Services / Acute & Chronic Pain
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Acute & Chronic Pain
Whether it just happened or has been there for years, we have experience with both.
Osteopaths treat both acute injuries and chronic pain presentations. One of the most important things to understand is that the terms acute and chronic refer to the timeframe of your pain, not its severity. Acute pain does not necessarily mean mild, and chronic pain does not necessarily mean severe. Both can be debilitating, and both respond to osteopathic care.
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Acute pain refers to pain from a recent injury. Every structure in your body has an approximate expected healing time, and acute pain falls within that window, typically 3 to 6 months, depending on the tissue involved. Treatment during this phase can help decrease the severity of your symptoms and optimise your body's natural self-healing capacity. This phase cannot be rushed, but it can absolutely be supported.
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Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the expected healing timeframe. When tissue does not heal as expected, and pain persists far beyond what it should, we move into chronic territory. This is a complex and commonly misunderstood area. Osteopathic treatment for chronic pain works not only to address the local complaint but also to support the nerve pathways and your brain's perception of pain, which play a significant role in why chronic pain persists.
WHO IT HELPS
You might recognise this
Anyone who has recently injured themselves or is carrying pain that has been present for weeks, months, or years. People who have been told their pain is just wear and tear, or that there is nothing more that can be done.
Chronic pain is complex, but it is treatable, and a thorough whole-person assessment often reveals contributing factors that have not previously been identified or addressed.
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Common presentations we treat include:
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Recent muscle strains and joint sprains
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Post-surgical pain and recovery
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Persistent neck, back, or shoulder pain
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Nerve-related pain and referred symptoms
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Pain that has plateaued or stopped responding to previous treatment
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Complex chronic pain with nervous system involvement
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Fibromyalgia and widespread pain conditions
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Pain related to postural or biomechanical patterns
Acute and chronic presentations require different approaches, and we are experienced with both.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Biomechanical Assessment
MET
Articulation
Dry Needling
Shockwave Therapy
Exercise Rehabilitation
Pain Education
Nervous System Support
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your first appointment
Your osteopath will assess your injury or pain presentation thoroughly and explain what is happening in plain language.
For acute injuries, the focus is on settling pain and supporting the healing process.
For chronic presentations, the assessment goes deeper, exploring the full picture of structural, neurological, and lifestyle factors before building a plan.
You will leave with a clear explanation of what is contributing to your pain and a realistic pathway forward.
ALSO RELEVANT
Lower Back & Sciatic Pain
Sports Injuries
Shockwave Therapy
Neck & Shoulder Pain
Dry Needling
Biomechanical Assessment
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