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Bigger, brighter and better: the new Robin Kiashek Osteopathic Clinic in Linen Hall

Osteopathic Clinic London

My Central London Osteopath clinic has been based in Linen Hall on Regent’s Street for 14 years.  So, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve recently moved into a much bigger, brighter and roomier clinic in the building.

Osteopath Treatments in Linen Hall

The fabulous new-look clinic provides me with additional space (particularly relevant in the current circumstances) to deliver my full range of Osteopathic treatments and allied therapies.  These include Low Level Laser Therapy and Western Acupuncture.  Also my new Bespoke Ergonomics service.  This is where I review clients’ home working set up via Zoom and provide recommendations for improvements.

COVID-19 health and safety policy

Linen Hall Osteopathic Clinic London is equidistant between Oxford and Piccadilly Circus.  The Crown Estate manages the building as part of a large UK real estate portfolio.  All profits are returned to the Treasury for the benefit of the nation. Linen Hall has a strict COVID-19 health and safety policy in place to ensure the wellbeing of its users.  This includes:

  • Signage reminding people to abide by the social distancing rules
  • Use of face masks inside lifts
  • A sign in and out system
  • Hand sanitiser stations dotted around the building
  • Extra cleaning of all common areas
  • Internal cleaning of the clinic
  • Full sanitisation and disinfection fogging throughout the week
  • Regular deep clean of touch points like buttons, light switches and door handles
  • Patients are no longer required to obtain passes at Reception upon entry but are given a paper visitor’s sticker (to attach to their lapel)

I also continue to follow enhanced health and safety protocols in the clinic to prevent the spread of coronavirus by adhering to government PPE and General Osteopathic Council guidelines.

Life in central London

If you’ve not yet ventured back into town, it’s still very quiet in Central London.  And many shops are still operating reduced opening hours.  But Regent Street pavements have been widened and there are numerous hand sanitiser stations on the street itself.

Get in touch

Robin Kiashek is a London Osteopath and Naturopath with clinics in Central London, Soho and North London.

He is registered with The General Osteopathic Council.  Also The British Naturopathic Association.

If you are suffering with any aches or pains then don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0208 815 0979.  Or you can request an appointment online.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – is this the legacy of Long COVID?

There’s an increasing amount of anecdotal evidence from people suffering from Long Covid.  This is where symptoms remain for much longer than the suggested two week period and are often accompanied by issues outside the officially recognised cough, fever and loss of taste or smell.  These most commonly include debilitating fatigue, breathlessness, muscle aches and joint pain.  Also, ‘brain fog,’ memory loss, lack of concentration, and depression. Very similar to the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

The main symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is feeling extremely tired and generally unwell.  But this tricky condition can also deliver a range of additional nasties.  The severity of which can vary from day to day, or even within a day.  These include:

  • muscle and/or joint pain
  • headaches
  • sleep issues
  • brain fog – problems thinking, remembering or concentrating
  • a sore throat or sore glands that are not swollen.
  • flu-like symptoms.
  • feeling dizzy or sick.
  • fast or irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations)

Over the past few weeks, Osteopath Robin Kiashek has seen an increase in the number of patients presenting with these types of symptom.

Robin said: “Several of the patients I’ve seen with CFS symptoms know they have had COVID.  But, of course, we will never know how many people have already had it but were asymptomatic.”

What can be done to ease the symptoms of CFS?

Robin has been a licensed practitioner in The Perrin Technique™ for CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia for over 10 years.

This is a manual method that aids the diagnosis and possible treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME.  It was developed by Osteopath and neuroscientist Dr Raymond Perrin DO PhD in 1989.

What is the Perrin Technique™?

The Perrin Technique™ is based on Dr Perrin’s theory that different stress factors whether physical, allergies, emotional or infections lead to an overstrain of the sympathetic nervous system.

Further investigation has led to a probable cause of this nervous system overload being a build-up of toxins in the fluid around the brain and the spinal cord.

Some of the poisons caused by infection or inflammation in the head or spine flow through channels from the brain into the lymph ducts of the head face and neck.

The toxins are also meant to drain down the spinal cord and out into the lymph ducts lying along the spine. In a CFS/ME sufferer there is a back flow of these normal drainage points which leads to further toxicity and dysfunction of the central nervous system. This leads to the many symptoms we see in CFS/ME.

Research over past 30 years has validated Dr Perrin’s theories read more about them here.

The Perrin Technique and Long COVID

Dr Perrin and his colleagues from the University of Manchester have written to a number of medical publications to highlight the potential for a post-viral syndrome to manifest following COVID-19 infection.  A similar situation was previously reported following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infection, also a coronavirus.

Back in the clinic

Whilst this may sound like yet another blow from the hammer that is proving to be 2020, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Robin said: “Working with the symptoms of CFS is never straightforward and patients often end up at my door after suffering for months (if not years).

“They have frequently been subjected to a barrage of medical tests and received lots of negative results.  So, they are also feeling understandably anxious about what’s could be ailing them.

“The good news for people struggling with Long COVID symptoms is that they are fairly recent and are therefore likely to respond more quickly to treatment.  But it can still be a long haul.”

Patient X has been seeing Robin intermittently since the end of April, shortly after they started to feel unwell.

Patient X explains: “In April, I was feeling the post-viral effects of likely Covid-19 and felt I had nowhere to turn to for support from a health and well-being perspective. My GP practice still remains phone consultations-only and I was frustrated that my health wasn’t improving. I had crippling fatigue, strange neurological symptoms, insomnia, dizziness and many other symptoms following the acute viral phase.

“Luckily, I did some research and learned that the Perrin Technique™ might be beneficial.

“I started regular sessions with Robin and was grateful for the holistic advice. He confirmed that I had post viral fatigue which mirrors chronic fatigue syndrome and I started my Perrin Technique™ sessions weekly.

“I am not 100% yet back to normal, but I feel it’s been a beneficial journey so far. I also feel empowered that I have a way of helping my recovery beyond resting and healthy eating.”

There are two Robin Kiashek Osteopath Clinics  – in Central London (on Regent Street) and in East Finchley.

If you’re suffering with any of the symptoms listed above, then why not request an appointment or call on 020 8815 0979?

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Lower back pain and Millennials – tips for prevention

Lower Back Pain

We’ve spoken before about the seriousness of back pain – a debilitating ailment that can strike at any time. And lower back pain is particularly common.  According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it is the most common cause of job-related disability.

Lower back pain is often associated with the over 50s, but we’ve recently seen a rise in the number of millennials wanting help with this issue.

Millennial lifestyle

Lower back pain can, of course, be the result of an injury such as a sporting sprain or strain.  Or it can be triggered by an underlying, untreated chronic symptom/s, often very mild and transient, which has been influenced by long-term lifestyle factors.

The current cohort of 20-40-year-olds is the first true ‘digital generation.’ They make up the largest generation in the workforce in the UK.  They are also the people most likely to be found hunched over a computer/gaming screen, in the gym lifting heavy weights and – thanks to COVID-19 – now working from home at make-shift desks.

Robin Kiashek said: “Given these lifestyle factors, it’s not surprising that Millennials are increasingly suffering with lower back pain.  And in our youth we often consider ourselves invincible, so we tend to ignore warning signs such as pain and are often not sufficiently patient with our body’s need to allow time for recovery.”

How to prevent lower back pain

Prevention is clearly the best option when it comes to lower back pain.  Here’s our top tips for avoiding this painful condition:

Watch your posture

Posture is key when it comes to keeping your back in tip top condition. Avoid slumping in your chair or on the sofa and don’t hunch over your desk. Also, watch out for tech neck .  This 21st century phenomena puts unnecessary pressure on your shoulders and back and is caused by resting your chin on your chest whilst looking at a phone or computer screen.  If you work from a laptop then raise it so that the screen is at eye level.

Take a stand

Take breaks from your work. Try to get away from your screen, stand and move about every 30 minutes or so to get your back muscles into action.  I’ve talked before about the benefits of active dynamic sitting. This is where your seating allows or encourages you to move, increase your stability and strengthen your core abdominal muscles.  There are a variety of specially designed seats on the market to improve postural health and the abdominal muscles.  I use the ‘Swopper Chair’ and would highly recommend it.

Exercise, exercise, exercise

It’s so important to work out the muscles in your abdomen and back. That’s because these are the core muscles attached to the spine or pelvis that help us to stand, move and go about our daily life. Just make you do so safely.  If you are lifting weights, be sure to bend at the hips and not your back.

Try to relax

As a trained Osteopath and Naturopath with more than 25 years in the industry, I know there’s a close link between physical, mental and emotional health. Problems originating in one place can often show up as referred pain in another. Some people manifest stress in their minds, others manifest it physically and some will do both. This causes us to tighten our muscles, particularly around our shoulders and down our spine. We all unwind in different ways but my advice would be to find yours and make time for it!

Check out your sleeping situation

We spend a third of our lives sleeping.  So, it’s definitely worth spending money on a good mattress for your back. And do be aware that a divan mattress will support your mattress and back whereas slats do not.

How we can help with lower back pain

At The Robin Kiashek Clinics, we aim to relieve pain and help strengthen the body, making it less susceptible to discomfort or injury. We also try to understand the lifestyle factors which may have contributed to the onset of pain. Our range of gentle and effective treatments includes Osteopathy, Western Acupuncture and Low Level Laser Therapy.

We’ve also recently added another string to our bow. With our Home Office Ergonomics service, we review your home working arrangements and make suggestions for improvement to help minimise the impact on your physical (and emotional) wellbeing.

Get in touch

If you are dealing with lower back pain, why not call us on 020 8815 0979 or request an appointment online?

 

 

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Working from home: Four implications for our physical and emotional wellbeing

What can we do to lessen the impact of working from home

Remote working or working from home (WFH) has been on the rise for the past last few years.

And since lockdown there’s been a huge spike in the number of people swapping their perfectly set up office desks to makeshift work spaces desks in their living rooms, kitchens or even bedrooms.

According to the latest statistics released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics in April, 49.2% of adults in employment were working from home as a direct result of the social distancing measures introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst restrictions around social distancing might be easing, there’s still a huge number of people who either work remotely permanently or for the majority of the working week.

But what physical implications and emotional does WFH create?

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Whether it’s your wrists, hands, forearms, elbows, neck or shoulders – RSI has a lot to answer for. RSI is a general term use to describe muscle, nerve and tendon pain caused by repetitive movement and overuse. It can strike anyone who performs a repetitive or high intensity action for long periods without rest. It’s also exacerbated by poor posture or activities involving working in an awkward position. Like typing on a computer or using your smartphone excessively.
Symptoms of RSI include burning, aching, or shooting pain. But you might also experience stiffness, throbbing, tingling or numbness, cramp or chronically cold hands, particularly in your fingertips.

Headaches and migraines

Bad posture, increased screen time and changes in our daily routine can all trigger tension headaches. The main feature of a migraine is a headache. But other symptoms include disturbed vision, sensitivity to light, sound and smells, feeling sick and vomiting. They can last anywhere between four to 72 hours.

Neck problems

Neck pain associated with badly positioned screens and looking down – attractively double-chinned – at mobile phones is increasingly common in this tech focussed world, and even more of an issue with so many of us now working from home.
According to The Institute of Osteopathy, tight neck and upper back muscles, stiff joints, and trapped nerves are common effects of spending too long being hunched over screens, and if left untreated, can cause splintering pains through the shoulders and hands.

Emotional implications

One of my patients told me recently that she’s always referred to her husband as her nearest and dearest. But now she just calls him her nearest! And I think that many of us can probably empathise with that feeling!
Lockdown and the ongoing working from home has put many of us in much closer proximity with family than we’re used to. And that requires emotional adjustment. Plus, there can be employment and financial worries to take into account. And stress and anxiety can bring a host of physical symptoms.

What can we do to lessen the impact of working from home?

There are a variety of ways that you can lessen the impact of working from home on your physical and emotional wellbeing.

These include:
• Set the computer screen so that’s it at eye level
• Keep your feet flat on the floor and try not to cross your legs.
• Consider a wrist rest to keep your wrists straight and at the same level as your keyboard.
• Use a headset if you use the phone a lot, rather than clamping the phone between your ear and shoulder.
• Do some simple neck exercise through the day
• Drink plenty of water through the day – the discs between the vertebrae in the spine consist mainly of water so keeping hydrated will ensure they stay healthy.
• Try to take regular breaks – these are good for body and mind. Small and frequent rests are preferable to one long one

Learn about our Home Office Ergonomics service, a service designed to improve your home working arrangements

 

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Spinal Symposium – what I learnt about dealing with chronic pain

I recently spent a fascinating day at the Royal Society of Medicine for the 9th Annual Spinal Symposium which looked at the spine from a range of perspectives.

The spine is often the part of the body that people most readily associate with Osteopathy (although we can assist with many other issues and help you to reach your goals in mind and body).

I think it’s vital to remain up to date with current thinking and I regularly refresh my learning with CPD events such as this, where I am always interested to hear about new developments, opinions and practices.

Annual Spinal Symposium

We heard from six excellent orthodox medical consultants who covered topics including dizziness and facial pain, degenerative spinal diseases and sport and the spine. But, for me, the most interesting speaker was Rheumatologist, Dr Roger Wolman who talked about the different types and levels of pain that people experience, and then focussed on chronic pain.

This is an issue that fascinates me and Dr Wolman’s assertion that there is often a poor correlation between chronic pain and structural abnormality certainly resonated with my experiences in clinic. Pain is often a measure of distress , both physical and sometimes emotional and not necessarily injury.

Managing chronic pain

He spoke at length about managing chronic pain and the important role that we can play in educating people about it. According to Dr Wolman, even just understanding chronic pain can help to change pain levels. He also stressed the need for patients to understand the relationship between stress, anxiety, depression and pain; to know their pain triggers; and the limited role of medication in these situations.

I have written before about the approach I take at my Clinics and how I believe in treating the person and not just the symptom they present with. This ‘body-mind detective’ role – systematically locating and treating the root cause of often very complex problems – is one I greatly enjoy and I have been able to help a number of patients who have been suffering with chronic pain over long periods of time.

Review

I’ll leave you with the kind words from a patient: “Robin’s treatments have helped reduce my back and neck pain which had plagued me for years. He has taught me how to reduce re-occurrences through exercise and lifestyle change – I was very despondent before I came to see him and he continues to help me hugely; I’m very grateful.”

So, if you’ve been nursing a niggle or putting up with pain for a while then why not book an appointment?

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Look after your spine in 2020

How to Keep a Healthy Spine

Did you know that back pain is one of the most common reasons for  sickness absence in the UK*

Healthy Spine

According to the Office of National Statistics, an estimated 141.4 million working days are lost each year to sickness or injury.  With musculoskeletal problems – including back pain, neck pain and upper limb issues – often cited as the reason.  And the bad press about back pain doesn’t end there. It has also been recorded in recent years as the top cause of disability**.

The spine is our body’s central support structure. It’s a column of 26 bones — 24 separate vertebrae inter-spaced with cartilage, plus the sacrum and coccyx.  It makes up the spinal ‘scaffolding’, through which the spinal cord passes, keeps us upright and enables flexible movement.  It also sets us apart from those famous invertebrates – the jellyfish!

And it can be a master of disguise.  Back problems can be felt anywhere along the spine, from the neck to the lower back.  And they might include referred pain, which can give widespread symptoms (pain, numbness, pins & needles and weakness) into the upper or lower limbs, the head and abdominal/chest regions. And these referred symptoms can make diagnosis more difficult.

So, since prevention is better than cure, I’ve compiled a list of five everyday things we can all do to help look after our backs:

Good posture – day and night

Avoid slumping in a chair or on the sofa, hunching over a desk or walking with your shoulders up by your ears. And, of course, the 21st century curse of resting your chin on your chest while using your phone.  Instead, ensure your lower back is properly supported, sit up straight when you’re working on a computer or laptop and keep your chin up while you text!

And since we sleep for a third of our lives (hopefully), it’s also worth spending money on a good mattress and divan (slats do not support your mattress and in turn, your back).  The latter being ‘a mattress for your mattress’.  Ideally, the divan should not incorporate storage boxes as these lessen its effectiveness.

Bend at the hips

Always be sure to bend at the hips and not your back. Try to do this by keeping your upper body upright as much as possible and your chest forward. If you do a lot of lifting or bending, make sure you attend specific manual handling training.

Avoid shoulder/messenger bags

They might look fashionable but carrying heavy loads in shoulder and/or messenger bags can cause an imbalance of weight on your spine. If you lug around weighty items, like laptops and books, as a minimum, opt for a comfortable rucksack and be sure to use both shoulder straps. But ideally, do consider a rucksack with wheels.

Don’t stress – take a ‘chill pill’ (as my children kindly tell me)

As a trained Osteopath and Naturopath, I know there’s a close link between physical, mental and emotional health and that problems originating in one place can often show up as referred pain in another. And while some people manifest stress in their minds, others manifest it physically. Which causes us to tighten our muscles, particularly around our shoulders and down our spine.

Take a stand

Sitting for long periods of time has been proved to be bad for our health.  So get up, go for a walk or get a drink every 30 minutes to get your back muscles (and everything else) working.   If you spend your day at a desk, I’ve written before about the benefits of Active or Dynamic Sitting.  This is where your seating allows or encourages you to move, increases your stability and strengthens your core abdominal muscles.  There are lots of options on the market including the ‘Swopper Chair’, which I use myself.

Look after Your Spine

As we’ve discussed, the spine is a wonderful thing and it’s important to look after it.  So, if you’ve started the new year with back, neck or hip pain then Osteopathy may be the answer.
Why not get in touch for more information or to book an appointment?

We have Osteopath clinics in Central London and North London

 

*Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2018

** Back pain is a massive problem which is badly treated

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Top tips for real conversations and meaningful connections

What is a meaningful connection?

At the beginning of a new year it’s natural for our minds to turn to change.  I’m sure we all feel exhausted by the volume and variety of exercise advice in the media and perhaps conflicted about whether we should do Dry January, Veganuary, or possible both!  Actually, I find it interesting that when we talk about ‘change’ we often mean physical change.  As an Osteopath and Naturopath, I’m a firm believer in the need to eat well, maintain a reasonable weight and keep active.  These things are important in helping us to live a healthy life.

But what about our attitudes and opinions?

We are all a product of our upbringing and experiences.  These things inform what we believe and often how we react to people and situations.  But, once we become adults, how often do we test these beliefs?  How many of us can say that we are open to new ideas or considering the other side of an argument?  Yet an open mind, curiosity and a willingness to learn could be considered just as vital to being a fit and healthy human.

Antagonism, division and polarisation seem to have become the starting point for what passes as debate in recent years.  There is so little respect for or curiosity about a different opinion.  Which is why I was so intrigued to learn about Megan Phelps-Roper.  Megan grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church, an American church known for its use of inflammatory hate speech, especially against the LGBT and Jewish community.  From the age of five she was regularly picketing against these groups, holding up placards that she couldn’t even read.  Obviously the pickets were often met with hate and sometimes violence.  But living the Westboro doctrines, and believing every word of them, was Megan’s life for the next 20 years.

Life changing conversations are possible

Until she joined Twitter!  Which she credits for the start of civil conversations full of genuine curiosity on both sides.  The cynical among us may say that this doesn’t sound like Twitter!  But it was absolutely Megan’s experience.  And eventually these conversations planted seeds of doubt in her mind.  As she says: “Friends on Twitter took the time to understand Westboro’s doctrines and spotted inconsistencies that I’d missed for my whole life.”

The results of these conversations with people who often represented all that Megan had been taught to hate, was that she left the Church in 2012.  She became a prominent critic of the church, its philosophy and practices and now lobbies to overcome divisions and hatred between religious and political divides.  In her Ted Talk she urges us to talk and listen to people we disagree with and gives four valuable tips for getting the most from those conversations:

Don’t assume bad intent.

This attitude cuts us off from understanding as we get stuck on anger.  Try to assume good or neutral intent and this provides a much stronger framework for dialogue.

Ask questions.

This helps you to understand where the other person is coming from. And it signals to them that they’re being heard.  Megan found that when people started to ask her questions about her beliefs, she automatically mirrored this behaviour.  And so, a conversation developed.

Staying calm.

This takes patience and practice.  It’s natural in stressful or confrontational situations to raise the temperature but this can bring any conversation to an explosive conclusion.  One of the advantages of online conversations is that (contrary to popular opinion) there is no need to reply immediately.  So, it’s a good idea in those circumstances to pause, breathe and consider before typing!

Make the argument.

We can assume that the value of our own argument is obvious if we hold strong beliefs.  And that we shouldn’t have to defend our position because it’s so clearly right and good.  The implication being that if someone doesn’t get it, it’s their problem — and it’s not our job to educate them.  But we are all a product of our upbringing, and our beliefs reflect our experiences. We can’t expect others to spontaneously change their own minds. If we want change, we have to make the case for it.

Whilst Megan’s views were obviously extreme, and the change she effected was massive, I think it’s good for us all to be open to engaging with people who hold different views from our own – a sentiment perhaps most memorably summed up by the author Evelyn Beatrice Hall, in her famous quote: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

Life Coaching and NLP 

Aa a qualified Life Coach based in London, I work with clients towards achieving self confidence, self awareness and clarity about how to achieve their goals, all invaluable qualities and ones which Life Coaching can inspire in you.
Find out more about Life Coaching

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Could 2020 be the year of the introvert?

In a world where we’re often encouraged to speak up, stand out and make ourselves heard, it feels like introverts have become the poor relation to their noisier extrovert cousins.

But as we move towards a new year, I wonder whether 2020 could finally be time for introverts to have their moment?  In a quiet way of course!  My experience as an Osteopath and Naturopath has shown that there’s a close link between physical, mental and emotional health. And for us to function properly as human beings these need to be in alignment.  So, a less frenetic and outward focussed approach to life could be the way forward.  Introverts certainly have many qualities that often go uncelebrated in these noisy times:

Low maintenance

Introverts are largely independent as they’re not stimulated by or reliant on other people.  In fact, they can find people draining.   Introverts enjoy time spent alone without unwanted stimulation and use it to recharge their batteries.  So, they are less likely to let their reserves run down and retain the ability to recover quicker from setbacks. Today’s society puts a great deal of emphasis on teamwork and being a team player. But introverts often prefer to work independently, which can mean that they require less supervision at work.

Measured

An introvert’s inclination is to reflect and observe rather than react and respond.  So, whilst decisions may take a little longer, they have been properly considered and there is less likelihood of a change of heart.  All of which makes introverts good problem solvers, critical thinkers, planners and, perhaps surprisingly, often good salespeople (they know their product back to front and have considered all possible objections!)

Good friends

Introverts prefer quality relationships over quantity. They are discriminating in who they allow into their world, and they value and nurture the relationships they develop. Introverts really listen to what the other person is trying say in conversation rather than focusing on how they might interject with their own contribution.  They are often more interested in receiving information than divulging it – which makes them very good secret keepers too!

Knowledgeable

Introverts are the kings (and queens) of concentration.  They can immerse themselves in solitary activities like research or writing for extended periods of time. This hyper focus allows them to become extremely well-informed in many areas of interest.   By nature studious and lovers of information, introverts enjoy learning and discovering new things and think that knowledge is power.  But they are also happy to share that expertise with others.

Self-aware

Introverts tend to enjoy thinking about and examining things in their own minds. Including their own preferences, feelings and motivations, how others see them and how they fit into the world.  This often means they are better able to manage their emotions and are inclined to act consciously (rather than react passively).  There is strong scientific evidence that people who know themselves and how others see them are happier.

Obviously we can’t change who we are.  Although if you’re interested in labels and would like to establish whether you’re officially an introvert then there are lots of tests available online including this one from 16Personalities.  In an age when it feels almost compulsory to share our every thought and opinion with our online friends and followers however, I do think we could learn from how introverts value quiet time for recharging.  Perhaps it’s something we could aim to take with us into the new year?

 

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Lyme Disease – a topic of conversation at The Perrin Conference

I spent a very interesting day at the 30th annual Perrin Conference this month.

Dr Raymond Perrin is an Osteopath and neuroscientist.  He developed  The Perrin Technique™ back in 1989.  This is a manual method that aids the diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME.

I am trained in The Perrin Technique™ and there’s more about it on my website.  But it was very interesting to hear Dr Perrin talk about how the technique could possibly also be used to help sufferers of Lyme Disease, which can present with some similar symptoms to CFS and is ‘increasing rapidly’ in the UK, with 8,000 cases expected this year

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easily treated with antibiotics if it’s diagnosed early but can cause more severe problems if it’s not caught.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Many people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a circular red ‘bull’s eye’ skin rash around a tick bite.  Most rashes appear within four weeks of being bitten but it can take up to three months and not everyone gets the rash.

Some people also have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as:

  • a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
  • headaches
  • muscle and joint pain
  • tiredness and loss of energy

Sadly, some sufferers of Lyme disease develop more severe symptoms months or years later.  This is more likely if initial treatment is delayed.  Symptoms may include:

  • pain and swelling in joints
  • nerve problems – such as pain or numbness
  • difficulty sleeping
  • trouble concentrating and with short term memory

What is The Perrin Technique™ ?

The Perrin Technique™ is an osteopathic approach that manually stimulates the fluid motion around the brain and spinal cord. Manipulation of the spine further aids drainage of these toxins out of the cerebrospinal fluid. Massage of the soft tissues in the head, neck, back and chest direct all the toxins out of the lymphatic system and into the blood, where they are eventually detoxified in the liver.

Eventually with no poisons affecting the brain, the sympathetic nervous system begins to function correctly, and providing the patients do not overstrain themselves, their symptoms should gradually improve and in time some patients become totally symptom free.

If you, or someone you know suffers from these types of symptoms then please do get in touch.

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International Men’s Day

International Men’s Day is about celebrating the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and communities. And they do. Every day. Which is why it’s so sad that suicide is still the leading cause of death among 20-49-year-old men**. When it comes to male mental health, there is still a lot of work left to be done.

So it was fantastic to be able to contribute some thoughts on why qualities traditionally seen as masculine can be damaging to male mental health to Balance Magazine.  You can read the full article – Poor Male Mental Health: The Physical Signs – here.

Robin Kiashek’s London Osteopathy practice is based in two clinics: in Soho, Central London W1 and North London N2/N10.  Robin works with his patients to help them make small changes to their lives which may result in a big difference to their wellbeing.

All about Robin

Robin Kiashek graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Osteopathic Medicine (including a Diploma in Nutrition) from what is now known as The British College of Osteopathic Medicine (formerly The British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy), an institution accredited by the University of Westminster.

Over the years, he has completed a range of additional training:

Throughout the year, he also undertakes post-graduate training (CPD) to further his knowledge in the latest Osteopathic and allied therapies.

**Office for National Statistics

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