Dan Truseler: Treating arthritis

Our speaker today was Dan Trussler, Registered Osteopath and founder of Vital Health, based in Tiptree.

He started by asking whether we knew what arthritis is. It is indicated by the word itself, arth (joint) + ritis (inflammation). Although it mainly affects older people, it can occur in people of any age. It has three stages, mild, moderate and severe.

1. With mild arthritis, sufferers can experience slight pain when they move and possibly stiffness in their joints.
2. Those with moderate arthritis may suffer frequent pain when moving or carrying out any activity involving the affected joints. They may also feel stiff first thing in the morning or after sitting for an extended period.
3. People with severe arthritis may suffer a lot of pain and find some activities difficult.

Current treatments for arthritis also goes in stages:

1. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories
2. Stronger painkillers
3. Generic exercise sheet from a NHS physiotherapist
4. X-ray (although there could be a 1-10 month wait for this under the NHS)

Arthritis treatment is also available privately from Vital Health. One of the first things they look for is any problem with posture. If there is one, it can be treated by osteopathy. Dan showed us some “before and after” photographs of one patient who had given his permission for the photographs to be used.

Patients may also be offered help in strengthening hip and leg muscles and improving lifestyle.

Additionally, there is now an innovative new treatment available privately, MBST. Dan didn’t tell us whet that stood for but it is a magnetic resonance therapy using similar technology to MRI scans, albeit at a much lower level of intensity. There are 250 clinics offering MBST in Switzerlan and 18 in the UK, including Vital Health. A course of MBST costs £1,650 and consists of nine sessions spread over two weeks. This gives pain relief and may even prevent further deterioration. How long the relief lasts varies from patient to patient. Some never have to repeat the treatment, although most do.

Dan finished by producing some brochures and offering us all vouchers giving a discount on the initial consultation and first session of preliminary treatment. By the time you read this they will hvve expired, though.