After your treatment
We hope you enjoyed your first treatment!
Here is some advice on how to help yourself gain maximum benefit from it-please read this page now.
Ways to help yourself
Rest for 10 minutes after each treatment. A short stroll can help, especially before driving any distance.
Take it easy for 24 to 48 hours. Avoid doing anything strenuous such as housework or lifting; and don't engage in sporting activities such as golf, racquet/contact sports or exercise classes until we advise you otherwise. Also avoid carrying heavy bags on one shoulder or arm, or other such unbalanced strains.
Watch your posture when sitting, standing or driving - simply correct it when needed - without self-criticism!
Drink plenty of water as this will help to clear toxins from your system.
Avoid hot baths for 24 hours, although a quick warm bath or a shower are fine.
Mix your activities, don't sit or stand for long periods. Short walks are often helpful, also
gentle swimming or exercise in water.
How will you feel after the treatment?
This varies considerably between people. Remember that any change is a sign that your body is beginning to integrate the treatment.
Feeling better: relief from pain as your body has become better aligned, which can make you feel straighter, taller and altogether more balanced.
Feeling worse before feeling better: while your body is adjusting to its new alignment, the pain may move about from one side to the other, or you may experience stiffness and soreness as muscle tensions change. These effects usually disappear over a day or two.
Relaxation: you may feel "floppy" after treatment, and may sleep deeply following the relaxation of deep tensions in your body. Have an early night!
Headaches: the release of natural toxins as your body heals can cause headaches. Drinking plenty of water will help to flush them out.
Emotional changes: these are quite normal, and often reflect the release of tension in the muscles. Just realise it is your body's healing response.
How many sessions will you need?
This varies considerably:
- you generally heal slower as you get older
- simple backache often clears quicker than sciatica
- yesterday's injury will resolve faster than one of 20 years' standing.
- the fitter you are, the quicker you heal
- stress can definitely impede healing
- healthy food and relaxation help the healing process
- your activities between treatments make a big difference!
Usually treatments are weekly at first, then more widely spaced. Most acute problems are sorted out in six treatments or less, for longer term conditions treatments would then be at longer intervals. We will review progress with you regularly, aiming to give you the best benefit for the least treatments.
If you feel OK again, remember that disappearance of the symptoms can sometimes occur with the first level of improvement of your alignment. To prevent recurrences further improvement may be needed, so do keep your next appointment.
Once the problem has been resolved, regular check-ups are recommended to keep your spine and other joints functioning well. This one piece of advice could save you great trouble in future - just like dental checkups but we have far more bones than teeth!
Problems?
If you have any concerns, either before or after your treatment, please tell us. We want to hear your helpful hints for us too!
Emergencies and changing appointments
We try hard to see our patients as soon as they need treatment, especially in emergencies. Most working days we have at least one person wanting to see us urgently. So if someone does not turn up for an appointment, we have no-one to treat during that slot, but two more people to fit in later. So if you need to change or cancel your appointment, or find you cannot come, please let us know as soon as possible - by telephone to the most appropriate number. We don't check emails so frequently.
The Missed Appointment Fee encourages all our patients to let us know when they cannot make their appointment. Then we know exactly what times we have free to offer to "emergency" patients - who are often relieved to come in at an hour's notice or less, rather than be told there are no vacant times. This, of course, could be you one day.
Naturally we do understand that unforeseen circumstances arise, and we try to be fair in charging for missed appointments; this is our attempt to providethe best service for all our patients.
For the same reason, we try hard to avoid confusion over the day, time and place of appointments. We have practices in Monmouth, Abergavenny and Maypole, so please note where your booking is, and if in doubt, always check beforehand. Our practice details are listed below.
Helpful hints
The best clothing to wear for treatment is light and loose, perhaps stretchy trousers with a light shirt, blouse or T-shirt. Jeans are not recommended.
If you need to bring babies or young children with you, please remember to provide toys, books or food to keep them happy. Since our treatments can benefit the whole family, it can be good for them to feel at home here.
Payment may be in cash or by cheque. Cheques that "bounce" are rare, but we do need to levy an administration fee of £10 for this to offset our costs.
If you find the treatment helpful, do tell others who may benefit from it! People like to know that our work is gentle, usually pleasant to receive, and offers all-round benefits. Your word helps our work to become more widely known. Doctors too will know which patients to send us if you report to them how we helped you.
Good health isnot just absence of pain or disease, but a positive sense of physical, emotional and mental well-being. The more balanced your body is, the better it will cope with the stresses of daily living, as well as with any accidents that happen.
Can you care for yourself as well as you care for others? Your body will respond well to consideration, kindness and care - given a chance, it has wonderful self-healing abilities. You can help your healing by observing the guidelines here and any further advice we give you.
If you have any questions or concerns between treatments, please contact us. Best wishes for your return to health!
Five & Kathy Cram
Maypole Oak, Maypole, Monmouth
NP25 3QH
01600 713527
(Our home phone outside reception times)