Johnson PT. Stop Sciatica In Its Tracks

Johnson PT. Stop Sciatica In Its Tracks

Health+Fitness Newsletter

Stop Sciatica In Its Tracks!

ALSO INSIDE: APRIL IS NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH • EXERCISE ESSENTIALS PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT • STAFF SPOTLIGHT • HEALTHY RECIPE

Stop Sciatica in its Tracks!

What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica? The pain itself can be dull, aching or even sharp. In some cases, the compressed nerve may feel like it burns, causing considerable pain. In other cases, the compressed nerve may simply issue a sharp jolt of pain. Some people experiencing sciatica may even have leg numbness, tingling or weakness. If sciatica isn’t treated, it can hinder mobility altogether. How Physical Therapy Can Help If you’re experiencing sciatica, contact a physician immediately. Medical News Today asserts that over-the-counter painkillers may alleviate pain, but in-depth physical therapy is often needed. Physical therapy can reduce sciatica compression by carefully introducing exercises and relaxing treatments. These treatments, hand picked by medical professionals, can completely eliminate sciatica over time. If you’re experiencing back pain, don’t wait. Call one of our professionals today, and ask about physical therapy options. Your mobility is important, and your back can absolutely be healed.

If you’ve experienced back pain, and even leg pain, you might have a deeper issue. Your minor aches and pinched nerves could be symptomatic of sciatica. While “sciatica” may sound serious, it’s entirely curable. What Is Sciatica? Sciatica ispain thatradiatesalongside thesciaticnerve.Thisnerve, which branches from your lower back — spanning across your hips, buttocks and legs — can be injured or stressed in several ways. We’ve pinpointed the most common cause of sciatica- related pain: inflammation along the spine, where compressed nerves are aggravated. While sciatica pain can be great, it can be treated. A lot of sciatica cases, in fact, can be resolved without operation — and in a few weeks. Even if you’ve suffered severe sciatica spawned from leg weakness, bladder changes or nerve issues, there’s still hope. What Causes Sciatica? In most cases, sciatica occurs when one of the back’s disks is herniated. It can also happen if the spine narrows — an effect called spinal stenosis. As we age, our backs undergo a lot of stress. This stress takes a toll, causing inflammation in several areas. If this inflammation reaches a certain point, it may compress these nerves — resulting in pain. Sciatica back pain is normally noticed as a pain radiating from the lower back. Often, this pain extends to the buttock, spiraling down the leg. If you’re suffering from sciatica, you might feel the discomfort anywhere along this nerve pathway. The pain can even extend to the calf.

Call Johnson Physical Therapy at 970.564.0311 to schedule your appointment today!

Sources https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/what-is-sciatica#1 https://www.medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/symptoms-causes/syc-20377435 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7619.php

So What Exactly Is Occupational Therapy? April Is National Occupational Therapy Month

as “jammed.” A sprain happens when ligaments that hold bones in place with other bones are stretched or slightly torn. Since there are eight bones in the wrist, known as carpals, there are a series of ligaments that hold them in place that are at risk for being sprained in a fall. Unfortunately, a wrist sprain, while painful, takes time to heal; however, that does not mean you need to keep your wrist immobile while it does. Targeted exercises followed by ice therapy and compression are great for helping a wrist stay mobile and strong while it heals. Hand therapy also strengthens the surrounding muscles and tissue to keep the wrist in place during normal activities. This, in turn, helps the wrist heal properly, prevents injury in the future and keeps you from experiencing lasting pain from a simple injury. Wrist Strain Medically, the difference between a wrist sprain and a wrist strain are the soft tissues involved. In a sprain, ligaments are stretched or torn. In a strain, muscles are injured. While most people think of wrists as having ligaments and bones, but not much muscle, the wrist is the attachment site of several muscles in the forearm. It is possible to fall on your wrist, hyperextending the tendons found there, causing them to tear. Strains are treated similarly to sprains. Time, compression, ice, and targeted exercises can help speed the healing process for wrist strains. Although hand therapy is the ideal solution for helping an injured wrist heal, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you anticipate going out in wet weather or walking on slippery surfaces, be sure to wear low-heeled, sturdy shoes with gripping soles and walk slowly and carefully. Your wrists will thank you for it!

Occupational Therapy and physical therapy are very similar. Both forms of treatment have been around since the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. They both focus on injury prevention and avoidance and educate about the healing process, as well as assist in improving their client’s ability to perform daily activities, but occupational therapy has a different focus. While physical therapy focuses on the physical rehabilitation of the body from an injury or condition, occupational therapy focuses on rehabilitating the patient’s shoulders, arms, or hands so that the patient can return to normal, daily activities, especially for tasks for their job or occupation. Occupational therapy also takes the patient’s mental and social skills into account in an effort to develop, recover, and maintain the patient’s meaningful activities or modify and adapt to life’s challenges. It only takes one slip, fall, or accident to suffer from a hand, arm, or shoulder injury. But if you happen to suffer the misfortune of a broken hand or injured shoulder, occupational therapy can help you return to a normal life. Broken Bone When it comes to slipping and falling, the most common injury to a wrist is a buckle fracture, or incomplete fracture to the radius. Buckle fractures are most commonly treated with a splint or cast while the bone heals. Once the splint is removed, the wrist, hand, and fingers will be weaker than they were before the injury since they have not been in use. This is where occupational therapy or hand therapy treatment program comes in–to regain the strength and mobility in your wrist to avoid injury to the weakened tendons, ligaments and muscles. Wrist Sprain Another injury commonly suffer after a fall is a sprained wrist. Though no bones are broken, there is still pain and tightness, sometimes described

Call Johnson Physical Therapy at 970.564.0311 to schedule your appointment with a physical therapist today!

Staff Spotlight Meet Our Occupational Therapists!

Do you have an injury or medical condition that is causing pain and limiting your daily activities? Would you like to learn more about how occupational therapy and physical therapy can help you eliminate your pain and improve performance? We’ll educate you and be happy to set up a one-on-one appointment. Make a request today. Our certified and caring occupational therapists are committed to helping you get on the road to recovery. Feel better and get back to your life with occupational therapy!

Julie Carpenter OTR, Co-Owner, Founder

Kari Cockrill OTR/L CHT

Print sudoku http://1sudoku.com

Fun + Games

Healthy Recipe Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients • 20 medium mushrooms • 1/4 cup chopped shallots, scallions or onion • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 1/2 tsp soy sauce 1 8 7 2 6 8 4

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Directions Wash the mushrooms and carefully remove the stems without breaking the caps. Finely chop the stems. Combine the shallots, garlic and vinegar in a small skillet or saucepan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chopped mushroom stems and soy sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the mushrooms soften and release their juices. Add the spinach and cook, continuing to stir, until it is wilted and the liquid in the pan is absorbed. Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes, then stir in the yogurt. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Stuff the spinach filling into the mushroom caps. Place the mushrooms in a baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, until tender. Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes for the filling to set before serving. Yields 20 mushrooms. 5 4 9 8 7 7 1 6 4 5 3 http://1sudoku.com n° 329837 - Level Hard

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