working. CO did work, and really transfomed his quality of life.

He developed asthma when he was 2 and the CO really helped with that too.

DS2 was a projectile vomiter when he was tiny and the CO cured that too.

I knew nothing about CO before I took ds1 to one, buty we have had such positive results from it, and I have sent many freinds to our osteopath who have positive experiences also.

The CO that we go to is lovely and has a real empathy with babies, so I would persevere and find a CO who 'clicks' with your baby. It's definately worth another try

MrsPurple · 05/08/2009 00:02

My DD2 (just turned 4)has had CO since being 6 weeks, she was such an unhappy baby, after the first treatment she was more settled and got a little better after each treatment.

She hadn't had any CO for 18 months because we couldn't afford and we've had horrendous problems, she's always whingy, her behaviour can be aggressive, she's very frustrated etc. To cut along story short after seeing the health visitor regularly and being brushed off, we finally got refered for eyes, speech and hearing and a padeatrician.

Also after seeing our GP's we've finally found one who would refer us to a CO (for private treatment so medical insurance would pay for it).

The CO is now helping as my DD2 has calmed down and alot of her 'minor problems' (as the nhs officals call them) seem to be related to her skull problems.

The CO has confirmed this and the speech therapist (who finally has agreed that my DD2 has got some problems which will cause her problems in school etc) has said that although CO is not recognised by medical profession it can work and if I see the results then go with it.

As an aside to this, many years ago I had a bad car accident and couldn't move my neck for 4 months (even though I was having regular physio). After one treatment with an osteopath my neck was completely moveable and I continued to have treatment until it was totally mobile going forward. This is just personal evidence that osteopathy works.

martinemorris · 05/08/2009 11:15

FabBakerGirlIsBack could you please email me the details of the CO in Kent please? [email protected]. THanks

Curiousmama · 05/08/2009 11:36

CO worked miracles on ds2 when he was 3. He was so unhappy, cried a lot, had awful tantrums...this was almost gone after 4 or 5 treatments...he improved after 1.

He wasn't jiggled about though? Like has been said the movements were subtle.

Original poster

DUSTIN · 05/08/2009 13:28

Thanks everyone for your replies- much appreciated.

Even though DD has only had one session she has started to turn her head to the left. She has not been able to do this before and could only look right. It may be a coincidence but she has also been sleeping better at night (although still takes me ages to get her to sleep initially).

OP posts:

Original poster

DUSTIN · 05/08/2009 13:28

Thanks everyone for your replies- much appreciated.

OP posts:

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 05/08/2009 13:29

That is great.

My son would always have a long sleep after his treatment.

Amycowling82 · 07/08/2014 12:15

Hi there I would love the recommendation for the man you know near Kent if that's ok?

Toohotforfishandchips · 17/08/2014 18:00

Just seen this thread and had to add CO was a life saver for my DD - forceps babies often have issues due to the pressure put on their skull. DS had stomach cramping issues when tiny and it cured that too. 35 pound a session

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