Willow: The Opioid Crisis

Willow: The Opioid Crisis

Health &Wellness

NEWSLETTER

2ND ANNUAL GOLDSTREAM TO HOODOO HALF MARATHON

On Saturday October 7, 2017 our PT’s set up a post run station for the 2nd Annual Goldstream to HooDoo Half Marathon. We had yoga mats, stretch straps, foam rollers and lacrosse balls to help runners begin the right recovery post run. Our very own Courtney Heinz PT, DPT participated in the run! Way to go Courtney!

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NEWSLETTER Health &Wellness

THE OPIOID CRISIS “When Should I Seek Physical Therapy First?”

INSIDE: Pain Medication Is Not The Only Option

Tasty Recipe

Relieve Neck Pain In Minutes

Patient Success Spotlight

It seems like almost every news broadcast these days features a story about a disturbing cluster of drug overdoses, with the word “opioid” prominently featured. So why are these prescription drugs—which after all, are legal if they were prescribed to the user—so much in the news these days? And what can you do if you’re torn between not filling your own prescription,

Beyond extreme physical risk, over-reliance on prescription painkillers can have other detrimental effects on your health. Withdrawal symptoms can be harrowing. And while you’re still using them, opioids can lead to depression, which sets up a vicious cycle of self-medicating in order to feel better emotionally as well as physically. How Physical Therapy Can Counter the Problem It’s important toget realabout the reasonpeopleseekprescriptionpainkillers in the first place—the pain. These patients are not to be condemned for seeking relief for injuries, arthritis and other degenerative conditions, or for post-surgical discomfort. At the same time, however, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that medications like Percocet,  Vicodin, Opana and OxyContin are extremely addictive. Physical therapy, on the other hand, is so effective because it provides a multi-pronged attack to pain relief.The physical therapist at Willow Physical Therapy, are experts in manual techniques, exercise instruction, and trigger point dry needling. We identify the source of your pain and use our tools and expertise to help get you back to your life!

versus seeking relief for your very real pain? Why Opioid Overuse Matters

Both opioid prescription rates and deaths from opioid overdoses have quadrupled in the last two decades. Given these identical statistics, one can’t escape the obvious conclusion: Reliance on painkillers has gotten out of hand, and the consequences can be literally fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), doctors now write so many opioid prescriptions each year that it translates to one bottle per adult living in the U.S. And of the 330,000 people who died from drug overdoses in 2015, 50 percent involved prescription painkillers. Just as ominous is the discovery that people who become addicted to prescription opioids are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

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PAINMEDICATION IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION! 5 Important Reasons To Choose PT FIRST Over Opioids According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sales of prescriptionopioidshavequadrupled in theUnitedStates,even though “there hasnotbeenanoverallchange in theamountofpain thatAmericans report.”

You should choose physical therapy FIRST when: 1. The risks of opioid use outweigh the rewards.

Potentialsideeffectsofopioids includedepression,overdose,andaddiction, pluswithdrawalsymptomswhenstoppingopioiduse.Becauseof theserisks, “experts agreed that opioids should not be considered first-line or routine therapy for chronic pain,” the CDC guidelines state. 2. You want to do more than mask the pain. Opioids reduce thesensationofpainby interruptingpainsignals to thebrain. Opioids make it so you can’t feel the pain, but, they do not treat the source of your pain. Physical therapists treat pain by finding the source and restoring movement and function. 3. Pain or function problems are related to low back pain, hip or knee osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia. TheCDCcites “high-qualityevidence”supportingexerciseaspartofaphysical therapy treatment plan for those familiar conditions. 4. Opioids are prescribed for pain. Even in situations when opioids are prescribed, the CDC recommends that patientsshould receive “the lowesteffectivedosage,”andopioids “shouldbe combined” with nonopioid therapies, such as physical therapy.

5. Pain lasts 90 days. At this point, the pain is considered “chronic,” and the risks for continued opioid use increase. An estimated 116 million Americans have chronic pain each year. The CDC guidelines note that nonopioid therapies are “preferred” for chronic pain and that clinicians should consider opioid therapy only if expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient.

“PhysicalTherapy vsOpioids:When toChoosePhysicalTherapy forPainManagement.”AmericanPhysicalTherapyAssociation.N.p.,15June2016.Web.10Feb.2017.

Star t Feeling Better Today!

CONDITIONS WE TREAT

Welcome to Willow Physical Therapy We are here to help you enjoy your life, pain-free! To make a convenient appointment, simply call us today at 907-456-5990 or click “Request an Appointment” button on our website. Our practice is dedicated to helping our patients identify the cause of their pain and creating a custom treatment program that will allow them to return to normal activities pain-free. WE LOVE SERVING OUR PATIENTS

• Back & Neck Pain • Foot & Ankle Pain • Shoulder Pain • Hip & Knee Pain • Hand, Wrist & Elbow Pain • TMJ Syndrome

• Arthritis Pain • Pelvic Pain/Pelvic Floor Therapy • Vertigo • Sports Injuries • Post-Surgery Rehab • Balance & Fall Prevention

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TASTY RECIPE SPINACH STUFFED MUSHROOMS Eating Right Never Tasted So Good!

Patient Success Spotlight

“I didn’t know or believe that physical therapy could really be an option... but was proven wrong. I learned a great deal about my lack of strength and tools to improve.” - Leah B. I didn’t know or believe that physical therapy could really be an option... but was provenwrong.

Relieve Neck Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing neck pain.

8 Ingredients • 20 medium mushrooms • 1/4 cup chopped shallots, scallions or onion • 2 cloves garlic, chopped

• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce • 2 cups chopped fresh spinach • 1/2 cup Plain Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt • Salt and pepper to taste

CERVICAL RETRACTION Stand tall, shoulders relaxed. Pull shoulder blades back and down. Don’t hunch your shoulders. Repeat 7 times. Strengthens Neck

Directions Wash the mushrooms and carefully remove the stems without breaking the caps. Finely chop the stems. Combine the shallots, garlic and vinegar inasmallskilletorsaucepanandcook for1 to2minutes.Add thechopped 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.

www.simpleset.net

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http://www.organicitsworthit.org/make/spinach-stuffed-mushrooms