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Original poster

Help! just had a Very strange experience with an osteopath !

26 replies

peachypie · 11/08/2004 18:35

Been having probs with dd 's wind, colic poss! so a few mumsnetters suggested cranial osteopathy so i though id give it a go!!!!!

I walked through the door of clinic and it smelt of stale fags and an old person.
And then hannibal lectur's mate walked through door with out his dog(precious)(silence of the lambs)well it looked like him. with a manky old t-shirt on!!

He then proceeded to put one hand on her tummy and one on her back (no movement) for about 25mins and said he was tuning into her rythms!!!
he did a lot of funny breathing looked like he was thinking about what he was having for his tea and kept licking his lips!! He certainly gave me the "eebie jeebies" He then said the session was over and charged me £30. I couldnt get out fast enough. Is this normal???

OP posts:
juniper68 · 11/08/2004 18:36

Did her feel her head at all?

Original poster
peachypie · 11/08/2004 18:39

no he said her head was ok but didnt even feel it!!

OP posts:
juniper68 · 11/08/2004 18:41

Mmmm I'd email the cranial osteopath society and query them if it was me even if just to make sure he's registered.

I know when DS2 has it done there doesn't seem to be any movement to see but it works brilliantly

Original poster
peachypie · 11/08/2004 18:51

think i will do that although it did say he was registered where he advertised.
does you ds2 suffer from wind and does the c.o do his head or tummy and back?

OP posts:
Piffleoffagus · 11/08/2004 19:12

see if your dd gets better
proof being in the pudding
when cranial osteo did my dd, she just held her head what appeared in a stationery fashion for 25 mins, then told me to toddle off... was v sceptical and she was registered and had treated me!
DD was sorted though...
But on instinct... hmm I'd check him out... my one does not give out eebie jeebie vibes at all...

Original poster
peachypie · 11/08/2004 19:18

i am v sceptical, but i have to say that she did burp twice while he was doing it and she didnt cry and was relaxed and that is unusual for dd. it was me that was uncomfortable, felt like he was having me on!

OP posts:
bundle · 11/08/2004 19:18

proof is in the evidence more like, where is the evidence for this kind of thing????

bundle · 11/08/2004 19:18

peachypie she was probably just as bemused as you.

bundle · 11/08/2004 19:18

peachypie she was probably just as bemused as you.

bundle · 11/08/2004 19:19

sorry, didn't mean to do that

bundle · 11/08/2004 19:19

how much did you pay him?

Petall · 11/08/2004 19:20

I agree, I'd check that he was registered too. I have taken both my children to cranial osteopaths and she gently manipulated their heads, necks and bottom of their spines, and explained what she was doing and why. My partner was a complete cynic and came along to one of the sessions and she got spines and skulls out to give him a teaching session to shut him up!
Defineatley hepled my daughter and still having treatment for my son.
If it's any consolation I took my daughter to A&E at our local hospital with a history of acute abdomen pain,(she's 2), the doctor told her he was her "uncle" and then after looking in her ears and throat told me she had an urinary tract infection. He never touched her tummy! So the NHS also has it's weirdos!

bundle · 11/08/2004 19:21

petall, a skull shut him up? where do these publish their double blind controlled trials? (sorry this is turning into a bit of a rant)

Original poster
peachypie · 11/08/2004 19:23

i tell you what i might go into osteopathy, great money spinner laying your hands on a tummy for 25 mins and getting £30.
you are right bundle, there is no evidence that he was actually doing anything do you think its a load of old baloney or what.

OP posts:
jampot · 11/08/2004 19:41

No experience of co but just wanted to tell my experience of NHS weirdo. DS had got a little ball stuck up his nose (long story) and I took him to A&E. The doctor kept looking at him and obviously up his nose but didn't seem to know what to do. He then picked up a very long and what looked to be a very sharp pointy needle thing then decided to shut the door into the main corridor. Only problem was he couldn't work out how to unhook the door from the catch which was on the wall (think hook on the back of the door and catch attached to the wall) v simple indeed. He ended up calling a nurse in to do it for him.

tinytoes · 11/08/2004 19:52

may bethis site could help? here

IlanaK · 11/08/2004 20:53

I have recently taken my son (8 weeks old) to a cranial osteopath for wind/reflux too. We go to the Osteopathic Centre for Children in London which is a training centre. The charge there is also £30. Anyway, they take a full history which takes about 30 minutes on first visit and tehn do 30 minutes of treatment. Then subsequent visits are 30 minutes only. For ds, they DID touch his head as well as his stomach and back and bottom of spine. The consultant said that there are nerves at the back of the neck which lead to the stomach which in my ds case were very tight. I have to say, without haveing been there, that this guy you are seeing does not sound very thorough, whether or not he is registered.

wellsie · 11/08/2004 21:06

Peachypie, I've been to a cranial osteopath and even though whilst there I couldn't help thinking "what the hell are you doing, I'm paying you good money to do bugger all!" I have to say it worked. It's like a gentle manipulation of nerves and other stuff - can't remember what. All I know is that my severe headaches during my pregnancy last year went.
However, saying all this I don't think I'd be going to the one you went to. I think if you don't have a good feeling about someone then you don't go back. If there is no improvement in DD don't be put off, try another one, ask your HV to recommend.

stupidgirl · 11/08/2004 21:11

My osteopath charged me £40 per session

Anyway. What he did doesn't sound unusual, although I would have expected him to have explained what he was doing and why.

Regardless, if he made you uncomfortable then find someone else, preferably on a recommendation if you can.

Spod · 11/08/2004 21:47

my co charges 15 quid! and the treatment works!... take 9 month dd for wind troubles... it has been the only thing that has worked. it looks like nothingmuch is happenening during treatment... except i definately feel dd release tension when the treatment is in progress. the co touches tummy, head, spine, face.... I'm a convert, previously sceptical.. but can see an instant improvement in dd after treament... much more mellow, and wind probs seriously reduced.

Original poster
peachypie · 11/08/2004 21:58

thanks for the link tinytoes, also thanks to everyone else. to my surprise this evening has been different with less crying and wind seamingly coming up easier with no screaming!!
is this a coincidence i ask myself?
anyway i think maybe i will give it another go but maybe find someone else who doesnt look like a wierdo and maybe female just to be on the safe side! i will keep you posted gals.
Am still trying to find out if he is actually registered though.

OP posts:
Backworking · 13/08/2004 12:12

Hello! You can check if an osteopath is registered by looking on the General Osteopathic Council website (www.osteopathy.org.uk) - you type in the ostepath's name and if they're registered, it will come up with their details. What is most important is that you find someone that you are completely comfortable with. You should be able to ask questions and your osteopath should explain what they are doing and why. As an osteopath myself, I try to make sure that I do this because it can be rather disconcerting for the patient (or patient's parent!) if the osteopath seems to be treating 'random parts of the body'! Have a look on the above website (or mine on www.backworking.co.uk) for more info on what osteopathy's all about. It's actually very logical and very anatomically based but can seem completely airy fairy if it's not explained!

juniper68 · 13/08/2004 12:17

Glad to hear it peachypie

bundle, a lot of cranial osteopaths are osteopaths who train for years. They wouldn't do this and risk harming their good names if it didn't work.
My DS2 has changed beyond belief since going. His nursery have reacted with astonishment at the improvement. He fell asleep during his first treatment which is totally unknown of during the day and changed from day 1. He loves going now but doesn't need to go back unless I feel he needs to. I'm no fool and wouldn't waste money time or risk my childs health if I wasn't 100% convinced.
I hope you find a co you're comfortable with peachypie as I know from friends who have colicky babies that it can do wonders.

Original poster
peachypie · 13/08/2004 20:45

well i think i will give it another go even though yesterday and today hasnt been any improvement, going to have a look at backworking, thanksfor that. i am breastfeeding but have found some lactose free sma today might give that a go in a evening when she is at her worst! just to see does any one think this is a good idea.

OP posts:
Spod · 13/08/2004 21:26

hi peachypie... so there's been no difference from the co treatment....? I would def give it another go... I know some babies take a few treatments before a change occurs... did your co ask you any questions about the pregnancy/birth? he should have... maybe try a different co if you're not happy. I know its the only thing that has helped my dd.