VERT PT. What Is A Herniated Disc?

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WHAT IS A HERNIATED DISC? A Herniated Disc May Be The Cause Of Your Back Pain

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How Does It Happen? • Special Offers! What Our Patients Are Saying • Exercise Essentials

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A Herniated Disc May Be The Cause Of Your Back Pain WHAT IS A HERNIATED DISC?

Back pain can develop for all sorts of reasons. From a car accident to bad posture, toanuncomfortableseat foraprolongedperiodof time,backpaincan comeoutofnowhereandcausenosmallamountofdiscomfortonce itarrives. 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. Your spine is made up of a series of interlocking bones with small cushions in-betweeneach jointsocket.Thestructureofyourspine iswhatallowsyou to move freely fromside toside.Every timeyoucrunchyourabdomenbybending forward,or lean toonesideoranother foradeepstretch, those littlevertebral bodies move with you, keeping you comfortable and your back strong. Without cushioning inbetweeneachof thosesockets, theboneswouldrubagainstone 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,butcanbecomeevenmorepainful if theherniateddiscactuallybegins topresson theadjacentspinalnerves,causing thepain tospreadeven further up the spine. Themostcommonplacement foraherniateddisc isat the lumbarvertebrae 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 thatyoumayhaveexperiencedaherniateddisc it is important thatyou seek medical attention,such as from your physical therapist. A herniated disc willnothealon itsown,andworkingwithaphysical therapist isoneof thebest ways toexperiencerelief from thepainassociatedwith thiscommonconcern.

A R E Y O U L E T T I N G Y O U R PA I N H O L D Y O U B A C K ? C A L L T O S C H E D U L E Y O U R A P P O I N T M E N T T O D AY !

HOW DOES I T 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 Painassociatedwithaherniateddiscoftendevelops in thesciaticanerve,and doesn’tsubsidewithsimplerestandrelaxation.Whilehotandcold therapywill helpalleviatethepainassociatedwithmanydifferentback issues, itwon’tmake thepainofaherniateddiscgoaway.Thepain isoften frequentlyassociatedwith

numbness,weakness,and tingling in the legs. Inmanysituations, thepainwill 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 associatedwithaherniateddisc.Acombinationofpassiveandactivetechniques is typically employed, including deep tissue massage, electrical stimulation, and hydrotherapy, as well as deep stretching and strength building. Ifyoususpect thatyoumayhaveaherniateddisc,contactaphysical 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.

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WHAT OUR PAT I ENTS ARE SAY I NG :

OUR SERV I CES

“Vert has great physical therapy services and a great gym. Andy is an incredible physical therapist, and the rest of the staff is fantastic too! If you want to maximize your recovery, this is the place!” - Vincent S.

• Blood Flow Restriction • Vasopneumatic Compression • Post-Operative Care • Cupping • Deep Muscle Stimulation • Graston Technique For more information about our services and specialties, feel free to call and talk with your personal and physical therapist or trainer today!

STAF F SPOT L I GHT

HAS YOUR PA I N COME BACK?

Andrew Choi, MPT, DPT, Partner, specializes in analyzing and correcting form and alignment with functional and sports activities. His athletic background (which includes martial arts, snow sports, and tennis) allows him to have a better understanding of how to specifically diagnose and correct faulty movement patterns. Chris Dahl, DPT, OCS, enjoys treating patients across all age groups and during the fall sports season, especially while providing PT consultation to student athletes with local high schools. His treatments focus on optimizing patient movement and maximizing function via targeted manual therapy and functional exercise prescription. Nikki Buchwald , LMT, PTA, NASM-CPT, is our Certified Clinic Orthopedic Specialist at Vert. With an extensive skill base and experience with high level sports rehab, complied with 15 years of therapeutic massage, Nikki creates a one of a kind corrective recovery session that will leave you wanting more. PatrickEdgecomb ,DPT,OCS, is thenewestaddition toour team.More informationabout Patrick coming soon!

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Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist.

Your therapist can discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home.

If further assessment is warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment.

HEALTH I NSURANCE UPDAT E !

EXERC I SE ESSENT I AL S A SAFE EXERCISE TO RELIEVE BACK PAIN

PERONEAL NERVE SLIDER Lay on your back with your leg elevated and one knee at a 90º angle. Slowly straighten your knee while simultaneously bending your foot up. Bend your knee back down, while also pumping your ankle downward and inward as if pressing the brake in a car. Repeat 6-10 times on each leg. Alwaysconsultyourphysical therapistorphysician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.

Good News for patients! VERT Fitness & Physical Therapy now accepts Aetna and Cigna insurance in addition to Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare.

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