Category: Melanie Young

Severe reflux and idiopathic oral aversion in a premature baby treated with osteopathy at 8 months after the birth. A case study.

4/7/2017

The baby was one of a set of twins, born three months early at 27 weeks. There were feeding issues from the start so the baby was fed with a nasogastric tube till 37 weeks gestational age, then tried on breast/bottle, however the baby refused to take food or bottle into the mouth. The mother thought it was due to severe reflux. The other twin did not have reflux, was able to eat and was thriving.

I first saw the baby at 8 months past the birth date, referred to me by another osteopath who had seen the baby only once the week before and decided to refer quickly as there was limited time before surgery. A stomach tube was planned in a fortnights time to enable food to go directly via a tube into the stomach and increase the amount of calories and nutrition received by the baby.

The baby was being fed via a tube through the nose and taking omeprazole twice daily for the gastro-oesphageal reflux. Weight gain was slow, milestones delayed, and there was a severe eczema like rash on the face from the acid spilling onto the cheeks. The baby liked to poke fabric into the mouth, however had a very active gag reflex and disorganised suck.

A few days after one osteopathic treatment using very gentle hands on work to reduce the compression of the cranial base and treat the nerves (glossopharyngeal, facial and vagus) to the baby's tongue, palate, face and digestive system, the reflux stopped completely and the baby started eating. The gag reflex was much reduced and the cheeks started to heal up rapidly as they were no longer being covered in acidic reflux.

The specialist was very happy with the changes so took the baby off the omeprazole, removed the nasogastric tube and cancelled the stomach tube surgery. The baby started to put on weight as the intake of solids was increased and has continued to improve.

The baby needed a couple more osteopathic treatments to help as he started to grow. The baby has had no more reflux and the cheeks are normal healthy skin. I have recently followed up with the mother and now a year on, the baby is doing well, eating well and has had no more oral aversion or reflux.

In Australia and New Zealand, Osteopaths study intensively for five years full-time at University, are required to be registered by the their respective professional councils and do ongoing postgraduate study each year.

Only some osteopaths treat babies as it takes time, aptitude and practice to develop the skills. The treatment is safe and very gentle. Osteopaths learn to use their hands to gently treat strains in the body. Facilitating blood supply, nerve supply and venous and lymphatic drainage enables the body to heal as well as possible and as quickly as possible.

Please note, not all babies with reflux will respond as rapidly as this baby did. Reflux is usually multi-factorial so other management strategies may also be necessary.

There is a growing body of global research to support our work. Our practice would be happy to participate in further research studies.

Here is a link to information on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Also a link to a very small scale osteopathic research paper on treatment of GORD

Thank you to the parents who permitted me to write up their baby's case. These photos are not of their baby but are a fair representation.

Melanie Young
B.A., BSc.(Clin Sc.) B.Osteo Sc. MONZ
Reg Osteopath
Director City Osteopaths
Wellington
New Zealand

Phone 04 4991439

http://www.cityosteopaths.co.nz

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Osteopathic treatment of hip pain in a child - A brief case study

3/5/2017

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An eight year old boy presented to our practice with recurrent lung infections for most of the year for the past three years and also pain in the right front hip area which came and went but was annoying him daily. He had difficulty with running as put the same arm and leg forwards instead of using ‘cross patterning’. He had a difficult birth, so had seen an osteopath when he was a baby in another country who had recommended to ‘keep an eye on his back’. He mouth breathed and was generally tired.

On examination, his torso was side bending to the right with the right hip higher than the left when he stood with feet together, resulting in a difference in leg length. He had considerable tightness in and around his thoracic diaphragm (which is the main muscle of breathing) and irritation through the nerves to his lungs. I suspected a primitive reflex had not been integrated. I also considered and ruled out from the history and examination, any concern of hip or knee joint pathology and decided it was safe to treat him.

The first treatment used gentle osteopathic techniques to begin to reduce the musculoskeletal strains in his back and pelvis and to assist his lung function. He was able to lie down and became very relaxed during the treatment. We discussed the importance of nose breathing and showed him how to work towards this.

On his second visit (which was five months later) his mother was happy to report “he had not any coughs or lung infections over winter and was now breathing much better through his nose”.Two more treatments were required to balance his pelvis and spine with growing. His leg lengths became equal and stayed equal. There had been an issue of non compliance with the thigh stretches he was asked to do which meant this process took a little longer than it need to have.

He is now cross patterning well when he walks and runs and will return in six months time to recheck as he is growing quickly at this time. We want to ensure his body is able to move freely and equally to each side and that he is able to enjoy optimal health into his future.

Thanks for reading. We really love helping kids feel better and enjoy the best health possible.
Please leave a comment or ask a question and I will get back to you as soon as I am able. You can also call our practice and one of our practitioners can call you back to answer any specific questions regarding Osteopathy you may have for your child.

Melanie Young
B.A., BSc.(Clin Sc.) B.Osteo Sc. MONZ
Reg Osteopath
Director City Osteopaths
Wellington
New Zealand

Phone 04 4991439

http://www.cityosteopaths.co.nz

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Hyperbaric Oxygen and Osteopathy for treatment of concussion in a seven year old child. A brief case study.

10/17/2016

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A Brief Case Study:

Seven year old girl fell 3.5 metres vertically onto her head in the April school holidays
Said she felt ‘sleepy’ at first (then yelled and cried loudly)
Osteopathic assessment took place less than five minutes after the injury. The whole top of her head felt very slightly depressed and her cervical spine was side-bent to the left and locked.
Neurologically all tests appeared clear.
Gentle treatment of the neck and head to assist normal range of motion and function of the membranous tissue of her cranium resulted in her feeling ‘fine’.
However, two hours later during a walk up a hill she had a headache, so she went in the mild Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber and this quickly cleared the headache during the session.
She also had some symptoms involving feeling unusual anger and fatigue, indicating a concussion
Daily osteopathic and mild hyperbaric oxygen sessions for the next three days kept her feeling symptom free and six days after her fall she won her school’s year 3 and 4 cross country trial, even against the boys!
She has continued to be well now, one year on in April 2017.

This is the seven year old who was concussed, winning her years cross country race.

City Osteopaths and City Hyperbaric are well placed to help people of all ages who have suffered a concussion. Our Reg Osteopaths are able to gently treat any neck, shoulder and back strains that may have occurred and the hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides the extra oxygen required by injured brain tissue to help the mitochondria to make the energy required to heal damaged or dormant tissue and help restore function.

Ideally, as in this case, we are able to treat the neck injury and concussion as soon as possible after the accident. If the concussion occurred many years before it is going to take longer to improve or resolve.

Below is some research for the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen in concussion for children:

“Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Severe Head Injury in Children”
—Journal of Pediatric Neuroscience. 2012 Jan-April 7(1) 4-8 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401652/
Conclusion: In children with traumatic brain injury, the addition of HBOT significantly improved outcome and quality of life and reduced risk of complications. Patients receiving HBOT were significantly better than the control group with decreased hospital stay, better Glasgow Coma Scale and drastic reduction in disability.

“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve Post Concussion Syndrome years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury – Randomised Prospective Trial” www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24260334
—PLoS One November 2013 10.137/journal.pone 0079995
Conclusion: Convincing results based on a crossover study, demonstrating that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and significant brain function improvement in mild TBI patients with prolonged Post-Concussion-Syndrome at late chronic stage, years after injury.
The findings here bear the promises that HBOT can be effective in treating other brain impairments like PTSD or repairing radiation damage. It is reasonable to expect that HBOT can help slow down or even reverse metabolic disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Please check out our website links below for more information or give us a call on 04 4991439
www.cityosteopaths.co.nz
www.cityhyperbaric.co.nz

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Osteopathic Testimonial Archive October 2016

10/9/2016

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Over the years we have been given wonderful testimonials by many of our patients. As of October 2016 the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand has stated that Registered Osteopaths should no longer display testimonials. In order to comply with this we have removed them from our osteopaths page. Our practice treats a wide range of unique conditions for patients which the testimonials reflect. We won't be adding any new ones but here they are for reference as they may be helpful to people in need.

Registered Osteopaths Sebastian Tucker, Melanie Young, Chris Thompson, Aydan Hajyeva and Lara Sanders are in this photo, surrounded by our registered acupuncturists, naturopaths and massage therapists.

All of these testimonials are from actual patients and are verifiable.

"I would highly recommend City Osteopaths, they are professional, efficient and yet still always make you feel like you are the most important person they are seeing that day.

I have Fibromyalgia which means there are regular issues I need to deal with on a day to day basis. City Osteopaths have helped me combat everything from a painful jaw to a shortened hamstring to putting my upper back out – even headaches.
I have been given the tools to be able to deal with a lot of the body issues I get myself now. I highly recommend City Osteopaths." - AW, Wellington

"My son had an accident which resulted in his front tooth being knocked forward and his top jawbone protruding through his gum. The dentist was going to cut the bone out. I went to City Osteopaths and after just one visit to Melanie, who is a cranial osteopath, the bone began to re-align into place. Within a week it was completely healed and the bone could not be seen at all. His behaviour, which had been affected badly due to headaches since the accident, also quickly came right after the treatment. I would highly recommend seeing an Osteopath to heal your ailments". - Mother of a ten year old boy, Wellington

"I have been treated by Melanie since April this year following an injury to my knee which was severely limiting what I could do. The injury also compounded problems with my back and neck. I had regular treatments with Melanie and several acupuncture sessions with Janine to add support to my healing process.This is one of the real benefits of coming to an integrated healthcare provider which practices an ethos of genuine care and support to people to do their healing. So I'm healing well and hugely grateful to be moving with increasing ease and confidence". - Vicki

"I have had long term back and shoulder pain. This has been totally fixed by my osteopath Sebastian in the last three weeks. A great change to my life and lifestyle. Recommend the practice (City Osteopaths) to anyone." T.Lynch

"Finally, thanks to my osteopath I am pain-free after 8 months of pain and various tests and a mis-diagnosis by my GP and specialists. I was getting desperate with not knowing what was causing my pain. The GP had pretty much given up on me as he had explored all the avenues he could think of. A friend recommended that I try her osteopath, who she described as "wonderful". I was a bit sceptical but thought I had nothing to lose and no-one else seemed to have any ideas about how I could investigate further. Within a couple of appointments I was feeling the benefit of the treatment - which was non-invasive and relaxing - and the improvement has continued with each appointment so that I am now pain-free. From talking to me the osteopath quickly identified the cause of the problem and was then able to treat it. 2010 is the year I will remember as "my year of pain" but that is now just a memory, thanks to the osteopath.
I would recommend an osteopath for any mysterious aches and pains you have which your GP cannot identify or treat successfully. It certainly worked for me". - J McDougall

"Lara has a lovely, calm demeanour that allowed me to relax when she was working her magic on me. I had never been to an osteopath before but thought I'd give her a go after I found a GP's advice for my sore tailbone was not helpful. Lara's handy work and exercises she gave to do at home worked wonders and she has also been very effective with treating a sharp stabbing pain near my hip. Lara helped me to understand the reason for my pain, which really eased my mind". - N. Harris

"I had constant sinus issues and headaches from the earlier stages in my pregnancy which I hadn't ever had before. I also had lower back pain. After visiting Melanie twice at five months pregnant, everything cleared up and my head, back and sinus have been fine during the pregnancy since. Would recommend this practice to anyone." - L.Snowdon

"Excellent work from City Osteopaths to resolve the ear pain and discomfort from a nasal fracture that was left to heal by itself after a visit to the doctor. I would recommend that everyone visits and osteopath for an annual checkup, these people can work wonders with things that you never knew needed healing." - A Google User

"Since being treated by Aydan for an ongoing compressed leg injury, my lifestyle has dramatically improved – subtle methods of therapy have helped me regain my ability to function at work, and even walk properly again. Whilst my treatment is still ongoing, I have regained my confidence and feel positive moving forward. I would happily recommend City Osteopaths to anyone experiencing physical difficulty, the staff give you 110% of their time and focus, dedicated to your eventual full recovery.” - K.Wood

"I have been having seeing Sebastian for the last few months, after suffering from neck, shoulder pain and stiffness and lower back stiffness and discomfort. Most of the pain and stiffness I was experiencing has disappeared and my overall posture has improved significantly. Sebastian has also recommended targeted exercises and magnesium and vitamin B all to assist with my overall recovery".
M. Mallet

"For months I suffered lower back pain, specially when I played the piano - I couldn't work out what was wrong with my posture, but I began to think I'd have to stop playing. When I went to Melanie with the problem, I could hardly believe it when, with just gentle touching, she somehow magicked the pain away! It wasn't even a question of it gradually getting better, it just went. Extraordinary and wonderful". - L. Cox

As an athlete, my body needs to operate at 100%. The treatment I get from Sebastian at City Osteopaths is second to none. He gets me back into shape quicker so I perform at my best. I would highly recommend Sebastian to any prospective clients wanting to get back to their best" April 2015 Feedback form

"I have been seeing Sebastian, and I was a little skeptical initially. However he has helped mobilise my back and pelvis to a point I have never had so much movement in my life. He has been so kind and supportive in every way possible and made me feel comfortable at all times. I have urged so many others to book in and see him".
Sarah, Wellington

"I highly recommend City Osteopaths, I've suffered from migraines for the last 8 years and by chance was shown a video that Osteopath Chris posted about the connection between posture/neck/back tension and migraines. The knowledge and skill that Chris has is amazing and I haven't had a migraine since I've been working with City Osteopaths. Thank you!"

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What to do for a concussion or mild head injury/traumatic brain injury? Concussion Care Clinic at City Osteopaths, Wellington.

6/1/2016

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There are approximately 8000 concussions in New Zealand every year.

A concussion is a brain injury. It may involve loss of consciousness. However, a concussion most often occurs without a loss of consciousness.

Concussions happen when bumps, blows or jolts to the head or body cause the brain to move around inside the skull. It may also result from a whiplash effect to the head and neck. The brain injury that results can be mild or more severe and can disrupt how the brain normally works by causing bruising and swelling inside the skull which presses on sensitive neural tissue (brain).

Concussions can be hard to recognise because there may not be obvious signs of trauma. Signs and symptoms may have delayed onset and may be worse later that day or even the next morning.

Initial Response: If there is a loss of consciousness, call an ambulance by phoning 111. Assume possible neck injury. Only remove the victim from the current situation if it is dangerous to remain there. Do not leave the injured person alone: monitor signs and symptoms. The injured person should be evaluated by a trained health professional and they should not return to the activity until all steps below are clear.

Signs and Symptoms

Poor balance or coordination
Slow or slurred speech
Poor concentration
Delayed responses to questions
Vacant Stare
Unusual emotions
Personality change
Inappropriate behaviour

Headache
Dizziness
Feeling Dazed
Seeing stars
Sensitivity to light
Ringing in ears
Tiredness
Nausea
Vomiting
Irritability
Confusion
Disorientation

Steps for Returning to Normal Activity
The only treatment for a concussion is complete rest until all signs and symptoms resolve. Complete rest includes rest for the body (no playing sports or doing chores) and for the brain (no TV, video games or extensive reading). Each step should be last a minimum of one day.

Signs and symptoms may return later that day or the next and not necessarily when exercising. If signs and symptoms return you should return to the previous step and be re-evaluated by a health care professional.

Step 1: No Activity - complete physical and cognitive rest. Proceed to next step only when symptoms are gone

Step 2: Light Activity - walking, swimming, cycling. light chores, reading, partial return to work/school

Step 3: Some Skilled Activity - Simple non-contact drills in sport, more time spent at school or work

Step 4: More Skilled Activity - progress to more complex drills in sport, may start progressive resistance training, not-contact play with other people

Step 5: Normal Routine and School/Work Routine - Following medical clearance you may participate in normal sport practices, games, chores, and your normal work and school routines

Note: The injured person should proceed through the above steps only when they do not experience symptoms or signs and a physician has given the clearance. If symptoms or signs return the injured person should return to the previous step and be re-evaluated by a trained health professional.

At City Osteopaths we have a Concussion Care Clinic. We have found that gentle osteopathic treatment combined with mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) is very helpful in aiding recovery from the symptoms of concussion listed above.

How do we do this? Gentle treatment of the muscles, fascia and nerves of the neck and upper back along with assisting normal tension of the membranes in the head, can allow an improvement in blood supply to the brain and drainage from the brain. To help concussion symptoms ease even further we combine this with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to improve oxygen to dormant parts of the brain and reduce swelling to really help the brain function again.

If you have had a concussion please call our practice on 4991439 and make an appointment to come and see one of our gentle osteopaths for an assessment so we can work out the best protocol of treatment for you to help you get back to feeling like your self again.

Melanie Young
B.A., BSc.(Clin Sc.) B.Osteo Sc. MONZ
Reg Osteopath
Director City Osteopaths

www.cityosteopaths.co.nz
http://www.cityosteopaths.co.nz/osteopathy.html#l1 for our Osteopathic Team
http://www.cityosteopaths.co.nz/hyperbaric.html for more information on HBOT

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<<Previous

Severe reflux and idiopathic oral aversion in a premature baby treated with osteopathy at 8 months after the birth. A case study.

Osteopathic treatment of hip pain in a child - A brief case study

Hyperbaric Oxygen and Osteopathy for treatment of concussion in a seven year old child. A brief case study.

Osteopathic Testimonial Archive October 2016

What to do for a concussion or mild head injury/traumatic brain injury? Concussion Care Clinic at City Osteopaths, Wellington.

Categories

Archives

For Wellington's Premier Health Clinic,
Call (04) 499 1439 to Make an Appointment

Severe reflux and idiopathic oral aversion in a premature baby treated with osteopathy at 8 months after the birth. A case study.

Osteopathic treatment of hip pain in a child - A brief case study

Hyperbaric Oxygen and Osteopathy for treatment of concussion in a seven year old child. A brief case study.

Osteopathic Testimonial Archive October 2016

What to do for a concussion or mild head injury/traumatic brain injury? Concussion Care Clinic at City Osteopaths, Wellington.

Categories

Archives

﻿For Wellington's Premier Health Clinic, Call (04) 499 1439 to Make an Appointment﻿

For Wellington's Premier Health Clinic,
Call (04) 499 1439 to Make an Appointment