Total Care PT: Herniated Discs

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PET OWNERSHIP

Fitness. According to a recent survey, 36 per cent of pet owners said that having a pet has helped them lose weight. Who needs a personal trainer? Social. Believe it or not, having an animal can even have an impact on your social life in a good way. Don’t be surprised if you’re stopped by strangers in the street who are eager to pat your furry friend and find out more about her. Companionship. The sheer presence of a pet in the home can boost your mood, especially after a hectic day at the office or even following a difficult conversation. What’s better than a furry hot water bottle who listens to every word you say and doesn’t answer back? Mental health. Not only do pets provide companionship and help improve your physical health, they can also provide therapeutic and emotional benefits. Animals have a completely different agenda to humans, and bring things back to basics. They want comfort, feeding and love. In return, they give huge affection.”

Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

RELIEVING PAIN FROM A HERNIATED DISC “Could Your Back Pain Be A Herniated Disc?”

Inside:

• Is That Thigh Pain Really Sciatica?

• Healthy Recipe

• Relieve Back Pain In Minutes

• Patient Success Spotlight

Doyousufferfrombackorneckpain?Attimesthispaincanradiate indicating a potential problem with the discs. The bones in your spine are called the vertebrae. The vertebrae are held together and in place by ligaments and smalldiscs thatactasshockabsorbers.Thesecontrolyourspine’s rangeof movement, flexibility and keep the spinal cord safe from damage. However, when a disc is damaged, the inside can squeeze out of place and either bulge or herniate, leaving the spinal nerves susceptible to damage. When thisoccurs, the result iscalleda “herniateddisc”, “slipped”or “ruptureddisc.” A herniated disc can be incredibly painful and can cause a great deal of limitations on the body’s movement, thus hindering a person’s movement and overall ability to perform day-to-day tasks. A herniated disc can cause a variety of symptoms including radiating pain down the arm or leg, depending if the herniated disc is in your neck or low back. Bulging discs are the beginning phase of herniated discs. Very often people have a bulging disc and don’t even know it. Only when the outside of

a bulging disc becomes irritated and affects the surrounding tissue does it begin to cause back ache, generally in the same area and not down the leg. A herniated disc in the neck can be just as painful as a herniated disc in the back. Arm pain from a neck herniated disc is one of the more common neck conditions treated by our spine specialists. Although a neck herniated disc may start from injury to the spine, the symptoms, including arm pain, commonly start from poor posture or muscle strains. The arm pain from a neckherniateddiscoccursbecause theherniateddiscmaterial “pinches”or presses on a nerve, causing pain to radiate along the nerve down the arm. Our specialized physical therapists are trained to examine your spine and movement tofind therootcauseofyourproblem.Thenweworkwithyouand your doctor to put together a plan that helps you achieve optimum results Look inside to learn more about our programs and say good-bye to that aching joint pain!

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“Is That Thigh Pain Really Sciatica?”

PHYSICAL THERAPY HELPS SCIATICA PAIN One of the most common mistakes is to assume that all leg pain is sciatica, and must be due to a disc in the back pressing on a nerve. In fact, most leg pain is not pain from the nerve in your spine, and has nothing to do with a herniated disc. There is much confusion about the term sciatica. The term sciatica is defined as pain running down the leg in the path of the sciatic nerve. It is best to understand the difference between referred leg pain, which “refers” from another area and nerve root pain which begins in the spine. Irritation of any of the tissues of the back can cause pain down one or both legs. Seventy percent of patients with back pain have some radiating pain to their legs. This referred pain can come from the tissues, muscles, ligaments, joints, discs or other back structures. It is usually a dull ache that spreads into the buttocks and thighs. In addition, it may affect both legs, however, it usually does not go much below the knee. Referred pain is not due to anything pressing on a nerve. It is not sciatica. Irritation of the nerve root in the spine gives a quite different pain, which is sharp and specific to an area of your leg. Nerve root pain usually radiates to the foot or toes. Patients often describe the pain with sensations such as pins and needles or numbness. It usually affects one leg only and is greater than the pain one has in the back. Nerve root pain is much less common than referred leg pain. Furthermore, if you have back pain alone

and no leg pain or nerve symptoms, a nerve root problem is very unlikely. If you do have leg pain, then your legs should be examined by a physical therapist for signs of nerve irritation or nerve compression. Diagnosing nerve irritation depends on tests that stretch or press on an irritated nerve root to cause pain. Our physical therapists at Total Care Physical Therapy perform different tests for nerve irritation. A common test is raising the leg straight in the air and looking for radiating pain with limitation. Discover how our Spine Program transforms your back pain from a pressing problem, to a distant memory, allowing you to live a happy, active and pain-free life.

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Healthy Recipe

Pan Roasted Lemon Chicken

• 4 boneless chicken breasts • Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth • 2 teaspoons flour • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3 cloves garlic, minced

Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1½ teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1½ teaspoons oil to the pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.

Patient Success Spotlight

Refer A Friend

“Tom, I don’t know what to say except thank you. I really can’t believe the results I achieved during the time under your care. As a two time National Champion Body Builder, my being able to train is of the upmost importance to me. Your level of knowledge is only surpassed by your level of caring. Your outstanding treatment after my two surgeries has given me the ability to get back on track and do what I love. Tom, you truly have a gift to make people well, and once again I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to have had the pleasure to have you care for me.” - Pat. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart

Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following:

Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help? � Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely � Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live an active and healthy lifestyle If you know someone suffering with aches and pains, give the gift of health! Just pass along this newsletter and have them call us directly to schedule an appointment. When they call have them mention your name to receive your gift card. • Cost Effective • Non-invasive • Safe & Natural • State-of-the-art Facility Features of Physical Therapy: DO YOU HAVE BACK PAIN?

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Relieve Back Pain In Minutes Try these stretches if you are experiencing back pain. PRONE ON ELBOWS Lying face down, slowly raise up and prop yourself up on your elbows. Hold for 8 seconds. Repeat 8 times.

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