Cornerstone_Herniated Discs

Cornerstone_Herniated Discs

LIVING YOUR LIFE WITHOUT BACK PAIN

UNDERSTANDING HERNIATED DISCS

WWW.TRADEMARKPC.COM WWW.CORNERSTONE-PT.NET

INSIDE: • UNDERSTANDING HERNIATED DISCS

• SAVE TIME & MONEY WITH DIRECT ACCESS • PATIENT SPOTLIGHT

UNDERSTANDING HERNIATED DISCS

Back pain can develop for all sorts of reasons. From a car accident to bad posture, to an uncomfortable seat for a prolonged period of time, back pain can come out of nowhere and cause no small amount of discomfort once it arrives. There are some back injuries, however, that are even more painful than your run-of-the- mill back pain. A herniated disc is one of the most painful back injuries that you can experience, and it is far more common than you may be initially aware. What is a Herniated Disc? Your spine is made up of a series of interlocking bones with small cushions in between each joint socket. The structure of your spine is what allows you to move freely from side to side. Every time you crunch your abdomen by bending forward, or lean to one side or another for a deep stretch, those little vertebral bodies move with you, keeping you comfortable and your back strong. Without cushioning in between each of those sockets, the bones would rub against one another with every movement, and this would be incredibly painful. When a disc becomes herniated, the cushioning in between the vertebrae will rupture, essentially deflating the cushioning

in between the vertebrae and causing the bones to begin to rub against one another. This is painful enough as it is, but can become evenmore painful if the herniated disc actually begins to press on the adjacent spinal nerves, causing the pain to spread even further up the spine. The most common placement for a herniated disc is at the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. While it is not the only reason that pain can become severe in the lower back, it is definitely one of the most severe forms of back pain. If you suspect that you may have experienced a herniated disc it is important that you seek medical attention, such as from your physical therapist. A herniated disc will not heal on its own, and working with a physical therapist is one of the best ways to experience relief from the pain associated with this common concern. How does this happen? The vertebrae in the spine are stacked closely together, with only a small amount of space for the discs in between each bone. A disc can become herniated as a result of injury, car accident, or even simply from overuse. One of the most common causes of a herniated disc is heavy lifting. Weight lifters have to be especially wary not to suddenly lift something

too heavy, otherwise risk experiencing a slipped disc. But experienced gym-goers are not the only ones at risk. Every time you attempt to move a piece of furniture, a heavy box, or even a big bag of books you need to be wary to lift correctly, otherwise face the risk of potentially herniating a disc in your back. Treatment for Herniated Discs Pain associated with a herniated disc often develops in the sciatica nerve, and doesn’t subside with simple rest and relaxation. While hot and cold therapy will help alleviate the pain associated with many different back issues, it won’t make the pain of a herniated disc go away. The pain is often frequently associated with numbness, weakness, and tingling in the legs. In many situations, the pain will feel more severe after initial movement, such as standing up or laying down. Many people mistakenly refer to having a herniated disc as having “pinched a nerve,” but that is not the case. Physical therapy is a great resource for attempting to overcome the pain associated with a herniated disc. A combination of passive and active techniques is typically employed, including deep tissue massage, electrical stimulation, and hydrotherapy, as well as deep stretching and strength building.

An insurance deductible is the amount of money that youmust pay before your insurance company pays for your medical services. If your deductible is met, your Physical Therapy may not cost you anything. Patients with family plans or those who have hadmajor surgeries or have a chronic illness are especially likely to have a $0 balance remaining on their out-of-pocket expenses. This means that the cost of physical therapy could be minimal or completely covered by the patient’s insurance plan. If you are close to or have met your insurance deductible for the year, then now is the time to come in for Physical Therapy! Are you feeling aches and pains? Need to work on your core? Let us help you get a head start for 2021. If you suspect that you may have a herniated disc, contact a physical therapist right away. Attempting to engage in therapy at home could lead to further injury. It is best to have an experienced therapist assess your injury before attempting any treatment options.

Before starting PT, I was in constant pain from the middle of my back around to my chest. Every activity hurt, no matter how small the movement. Now after months of PT, there are no activities that I’m afraid to do. The pain in my back has basically disappeared. Even though I’m still tight under my arm, the pain is gone. It only appears when I overdo it. Before PT, I was constantly taking Ibuprofen to manage throughout the day. Now I haven’t needed any pain meds in about a month. Helen S. “Now after months of PT, there are no activities that I’m afraid to do.” PATIENT SPOTLIGHT

YOU CAN BE FREE OF YOUR PAIN! CALL TODAY OR VISIT US AT WWW.CORNERSTONE-PT.NET

Tuesday October 6th 1-7 pm - Lancaster location 12 spots available Thursday October 8th 8-5pm - Zangmeister Center/Columbus location 16 spots available Thursday October 15th 10-5pm - Johnstown location 24 spots available Thursday October 15th 10-5pm Canal Winchester location 24 spots available

Save Time & Money With DIRECT ACCESS What Does It Mean? Direct Access refers to the ability of patients to be evaluated and treated by a physical therapist without being referred by a doctor or other healthcare practitioner. If an individual feels they have a problem that may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist, they can “refer themselves” for treatment. Why Is It Important? Healthcare is expensive and direct access can be a cost savings by eliminating other physician office visit fees by coming directly to physical therapy for evaluation and treatment. You can begin treatment quicker / get relief faster by coming directly to us vs. waiting to get in to see a doctor who then in turn would refer you to physical therapy, a process that can often take at least 7-10 days, time you could have spent getting much needed relief and on the road back to your daily activities. Insurance will still pay for treatment. Patient responsibility – i.e. copays, deductibles, etc. – associated with care is the same as if you had come to us with a prescription. Will My Doctor Know I Received Care? Absolutely. Cornerstone Physical Therapy always keeps your medical doctor informed of your care by forwarding a copy of our evaluation notes, planned course of treatment and progress notes We do this for everyone whether you come to us via direct access (self-referral) or come to us with a prescription from your doctor. In addition, Cornerstone Physical Therapy will IMMEDIATELY refer you to a physician if our evaluation determines there is a more significant problem. Unfortunately (or fortunately), over our decades-long experience we have had individuals come to us with pain that when we referred them back to their physician something more serious was discovered.

Free Exams are for: • All past clients who have not been seen in PT recently • All present clients who have another problem currently not being treated • All loved ones, family, friends, neighbors & coworkers of our past & present clients If you are having pain or problems with day to day activities, such as walking, sitting, sleeping, using stairs, playing golf or tennis, or playing with your kids or grandchildren, then this is an excellent opportunity to see one of our licensed doctors of physical therapy, and find out the cause and solution to your pain. THIS IS THE TIME TO LIVE YOUR LIFE PAIN-FREE! The free exam consists of a 30 minute one-on-one consultation with one of our physical therapists. THE EXAM IS IDEAL FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING WITH: • Lower Back Pain & Sciatica • Neck Pain • Arthritis • Cancer Related Fatigue • Headaches • Shoulder Pain • Elbow, Wrist, & Arm Pain • Hip Pain • Knee Pain • Foot & Ankle Pain • Problems Walking • Balance Issues and/or Falls • Muscle/Joint Weakness, Stiffness, or Instability

LANCASTER 1506 Hubbard Drive Lancaster, OH 43130 Phone: (740)785-5231 Fax: (740)785-5489

JOHNSTOWN 738 West Coshocton Street Suite B Johnstown, OH 43031 Phone: (740)200-4221 Fax: (740)966-3512

THE ZANGMEISTER CANCER CENTER 3100 Plaza Properties Blvd Columbus, OH 43219 Suite 210 Phone: (614) 334-6434 Fax: (614) 414-6002

CANAL WINCHESTER (FORMERLY PHOENIX PT @DILEY RIDGE) 11945 Lithopolis Rd, N.W. Canal Winchester, OH 43110

T: (614) 837-4381 F: (614) 833-4266

CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE EXAM BEFORE THEY RUN OUT!!