Pain & Injury Clinic, Spalding
48 West Elloe Avenue,
Spalding, Lincolnshire
PE11 2BH
Business hours:
Mon - Sun: 10AM - 9PM
Closed Wednesday
EVERY WOMAN WILL GO THROUGH MENOPAUSE - BUT IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND MENOPAUSE HELP AND ADVICE IN SPALDING, LINCOLNSHIRE
Content written by Greg Pritchard, RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialist, BTEC Level 5 Soft Tissue Therapist (CSSM), MFHT
If there was a new illness that affected half of the UK's population from their 40s onwards, you'd be shocked if people could become GPs without having to know anything about it.
You'd be outraged if children weren't taught about it in schools, if health services barely mentioned it, and if there was almost no straightforward sources of advice and help that weren't actually trying to sell you stuff.
But...this is what has happened with menopause. GPs in Lincolnshire aren't mandated to have any training in menopause, if you attend hospital frightened by strange symptoms, they're unlikely to consider menopause as the cause, and many sources of information are actually trying to sell supplements or have not-so-hidden agendas.
Welcome to Menopause Support in Lincolnshire.
WE UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE.
As soft tissue therapists, we see a lot of women who start developing aches and pains in their 40s and 50s that just seem to come out of nowhere.
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And they talk to us about how they are feeling more emotional, more depressed, more anxious. They tell us how they've been to the doctor and simply told they're depressed, or stressed, and that they should lose weight, but nothing they do works.
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They might tell us how they're frightened by their inability to remember things like they used to, and how they can't sleep through the night.
All these things are symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause, but sadly, it's not taught in schools, and those women who do approach their GP often find themselves being given poor advice or even told completely the wrong thing (our favourite - you can't be peri-menopausal if you have periods, from a long serving male GP in Spalding, Lincolnshire).
Vic had a horrible time trying to get help for her peri-menopause symptoms - unhelpful, patronising GPs, unhelpful nurses (despite being "menopause" trained), specialists with outdated knowledge and agendas, doctors who failed to consider that the 48 year old woman presenting with classic perimenopause symptoms might be perimenopausal... and we decided we never wanted anyone else to go through the same thing.
HOW CAN A SOFT TISSUE THERAPIST HELP WIHT MENOPAUSE ADVICE?
Because local GPs were so poor, we had to learn everything ourselves, and seek private help.
We know that's not an option for everyone.
So we've completed the Newson Health "Confidence In Menopause" training; this is specialist medical training about peri-menopause, menopause, symptoms and treatments. It's aimed at GPs and nurses - but it's open to any health professional. So we did it. Yes, there's some issues around Newson's lack of awareness around the importance of progesterone, but we know about that.
And we read and we studied and we researched. Because we lived it.
Sadly, most women end up having to advocate for themselves when it comes to the menopause - and we're here to help you do just that.
We obviously can't prescribe any medication - but we can talk to you about the different types, and the positives and negatives. And just as importantly - we known the NICE guidelines around menopause treatment. So when your GP goes "eh, you'll need to have lots of blood tests", but you're over 45, we'll tell you exactly what to say.
When they tell you that it'll all just go away if you have some anti-depressants, that you don't want, we'll tell you what to print out and show them how they're going against NHS clinical guidance. And we'll advise you about what to take to that ten minute appointment so they don't just tell you it's stress.
WE DON'T CHARGE FOR MENOPAUSE ADVICE
There's a whole little industry building up around menopause - and the newest one are people who will chat to you for an hour about your options, and then charge you for that time.
They aren't GPs, and can't prescribe medication - but they'll make it sound like they can right up until you've paid and realise that they can't.
We think that's wrong. Some women sail through the menopause without any issues - but many don't, and it can be terrifying.
If you'd like to talk to us about menopause, you can simply request extra time when you book your appointment, free of charge.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY: REAL REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
Melissa says: "I've been to Greg 3 times over the last 18 months, he always puts me at ease, cures my aches and pains and in my back and makes me laugh with his humour. I never feel pressured to make more appointments and he always gives great advice on exercises and prevention of further injury."
Stef says: "I've just been to see Greg and already feel so much better - after just one session! Truly amazing and obviously knows what he's doing, he even managed to get some movement out of my hips! A really lovely, normal, down to earth chap who is passionate about his craft and is now on my "regulars" list. Thank you, Greg, see you soon.."
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Jay says: "I arrived not being able to move my neck at all. Greg was awesome, he just keeps talking and before you know it you can move again... I felt rough for a couple of days then better than I have in such a long time!"