First Choice. Neck Pain & Headaches

NEWSLETTER

LIVE FREE FROM ACHES & PAINS

• The Connection Between Neck Pain And Headaches • The Problem With Posture • What Is “Trigger Finger?” • Patient Success Story • Healthy Recipe INSIDE:

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NECK PAIN & HEADACHES

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JUNE 2019

NEWSLETTER

CONTINUE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE FREE OF PAIN!

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NECK PAIN & HEADACHES

Headaches have a bad habit of making their appearance at the most inconvenient times. The middle of the workday, early in the evening when you have hours of responsibilities ahead of you, or even first thing in the morning when you are trying to pay attention to your morning meeting — headaches don’t care how important the work ahead of you is. When they start, they are hard to stop. There are all sorts of reasons why headaches may develop. From environmental factors like weather changes and exposure to certain perfumes or other scents, to stress and allergies, headaches happen to thebest of us. However, therearesome headachesthatmaybeabitmorepredictablethanothers.Factors likeyourposture, the typeofmattressyousleepon, thepillowyouuse,oreven thedeskchairyousit in at work can all impact your risk for experiencing regular headaches because of the intricate network of nerves and muscles in your neck. When Neck Pain Leads to Headaches Themajorityof the time,neckpainstartsoutasaseeminglysmallconcern.Acrick inyourneckhereortheremaystarttodevelopmorefrequently,andbeforeyouknow it,yourexperienceofneckpain issomethingyouaredealingwithdaily. It isn’talways

the resultofsomething large.Whilebeing inacaraccidentorexperiencinganother sort of injury can definitely lead to chronic neck pain, the cause of the issue isn’t always as simple to identify. Sometimes it is a bad habit that you don’t really think twice about, like your habit of watchingTV as you fall asleep, keeping your neck at anoddangleasyourestfortheevening,ormaybeasaresultofyourpostureasyou typeatyourdeskeveryday,hunchedoverat theshoulderswithyourneckcatching the brunt of your slouch. Thesepoorhabitsarecommon,andmostofusconsiderthemtobeharmless.Sure, you know it isn’t great for you, but what is actually going to happen? It’s a lot easier toslouchasyoutype,andwhodoesn’twanttocatchafew late-night laughsasthey fallasleep?But the reality is that theseseemingly irrelevanthabitscouldbeputting undue stress on your neck, and if you aren’t careful, this could translate to regular and uncomfortable headaches that are difficult to get rid of.

For more information about overcoming neck pain, call 321-802-5814 to talk with your physical therapist!

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THE PROBLEM WITH POSTURE

Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify whether or not your headaches may be the result of neck pain or strain. One of the most common causes of headaches due to neck pain is forward head position. Forward head position means that when you are resting your head, you are continuing to hold your head slightly forward, which is a type of slouching position. You can identify whether or not you have a forward head position by standing straight against the wall and determining whether or not your head rests against the wall as your back does. If your head does not touch the wall when you are standingstraight,thenyouaren’tfullystandingupstraight!Asyearsgobyandday after day you continue to hold your head in this forward position, you can start to experience pain as a result of strain in the muscles of the neck. When this is an issue, working with a physical therapist may be able to help. Stretchingthemuscles inyournecktoalleviateneckstraincanreducetheseverity and regularity of your headaches. Stretching the muscles that have grown tight along the back of your neck as well as those along the shoulders can help you find relief from the tension that is causing your pain. Whendealingwithneckpain, it is important toremember thatsafetyhas tocome first.Whiletherearemanysimpleactivitiesyoucantryathometobeginstretching yourneckmuscles,workingwithaphysicaltherapist istheonlywaytoensurethat you are stretching in a way that won’t potentially lead to greater injury. For more information, contact us by calling First Choice PTat 321-802-5814!

WHAT IS “TRIGGER FINGER?”

Trigger finger, also known as “stenosing tenosynovitis,” is a condition of the hand that can result in pain, stiffness, and a locking of the finger in a bent position. In the hand we have pulleys that allow for smooth motion of our tendons when we bend our fingers. With a trigger finger the A1 pulley becomes inflamed and thickens making it difficult for the flexor tendon to glide through the pulley. Over time a nodule can form on the tendon which does not allow the tendon to glide through resulting in a sensation of snapping or getting stuck. Treatment options for trigger finger can include occupational or physical therapy. Therapy can entail a number of things ranging from custom made splints, exercises to increase range of motion, and modalities used to decrease pain and inflammation. Other conservative treatment options include the use of acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), rest, and steroid injections. Surgery is another treatment option for trigger finger. The surgical procedure for trigger finger is called “tenolysis” or “trigger finger release.” During a trigger finger release the A1 pulley is cut to allow the tendon to glide more freely.

Source:https://www.oamichigan.com/hand-upper-extremity/hand-upper-extremity-conditions/trigger-finger/

GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD! 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO STOP BACK & NECK PAIN WWW.MYFIRSTCHOICEPT.COM

PATIENT SUCCESS STORY

BLACKENED CHICKEN RECIPE

INGREDIENTS • 4 (4 oz) chicken breasts • 2 tbsp blackened seasoning • ½ cup plain, Greek yogurt • ½ avocado

• 1 tsp lemon juice • ½ tsp garlic powder • ⅛ tsp salt • 2 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced

“Why did I not try this sooner?”

INSTRUCTIONS Place the chicken breasts and blackened seasoning in a large resealable bag. Seal and shake a few times to evenly coat the chicken. Lightly coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until cooked through,4-6minutesperside.Meanwhile, ina foodprocessor,combine theyogurt,avocado, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt and pulse until smooth and creamy. To serve, top each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons of the creamy avocado sauce and garnish with ½ tablespoon green onions.

“I can’t thank the staff at First Choice Physical Therapy in Indian Harbour Beach enough! I’ve suffered with back pain for years so I thought I would give PT a try. Boy, was I impressed! Why did I not try this sooner? My pain is virtually gone. Yesterday I walked two miles with no discomfort. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be back exercising and living without that horrible pain.” - R.V.

1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist. 2. Your therapist can discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home. 3. If further assessment is warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment. Call To Talk to Your Therapist Today 321-802-5814 Has Your Pain Come Back?

RELIEVE HEADACHES PAIN IN MINUTES Try this movement to relieve headaches due to neck pain

If you suffer from headaches, try these recommended exercises. For the first three days, perform Exercise 1 ( Head retraction in sitting ) 6-8 times a day,10repetitionseachtimeandwheneveryoufeelaheadachedeveloping. If this reduces your headaches but does not abolish them completely, you should add Exercise 2 ( Neck flexion in sitting ). In particular, headaches that spread over the top of your head to above or behind the eyes are often relievedwith thisexercise. Incaseyourheadachesarenot relievedby these two exercises, try sustaining the end range position for 1-2 minutes.

Exercise 1 Sit in a chair with good posture.Tuck your chin as if you are nodding yes. Hold for 2 seconds then return to the starting position. Repeat as specified above. Exercise 2 Sit in a chair with good posture. Lower your chin as if you are nodding yes, using your arm to assist until you feel a slight stretch in the back of your neck. Hold the position, then return to the starting position. Repeat as specified above.

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