Horizon PT December 2018

Horizon PT December 2018

physical therapy and rehabilitation December 2018

3600 Miller Road, Flint, MI 48503 • 810.620.8042 • horizonptflint.com

DEAL ING WI TH SURGERY AND RECOVERY Let Yourself Heal

not uncommon to feel powerless when it comes to surgery. Patients don’t always get to choose their surgeon. Sometimes you have to go to whoever your insurance will cover. Plus, it’s a little scary to think about someone cutting into you while you’re unconscious. When someone tells me they are worried about having surgery, I recommend they write down all the questions they have beforehand. For a lot of people, the scariest part of surgery comes from the unknown, so get all your questions answered by your physician. Make sure you also request to receive a copy of your surgical report afterward. This is a report written by the surgeon, and you can read all about what they did during your surgery. Getting all the information you can removes the unknown factors. In addition to gathering all the information, make sure you have a recovery plan for after your surgery. Follow the doctor’s post-op recovery plan, and make sure you have a trusted family member around to help you out during the initial stages of healing. Above all else, give yourself time to rest. That last one can be the hardest part about surgery. It’s tough when we’re so busy in life. Trust me, as a father of two and a business owner, I know how hard it is to take it easy. But if you don’t give your body time to heal, you’ll only hurt yourself all over again. I stayed off my leg as much as I could, didn’t rush things when I was on crutches, and made myself take it easy for a while. I’m still healing, but I’ve been doing exercises and regaining my range of motion. Best of all, it doesn’t hurt like it did, and I’m sleeping better than before. No one wants to have surgery. If physical therapy can help heal an injury without going under the knife, I will always encourage that route. But rehab isn’t enough to solve every problem. If your doctor recommends surgery and you have exhausted all conservative measures, no good comes from putting it off or trying to rush your recovery. You’ll just be back in a few years — and in worse pain than before! Do what’s right for your body, and give yourself the opportunity to heal.

About 10 years ago, I hurt my knee playing basketball. I did some rehab on it at the time, but the doctor I was going to didn’t see how bad the damage really was. I never really took care of my knee; I just let it “get better” on its own. Of course, without the right treatment, my knee didn’t heal fully. A fewmonths ago, I had that old injury flare up on me. This time, the doctor I went to did their due diligence. I had a torn meniscus, which means I’d ripped the cartilage in my knee. It’s a pretty common injury among basketball players, but it’s not something I could just do rehab on and expect it to heal. After talking to the doctor, I made the decision with my wife to get surgery.

This wasn’t my first surgery — I had a hernia repair when I was a kid — so I wasn’t too worried. If you choose the right people and they take the right precautions, you should be fine. My wife was more nervous than I was! But the doctor I went to had been recommended by someone I trust, so I knew I was in good hands. As a PT, I am fortunate that my career has given me an understanding about how the body works. I knew going in what I needed to do to recover and how surgery was going to help me get there. At lot of patients don’t have that foundation. It’s

-Dr. Jerome Adams

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Multicultural Celebrations

According to the Pew Research Center, Christmas is the most celebrated December holiday in the U.S. Yet, like the melting pot it is, the U.S. contains many cultures from across the globe, each with their own traditions. Teach your kids about some of the holiday celebrations from different cultures this season. KWANZAA Created in 1966 by black studies professor Maulana Karenga during the Black Nationalist Movement, Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration and reflection period for African Americans. The week offers African Americans the opportunity to connect with African culture and history by celebrating the seven principles of African heritage, which include unity, self-determination, and creativity. HANUKKAH Hanukkah pays homage to a two-year Jewish rebellion against an oppressive Greek-Syrian government that took them captive in an attempt to eliminate Judaism. The tradition of the eight-day celebration and the lighting of the menorah candles comes from the story of a miracle that happened during the rebellion, when a one- day supply of oil burned for eight days in a temple. Teach Your Kids About Winter Holidays

DIWALI Though celebrated in late fall, Diwali is a Hindu holiday that’s known as the festival of lights. Its main purpose is to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, and the five-day festival includes the lighting of candles or lamps, feasting, and giving gifts to family and friends. Diwali also celebrates the Hindu new year and is the largest, most widely celebrated festival in India. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but educating your children about holiday practices other than Christmas will give them a broader worldview and inspire them to gain further knowledge about cultures outside their own. Your local library is a great resource for children’s literature on these holidays, and there are also TV programs from PBS that feature episodes on these traditions. Enjoy the winter holiday season, however you decide to celebrate!

A Pain-Free Tomorrow OUR PAT I ENTS SAY I T BEST

I needed help with a shoulder injury and can’t say enough about how impressed I was with the professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine concern the staff of Horizons Physical Therapy practices — from the initial consultation in a clean, casual, and friendly but professional environment, to the front office staff who were able to accommodate my busy schedule, to the physical therapy practitioners that are simply the best.

Dr. Adams is such a wonderful person. When I started, I was in constant pain and couldn’t do much. He took time to explain what was causing the pain and how we were going to fix it. With a little work and a ton of support, things started to get better. Not long after, it finally happened ... I was pain-free! I couldn’t believe it. Thanks so much to the great staff at Horizon. You all have changed my life! If you need a PT, this is definitely the place to go!

–Tim J.

–Angela T.

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TOO TIRED TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS?

If left untreated, CFS has been known to lead to depression, social isolation, and missed work. There is no cure for CFS, but fortunately, there are treatment options available to help people manage their condition and lead a happy, fulfilling life. Exercise has been known to help with symptoms of CFS, but the problem is that those with CFS can suffer from post-exertional malaise (PEM), extreme exhaustion after minor physical, mental, or emotional exertion. Even taking a shower or doing homework can lead to a crash. If not done properly, exercising with CFS can worsen your condition. Doctors often prescribe guided exercise with the help of a physical therapist to patients suffering from CFS. Physical therapists are already experienced in creating custom exercise routines designed to fit their patients’ unique needs. With the help of a PT, patients with CFS can pace themselves when exercising, balancing rest and activity to build up their strength without going too far and triggering an episode of PEM. Don’t let chronic fatigue syndrome force you to miss out on another holiday season. Call 810-620-8042 and learn how the Horizon PT team can help you manage your CFS, increase your energy levels, and enjoy your life again. The Dangers of Ignoring Fatigue

It takes a lot of energy to enjoy the holiday season. Gift shopping has us running all over town, decorating the house is a feat of endurance, and family gatherings keep us up later thanwe’re used to. Most of us will feel a little worn out come Jan. 2. However, if you feel exhausted for weeks at a time and have to skip holiday traditions because not even a good nap can replenish your energy, you should call your doctor right away.

Over 200,000 Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a serious, long-term illness that negatively affects a person’s ability to function. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with CFS, but people of any gender can suffer from the condition, and those in their 40s and 50s are most commonly affected. Symptoms of CFS include the following: Fatigue Memory loss Difficulty concentrating Sore throat Unexplained muscle or joint pain Dizziness Headaches Extreme exhaustion following mental or physical exercise

Have a Laugh

Holiday Roast Prime Rib Ingredients

Inspired by Food Network

• • • • • •

1 bone-in prime rib (6–7 pounds) 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

2 cups red wine 4 cups beef stock

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare. 5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus.

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3600 Miller Road Flint, MI 48503

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THIS ISSUE Inside

When PTs Need Surgery

Teach Your Kids About Holidays

Our Patients Say It Best

Feeling Tired After a Long Year?

Holiday Roast Prime Rib

Everything You’ll Need for an Ugly Sweater Christmas

UGLY SWEATER PARTIES

A Fun Trend You Can Easily Follow!

WHAT EXACTLY IS AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY? It’s rather simple — slip on your favorite Christmas sweater, gather all your friends and family members, make sure there are plenty of refreshments and games, and you’re guaranteed to have a top-tier party. A few ugly-sweater-themed games that should be on the agenda include an ugly gift exchange, which is similar to the white elephant exchange, except with the gaudiest gifts you can find; an ugly photo booth, complete with terrible, tacky props; and, of course, an ugly sweater contest. This is the only time of year when slipping into a lurid red sweater with a stuffed Santa sewn on the front is considered trendy. So adorn yourself in the frumpiest, tackiest sweater you can find, and have some fun this December!

It’s speculated that the first ugly sweater party took place in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2001. Since then, the trend has become one of the most popular holiday party themes. Come Thanksgiving, you’ll start to see racks in all types of clothing stores lined with hideous sweaters. If you’re ready to jump on the ugly-sweater-party bandwagon this Christmas season, here are a few things to keep in mind. YOUR VERY OWN UGLY SWEATER Ugly sweaters come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You can head to H&M or a local thrift store to pick one up. However, if you have a sweater that’s been cozied up for years in the back of your closet or a drawer, now’s your chance to give it new life. Arm yourself with a hot glue gun, thread, and needle, and patch Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty on it. And let it be known that an ugly sweater isn’t complete without sparkles, beads, and sequins galore.

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