You may have been recommended surgery to resolve a musculoskeletal issue—but surgery isn’t always the only option. Sometimes, it’s worth seeing whether a more conservative, holistic approach could suit your situation and needs better.
Osteopaths often see patients looking for less invasive, more natural ways to manage pain and improve function. Osteopathy offers a hands-on, whole-body approach that can often reduce or even eliminate the need for surgery.
Osteopathy doesn't just treat symptoms—it looks for the underlying causes of dysfunction, taking the whole person and their lifestyle into account. Whether it’s poor posture, muscle imbalances, joint restrictions, or compensatory movement patterns, addressing these factors early can prevent a condition from progressing to the point where surgical intervention becomes necessary. In the case of osteoarthritis, for example, osteopathic care can ease symptoms and potentially delay surgery for years—helping you maintain a good quality of life in the meantime.
Your osteopath can offer personalised advice on posture, workstation setup, movement habits, and stress management. These changes can reduce strain on your body and help avoid the need for surgery.
Hands-on osteopathic techniques—combined with targeted exercises—reduce mechanical stress on joints and muscles by improving posture, enhancing joint mobility, releasing muscle tension, and building strength and stability. This often relieves pain and restores normal movement, reducing the need for medications, corticosteroid injections, or surgery.
Osteopathic treatment also enhances circulation and lymphatic drainage, which helps the body clear inflammation, nourish tissues, and repair damage. In other words, it supports your body’s natural healing processes.
By improving biomechanics and posture, osteopathy helps patients move more freely and avoid the compensations that lead to wear-and-tear injuries, such as osteoarthritis or spinal disc degeneration.
Even when surgery is unavoidable, osteopaths can help prepare your body beforehand and support your recovery afterward—by promoting healing, restoring function, and preventing complications.
Conditions Where Osteopathy May Help You Avoid Surgery
● Joint pain and early-stage osteoarthritis (hips, knees, shoulders)
● Tendon and ligament injuries (e.g. rotator cuff issues, Achilles tendonitis)
● Sciatica and nerve entrapments (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome)
● Postural dysfunction and repetitive strain injuries
Surgery certainly has its time and place. There are cases where surgery is necessary and beneficial. Osteopaths are trained to recognise these situations and work collaboratively with orthopaedic surgeons and other healthcare providers to ensure you receive the best care—whether that includes surgery or not. As primary healthcare providers, osteopaths can also refer you to a specialist when needed.
Case Study:
We had a male patient in his late fifties who experienced severe hip pain while walking. He had already booked hip replacement surgery for four weeks later, after injuring his hip months prior by slipping on a wet surface. After a few osteopathic treatments and reducing simple carbohydrates in his diet, his pain resolved. He cancelled the surgery and has since been walking pain-free.
He may still need surgery one day—but delaying it by 5–10 years reduces the likelihood that he’ll need a second hip replacement later in life. This outcome saved him and his family the stress and cost of surgery and preserved his mobility in the meantime.
So, if you’re facing the possibility of surgery, it’s worth exploring osteopathy as a conservative, holistic alternative. Many patients experience significant improvements with osteopathic care—and some avoid surgery altogether.
Considering surgery? Let's talk first.
Book a consultation to find out if osteopathic treatment can help you avoid the operating room—and get back to doing what you love, pain-free.
