STAR PT: Sciatica and Back Pain Relief

December, 2019 NEWSLETTER

YOU CAN STAND TALLER WITH STAR PHYSICAL THERAPY!

Did you know that over 80% of people across the world will suffer an episode of back pain at some point in their lifetime? If you are suffering from back pain or sciatica, you know how hindering it can be. With chronic back pain, radiating leg pain, or stinging sensations across the sciatic nerve, it can be difficult to live your life to the fullest. (continued inside)

HAVE YOU MET YOUR ANNUAL INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE? Details Inside

starptclinics.com Covington Slidell Mandeville Lacombe Folsom New Orleans East Gentilly / Lakefront Algiers

NEWSLETTER December, 2019

YOU CAN STAND TALLER WITH STAR PHYSICAL THERAPY!

INSIDE: • Helpful Tips For Sciatica Relief • Practice News • Healthy Recipe • Patient Success Spotlight CALL IN! Call for your FREE BACK PAIN ANALYSIS Call our clinic nearest you to schedule your first step out of pain today!

in the piriformis muscle, as they can compress and irritate the sciatic nerve. Common sciatica symptoms: The sciatica symptoms reported from patients tend to vary. Some may experience a deep ache in the buttocks, while others experience a severe pain radiating down one of their legs. It is also possible to feel a tingling or numbness in the back of the leg, calf, or foot. If left too long without proper treatment, irritation can become more severe and affect the strength of your leg muscles. Common sciatica treatment: The safest, easiest, and most effective mode of sciatica treatment is through physical therapy. Physical therapy examines the root cause of pressure on the nerve and works to quickly alleviate that pressure. Our licensed physical therapists will analyze the movements of the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve, in addition to the back and hip joints. They will design an individualized treatment plan based on the specific needs of each patient, in order to strengthen the affected muscles, improve joint flexibility, and prevent problems from occurring again in the future. Contact Star PhysicalTherapy today so we can help you figure out the root of your back pain.

Back Pain with Matt Slimming, PT, DPT (continued from cover) If you find yourself in pain when bending down, standing up, or lifting objects, it’s time to see a

Matt Slimming Physical Therapist

physical therapist.

At Star Physical Therapy, we are fully equipped to treat any back pain you may be experiencing. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out more about how our services can benefit you! The differences between back pain and sciatica: It can be difficult sometimes to determine the differences between general back pain and sciatica. Sciatica is a specific type of back pain that is caused by a compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body – it is approximately 2 centimeters wide, extending all the way down your back, your buttocks, underneath the piriformis muscle, and to the backs of your legs and your feet. It is made up of several nerves that exit your lower back from the lumbar and sacral levels (L4-S3), transmitting sensation and muscle control. Common culprits of sciatica development include weakness in the gluteal muscles or tightness

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HELPFUL TIPS FOR SCIATICA RELIEF

There are some tips you can follow to relieve your sciatica pain on your own. These can be done before coming in for treatments, or in tandem with your physical therapy treatments: • Performing gentle stretching exercises. • Avoiding prolonged sitting. Make sure to get up every 30 minutes and change positions frequently. • Putting a pillow behind your knees when sleeping on your back or between your knees when sleeping on your side. • Using your legs to bend down when picking up objects off the floor, rather than using your back. • Alternating ice and heat on the buttock to reduce inflammation. • Asking your doctor about coming to physical therapy, or giving us a call. How successful is physical therapy for back pain? A study found in the medical journal SPINE proves both the physical and monetary benefits to treating back pain and sciatica with physical therapy. It demonstrates that when doctors refer their patients for physical therapy treatments early on in the diagnosis, their patients have shown significant improvement and lowered treatment costs. In this study, patients saved

an average of $2736.36 for their low back pain treatment simply by being referred to a physical therapist in the beginning. If you are suffering with back pain or sciatica, consult with your doctor about physical therapy treatments, or contact our office to learn more about how you could benefit. At Star Physical Therapy, we aim for speedy and effective recoveries at low costs. Don’t live with back pain any longer – stand taller with physical therapy.

Healthy Recipe

Patient Success Spotlight

• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2” pieces • 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar • 1 tsp. chopped rosemary leaves • 1 tsp. chopped thyme leaves • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS • 3/4 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS & CARROTS

• 1/2 c. toasted pecans • 1/2 c. dried cranberries

“The whole experience with Star PT was very beneficial. Thank you!”

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400°. Scatter vegetables on a large baking sheet. Toss with oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the vegetable are tender, shaking the pan halfway through. Before serving, toss roasted vegetables with pecans and cranberries. In a large bowl, toss vegetables with oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. This dish is perfect for your holiday vegetable side dish.

Success Story: Anthony H. “My lower back, before PT, had tightness and pain, it prevented me from doing CrossFit and exercises in general. After PT, I feel 100% better and I’ve been able to return to CrossFit and complete all of my exercises without pain. I have found that I no longer have ANY limitations in strength or flexibility. The whole experience with Star PT was very beneficial. Thank you!”

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Practice News

HAVE YOU MET YOUR ANNUAL INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE?

An insurance deductible is the amount of money that you must pay before your insurance company pays for your medical services. If your deductible is met, your Physical Therapy may not cost you anything.

From all of us at...

Patients with family plans or those who have had major 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 2020. Contact us today to schedule your appointment with Star Physical Therapy!

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Exercise Essentials Try this movement to help relieve sciatica pain.

Staff Spotlight: Virginia Callais, DPT

What do you like about being on the STAR team? The collaboration between the staff creates a rich and fun environment for patients to thrive in at STAR. What do you like to do in your spare time? I feel that life is meant to be enjoyed. My husband and I are great at sitting back, relaxing, and appreciating life as it is. Since we’re new to the area, we’ve really embraced the Cajun culture. Virginia, WE ARE SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU AT STAR!!

Relieves Sciatica Pain

www.simpleset.net

PRONE ON ELBOWS To start, lie on your stomach with your hands beside your shoulders. Push with your arms up on to your elbows and forearms. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Virginia (Gin) is our newest Doctor of Physical Therapy on the north shore.

What do you like most about working at STAR?

People fascinate me. We all have a unique perspective that we bring into the lives of others and I feel fortunate getting to know people throughout their healing process.

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