Physical Therapy Can Help You Treat Your Back Pain at the Source

Have You Been Living in Pain? Our Physical Therapists Have Got Your Back

Back pain is, to this day, one of the most common complaints among Americans. Whether you experience occasional pain in your back or deal with recurrent chronic back pain, it can make it extremely difficult to complete your daily tasks. But have you ever started wondering if your back pain was a sign of a more serious condition?

The spine is made up of a complex series of bones called vertebrae. There are cushioning pads between each of the vertebrae that act as shock absorbers, making bending, walking, and moving around in general every day without pain, possible.

But if these little cushioning discs are injured, the soft center can actually rupture and cause severe pain. This type of injury is often referred to as a herniated or slipped disc, and while there is no cure for the condition, physical therapy can help manage chronic pain.

Could a herniated disc be the cause of your back pain?

When experiencing back pain, it can be tempting to simply visit your general physician in search of a quick solution.

However, in many cases, all that a general physician can offer in the way of pain relief is a prescription for painkillers. Alternatively, an experienced physical therapist can offer a variety of treatment options that are designed to target the root cause of your reoccurring back pain.

Some of the most common treatment options recommended by our physical therapist for herniated disc pain include:

  • Ultrasound therapy or electrical muscle stimulation for fast pain relief and deep penetration of the targeted area
  • Alternating treatment with ice and heat to reduce inflammation and soothe sore muscles
  • Therapeutic massage to help ease sore muscles
  • Aerobic exercises like walking or using a stationary bicycle
  • Stretching exercises that help to keep the muscles in the back flexible

Common causes of herniated discs

The vertebrae and cushioning discs in the spinal column can become injured in a variety of different ways.

However, when dealing with a herniated disc, injuries are most often the result of:

  • Improper lifting resulting in sudden strain
  • Work-related or overuse injuries where the spine has been twisted violently
  • Excessive weight gain and obesity
  • The natural aging process or degeneration

Are you experiencing any of these common symptoms?

Herniated discs are one of the most common back pain complaints. They typically occur in people aged 35 to 55 years but can affect physical therapy patients of all ages. In certain cases, a herniated disc may show no outward symptoms at all.

But for those dealing with recurring pain from a herniated disc, the following symptoms are also common:

  • Neck spasms affecting the muscles in the neck and shoulder area.
  • Neck pain that stays centered in the back and side areas of the neck. This type of pain can increase in severity when bending or turning the neck.
  • Pain radiating out from the shoulder, arm, and sometimes traveling down to the hands and fingers.
  • Pain in the shoulder blade area.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, physical therapy can help. In fact, according to SpineUniverse,

“Physical therapy often plays a major role in herniated disc recovery. Its methods not only offer immediate pain relief, but they also teach you how to condition your body to prevent further injury.

There are a variety of physical therapy techniques. Passive treatments relax your body and include deep tissue massage, hot and cold therapy, electrical stimulation (eg, TENS), and hydrotherapy.”

Ready to find the relief you’ve been looking for?

If you have had recurrent back pain, or pain in your neck or shoulder, you may have a herniated disc.

According to The National Institute of Health, “The highest prevalence [of herniated disc cases] is among people aged 30-50 years, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. There is little evidence to suggest that drug treatments are effective in treating herniated discs.”

By using targeted treatments and physical therapy exercises, our physical therapist can help you manage your herniated disc pain and prevent the use of prescription drugs or more invasive treatment options.

Ready to learn more about how physical therapy treatments can relieve herniated disc pain? Contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness today to get started on the first steps of your treatment plan!

Did You Know You Could Manage Your Arthritis Pain without Drugs?

Get the Relief You’ve Been Looking for with the Help of Physical Therapy

If you are living with arthritis, you are not alone. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost a quarter of all American adults are living with arthritis

Arthritis is a general term that actually encompasses hundreds of different diseases. Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other type of arthritis, two of the most common symptoms are inflammation and joint pain.

Whatever type of arthritis you are living with, you are likely struggling to overcome varying degrees of pain. If you are taking opioids for arthritis pain, you need to know that there is a better option.

How can a physical therapy treatment plan benefit me?

Physical therapy can be an effective alternative to taking opioids for arthritis pain.

There are several specific ways that a physical therapist can help an individual struggling with arthritis pain, including, but not limited to:

  • Home modification recommendations – A physical therapist will be able to make suggestions for your home environment that can help ease arthritic pain. These might include mats to stand on in your kitchen, ergonomic chairs, or certain types of mattresses or bedding you can use.
  • Assistive device recommendations – During physical therapy treatment you can also learn how to correctly use devices such as braces, canes, or walkers.
  • Exercise therapy – A physical therapist can teach you exercises that will increase flexibility and strength. These exercises can also reduce the pain you experience when carrying out daily activities. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, research shows that individuals with arthritis can exercise without making pain worse.
  • TENS therapy – TENS is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy. This type of physical therapy includes pulses of electricity used to target arthritis pain. A physical therapist can place electrodes on the skin over the area of pain. Low amounts of electricity pass through to the joints. This can temporarily relieve arthritis pain.
  • Manual therapies – A physical therapist can provide massage or use hot or cold therapy to ease arthritic pain. Massage can help improve circulation which can reduce joint pain.

What should I know about the dangers of opioids?

Opioids are a powerful narcotic that works to cause the numbing of pain. They have the ability to bind to the brain’s opioid receptors and to limit the messages of pain that are being sent to the brain. Both oxycodone and morphine are considered to be opioids, both of which are commonly prescribed for pain relief.

While opioids and other pain relieving drugs may be beneficial when carefully used over a short period of time, they are not without serious drawbacks. In fact, many of them are highly addictive and often interact poorly with other drugs.

Approximately 42,000 deaths related to opioid overdoses occurred in just 2016 alone. If you are currently taking some type of opioid for your arthritis pain, it is important to know that there is a safer alternative that can reduce and even eliminate pain altogether: physical therapy.

Is arthritis causing limitations to your daily life?

If you are living with osteoarthritis, you’re likely to experience pain, stiffness, and limited flexibility.

Rheumatoid arthritis may cause similar symptoms, in addition to affecting the organs in the body.

Psoriatic arthritis and gout are also types of arthritis that can cause varying levels of pain, inflammation, and immobility.

Arthritis pain may affect even the simplest of daily activities. Doing the laundry, cooking, or even walking up and down the stairs can prove difficult. The severity of the pain may also change on a daily basis. Because of this, it can become very easy to rely on powerful pain medications to cope with arthritis pain.

Fortunately, physical therapy can provide better long-term relief for your arthritis pain than any drug alternative.

Get started on a physical therapy plan for arthritis relief today!

If you are struggling with daily arthritis pain, a licensed and trained physical therapist can work with you to increase your mobility while also reducing pain.

Even if you are already taking opioids or other pain management drugs, an individualized physical therapy program may help you reduce the amount of medication you are taking.

To find out how you can reduce your arthritis pain a safe and natural way, contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness today!

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Chronic Pain Doesn’t Have to Take Over Your Life – Find Relief with Physical Therapy

Did You Know You Could Relieve Your Chronic Pain With Natural Treatments?

Have you grown accustomed to feeling a twinge here and a spasm there? Do you suffer from recurring aches and pains for reasons you don’t totally understand? Have you been gritting your teeth and putting up with a longstanding chronic pain condition?

Maybe you’ve been putting off medical treatment for your ailment because you’re afraid of one particular form of care – surgery.

Well, now you can stop worrying because physical therapy could make surgery unnecessary in your case. Contact our physical therapist to discover the non-invasive world of conservative pain management!

Chronic pain, defined

You’re not surprised or confused by pain when it occurs alongside an acute health problem, such as an auto accident injury, sports injury, or localized infection. Pain in these circumstances is only natural – plus you have the reassurance of knowing that the pain will last only as long as it takes you to recover from the underlying problem.

But chronic pain offers no such reassurance. This type of pain lasts longer than 3 months, and may even last a lifetime if the underlying cause is incurable. The pain may come and go, or it may plague you continuously. It may be a mild annoyance, or it may be a debilitating agony.

Chronic pain can severely limit your ability to move around freely, perform manual tasks, get a decent night’s sleep or do a decent day’s work. Some chronic pain syndromes, such as sciatica, may trick you into thinking that they’re gone for good, only to come back again and again. But don’t think that you’re alone in your distress; some 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.

Why am I experiencing chronic pain?

In some cases, chronic pain is the after-effect of an acute injury or illness that never quite healed properly.

For instance, an internal soft tissue injury may have formed adhesions, lumps of scar tissue that grow over them and make it painful for you to move those tissues.

Chronic aches and pains can also be caused by:

  • Herniated or bulging discs that pinch the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord
  • Systemic problems, such as fibromyalgia
  • Arthritis, a degenerative, inflammatory joint condition
  • Musculoskeletal imbalances or weaknesses
  • Overuse of specific tissues, which causes those tissues experience ongoing inflammation and strain
  • Trigger points, tight muscle knots that go into spasm and refer pain to various parts of the body

What can I gain with the help of a physical therapist?

Since medication tends to provide only temporary relief from chronic aches and pains, you may assume that your only long-term pain relief option is surgery.

But procedures to fuse joints or remove pieces of vertebral discs can do more harm than good, not to mention the lengthy recuperation you’d have to endure. That leaves physical therapy as your safe, effective, drug-free, non-invasive answer.

Our physical therapist can reduce and control your chronic aches and pains by prescribing:

  • Techniques such as TENS or ultrasound therapy to block pain messages and promote healing
  • Heat therapy to loosen tight muscles
  • Cold therapy to reduce swelling and inflammatory pain
  • Massage therapy to break up adhesions and trigger points while soothing inflamed tissues
  • Strengthening exercises to help your body support itself more easily
  • Stretching exercises to increase your flexibility
  • Exercises that target specific joints or muscle groups suffering from chronic pain conditions

Relieving pain through passive and active therapies

Once our physical therapist has isolated the underlying cause of your chronic joint pain, we can prescribe techniques to help you start feeling – and moving – more like your old self.

Physical therapy for joint pain may start with passive exercises, in which we move the afflicted joint for you to increase its pain-free range of motion.

Exercises that reduce the amount of weight on the joints can also be extremely helpful. For instance, we may recommend swimming or water walking as a means of exercising the hips and knees without also forcing them to bear your full weight.

Other types of exercises can also help you overcome your joint pain while improving joint function. Strengthening exercises help by reinforcing the muscles and connective tissues that serve the joint. Corrective exercises and neuromuscular re-education can help you maintain a straighter, more symmetrical posture.

Last but not least, physical therapy offers a variety of helpful modalities beyond exercise. We may treat your joint pain with heat, ice, and manual therapies such as massage, just to name a few.

Discover the natural treatments of physical therapy today

According to Harvard Health Publishing,

“Trying physical therapy before opting for surgery may be the better choice. You may be able to spare yourself the expense, pain, and recovery time of surgery, says physical therapist Karen Weber, clinical supervisor at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Outpatient Centers in Braintree and Quincy, Mass.

There is growing evidence supporting that idea. In the past few years, studies have indicated that physical therapy is just as effective as surgery for relieving pain and restoring function for people with arthritis in their knees or backs.”

Our physical therapist is ready to help you achieve the comfortable life you seek without going under the knife.

Contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness to arrange for a consultation and request a personalized treatment program!

Ready to Become More Active? These 7 Tips Can Help

Get Moving with These Helpful Tips!

Have you become less active in recent years? It’s important to remain physically active in order to stay as healthy as possible.

According to PT in Motion News, 80 percent of Americans aren’t meeting physical activity guidelines set forth by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Finding the time or the motivation to exercise is difficult for many people.

It isn’t always easy to stay active, especially if you’re already struggling with limited mobility. However, getting active can vastly improve your health, your comfort, your mobility, and your overall quality of life.

There are several easy ways to increase your activity level that most people can include in their daily routine.

Call us today for more information about how you can increase your activity level and live a healthier life.

7 ways you can get moving more

The following are seven ways to easily add more activity to your daily life.

  1. Stand while you work – If you work in front of a computer for most of the day, consider getting a standing desk that enables you to stand while you work.
  2. Take the stairs when you can – This could potentially make a big difference in your overall activity level. If you live in an apartment building or work in a high-rise you have the opportunity to get a workout on a daily basis. Even if you only have a few flights to go, it can make a difference over time.
  3. Park further away than you need – Most people make trips to the grocery, shopping mall, and run other errands several times a week. Parking as far from the entrance as possible provides opportunities for extra walking.
  4. Bike instead of drive when you can – If you live in a rural area there should be lots of open space to take regular bike rides. Many suburban and urban areas are putting in bike trails and paths. Bike riding is a fun and easy way to get a good workout.
  5. Take the dog for a walk – Going on walks with your dog can keep you active and provide numerous health benefits. The Mayo Clinic suggests borrowing a dog if you don’t have one.
  6. Try sitting on the floor – Whether you’re watching television, folding laundry, or enjoying a good book, sitting on the floor like a kid can increase your activity level. You’ll find that you naturally stretch and move more while sitting on the floor.
  7. Use a push mower to do lawn work – Using a push mower is a great way to get an often unpleasant chore accomplished while getting in your daily exercise.

Inactivity may lead to these symptoms

Causes of inactivity could include everything from a busy schedule to a physical condition that’s keeping you inactive. If you don’t stay active enough you may struggle with weak muscle tone and aching joints.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, the more inactive you are, the more easily you’ll get tired. There are several other physical issues and conditions associated with inactivity.

  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Poor blood circulation
  • Increased inflammation
  • Weakened bones

Physical therapy for health and wellness

If you’re suffering from symptoms of an inactive lifestyle, physical therapy can help. A physical therapist can help you by providing manual therapies that can increase your flexibility and improve your range of motion. An experienced therapist can also give you simple exercises you can do at home.

A physical therapy program can be created that addresses your individual needs. It’s important to stay as active as possible to keep your muscles, tendons, and joints flexible and moving without pain and stiffness. You’ll want to add some type of exercise to your daily routine to keep moving.

You can pursue any or all of these aforementioned activities at your leisure, or you can ask our physical therapist about integrating them into a full-scale physical therapy program. The latter approach could prove especially wise if you’re rehabilitating an injury, unsure of your exercise tolerance, or battling a particular chronic pain issue.

Our physical therapist can evaluate your health and prescribe the right activities for your needs and goals. At the same time, you may be able to enhance the benefits of your activities with other safe, helpful modalities such as massage, ultrasound therapy, dry needling, cold and heat treatments, acupuncture, or laser therapy.

These therapies can promote tissue repair, ease inflammation, reduce pain, and increase your ability to keep moving and having a great time.

Want more assistance? Contact us!

Working with a trained physical therapist can also help you stay as fit and healthy as possible. Contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness today to find out how we can help.

Ready to Improve Your Health? You Can Do So With Stretching!

Have You Heard of The Health Benefits of Stretching?

There are a lot of different factors that contribute to maintaining ideal health.

Getting a full night’s rest every evening, drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and eating as well-balanced of a diet as possible are typically the top tips that are shared when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.

However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a reason why stretching is a staple of physical therapy. Stretching is a great way to improve your overall health so you can feel better throughout the day! Our innovative care strategies at Synergy Rehab & Wellness will help you find quick relief.

How can I get started stretching?

Starting a daily stretching routine is easy to get started with. Pick an open area where you will have plenty of room to move around.

Using a yoga mat is a helpful way to create a safe space where you can easily get traction as you stretch. Wearing loose clothing that will allow you to freely move as you stretch is also important. Finally, as you begin stretching, remember to hydrate.

Staying hydrated and eating healthy goes a long way to help take care of your heart and nervous system, but there are so many other aspects of your body that need support. Maintaining ideal health is a complicated process, and putting a bit of attention towards your stiff joints and sore muscles will go a long way in supporting you on your quest to a healthier way of being.

Stretching is one of the most fundamental aspects of any physical therapy program for this precise reason. While often looked at as the warm-up or cool-down of a more intense workout program, stretching has a whole world of benefits that need to be appreciated as you are looking to improve your health.

What are the benefits of stretching?

Stretching provides numerous benefits to help your body keep itself healthier. One of the most important of these is stress relief. Everyday life throws lots of challenges at you, and the resulting stress can be held in your muscles.

This leads to tightness, spasms, and chronic discomforts such as headaches and neck pain. Stress also floods your body with “fight or flight” hormones such as cortisone and adrenaline. These imbalances can suppress your immune function, making you more vulnerable to viruses and other diseases. Hypertension is yet another dangerous consequence of chronic stress.

Regular stretches help your body release all that pent-up stress. By relaxing and loosening your muscles, you can maintain better control over your blood pressure, avoid chronic muscle pain, and keep your immune system ready for anything.

There are many ways that physical therapy can help with stretching, including, but not limited to:

  1. Stretching enhances blood circulation. Stretching is beneficial to the heart and musculoskeletal system by increasing blood circulation. When muscles constrict and become tight, oxygen flow is inhibited. Stretching daily improves blood flow to the joints and muscles, further reducing your risk for injury.
  2. Stretching helps to alleviate pain and muscle tension. By engaging in targeted stretches you can actually work to alleviate pain and discomfort throughout the body. There are stretches that are designed to help alleviate back pain, and those that are for neck or shoulder pain. It is highly recommended that prior to working with a targeted stretch for a particular issue of pain that you consult with your physical therapist.
  3. Stretching improves range of motion. When you stretch regularly, your muscles become more able to extend fully, thereby improving your range of motion and making your body more flexible. Having increased range of motion can be helpful in plenty of daily circumstances, but is incredibly helpful in further preventing injuries.
  4. Stretching is good for mental health. Alleviating tension in the muscles is helpful in alleviating tension in the mind. Yoga is a particularly popular form of stretching that embraces the mindfulness and meditation of the stretching process.
  5. Stretching is an amazing way to prevent injury. By stretching every day, in addition to before every big workout, you provide your body with a means of keeping your muscles warmed up and ready for activity, and therefore prevent the likelihood of a muscle strain or sprain.

Incorporate stretching into your routine today!

While stretching may not feel like an intense exercise, as say a cardiovascular activity may feel, it is still incredibly important to hydrate to support your muscles.

For guidance in getting started with a helpful stretching routine, contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness.

Ready to Say Goodbye to Your Hip and Knee Pains? Physical Therapy Can Help You Move with Ease

Kick Hip and Knee Pains to the Curb with the Help of Physical Therapy!

Is it difficult for you to engage in your regular activities due to hip or knee pain? Whether your hip or knee pain occurs when you’re moving or sitting, physical therapy can help get you back to your regular routine.

Our innovative care strategies at Synergy Rehab & Wellness will help you find quick relief. Be sure to call our office for a consultation to find out how we can help alleviate your pain. No one should have to live in pain – we can help.

What is hip and knee pain?

The hips and knees are the body’s largest joints. They work in close coordination with each for mobility and support the body’s weight. The hips and knees have a demanding task.

The knee is made of several ligaments and muscles and is a complicated joint. Knee pain can wreak havoc on your quality of life. As a matter of fact, knee pain is the second most common cause of chronic pain. The hip joint consists of two main parts: the femoral head and the acetabulum.

The femoral head of a ball-shaped piece of bone, and the acetabulum is the socket into which the femoral head fits. Ligaments connect the ball to the socket. Like the knee, the hip is a complex structure. Hip pain can also affect younger people.

Why am I experiencing hip/knee pain?

Knee pain can be caused by a wide variety of injuries and diseases. It can be the result of auto accidents, recreational activities, sports or a slip and fall.

The most common causes of knee pain include:

  • Gout
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Fractures around the knee
  • Anterior injuries
  • Ligament strains and sprains
  • Overuse

In addition to causing pain, knee pain can affect mobility, reduce strength and affect muscle control.

Problems with the hip joint can result in pain in the groin or inside the hip.

When the pain is on the outside of the hip, it’s typically due to issues with tendons, muscles and ligaments that surround the hip joint. Hip pain can also be due to:

  • Hip fracture
  • Bursitis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sprains
  • Sciatica

With hip pain, you may experience intense pain or the inability to stand.

What can physical therapy do for me?

A physical therapist will do a gait evaluation, palpitation, range of motion measurements, function mobility tests to determine a treatment plan for your hip pain or knee pain.

Different modalities may be incorporated into your treatment plan, such as heat and ice therapy, ultrasound and specific exercises.

Your hip and knee joints have a tough job to do. The hips must bear the entire weight of your upper body, while your knees must bear all of that weight plus the weight of the hips and thighs. At the same time, these joints must be able to flex so that you can walk, run, dance, sit, play sports, and perform other everyday tasks without losing your balance.

It’s not hard to understand how these demands can produce chronic hip or knee pain over time. Hip or knee pain can also come about quite suddenly (and intensely) in response to an acute injury.

You may get pain relief when you are at the physical therapist and going through treatment, but what about when you go home? A major goal of your physical therapist is to heal your injuries over the long term.

The various exercises and treatments they use with you will steadily improve your condition so that you experience less pain on a daily basis. As your body gets stronger and more mobile, you are likely to experience less pain in your hips and knees.

Research has shown that joint mobilization techniques used by a physical therapist can help with long and short-term pain involving the hip. There is typically an improvement in mobility also.

Find relief with us

The sooner you seek physical therapy for knee or hip pain, the better. Research shows that patients who rehab their hip or knee pain with physical therapy within 15 days of symptom onset have less need for pain injections, medications, or surgical intervention.

Whatever stage of pain you’re in, it’s never too late to benefit from physical therapy. If you’re experiencing hip or knee pain, be sure to call and schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our physical therapists.

We can help eliminate your pain, so you can return to your normal activities. We’ve helped many others suffering with hip and knee pain, and can help you, too. We’ll help you live a pain-free life.

Opioids Don’t Have to be the Answer – Physical Therapy Can Provide Helpful and Safe Relief

Lose the Opioids and Turn to Physical Therapy!

Do you rely on drugs such as oxycodone or hydrocodone to help you get through your day without agonizing pain? Do you worry that these drugs may be placing your health at unacceptable risk? Do you feel anxious or count the minutes until your next dosage of these pain relievers regardless of that risk?

If so, you may be on the threshold of opioid dependence – a dangerous, potentially deadly situation. The good news is that you can get away from those opioid drugs without falling into the grip of unmanageable pain, thanks to the benefits provided by physical therapy.

Our innovative care strategies at Synergy Rehab & Wellness will help you find quick relief. Before you take another pill for your pain, call our office to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist. We want you to know that relief from arthritis pain is possible with the help of physical therapy.

Physical therapy can help you govern your pain without drugs, giving you a chance to break away from your reliance on opioids.

Contact our physical therapist to get started on this safe, healthy, drug-free approach to pain management!

What should I know about opioids?

Opioids are strong pain killing drugs that are often prescribed to combat severe chronic pain. They are traditionally derived from substances in the poppy plant.

Opioids such as morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone can often deaden pain when milder drugs cannot, making them a common prescription for cancer pain, acute injuries, and severe neurological or musculoskeletal pain. They can also produce euphoria or unconsciousness, making them a highly-abused substance in both legal and illegal forms (such as heroin).

Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and other structures of the body. As the opioids occupy these receptors, they prevent the receptors from receiving pain signals. At the same time, the opioids trigger the release of large amounts of dopamine, a substance that evokes feelings of pleasure.

Understanding the dangers of opioids

Unfortunately, the painkilling and pleasurable benefits of opioids come at a frighteningly high price. The simple fact that these drugs are so effective at making you feel good creates a compulsion to keep using them.

At the same time, the body builds up an ever-increasing tolerance to the drugs, requiring larger and larger dosages to achieve the same effects.

This cycle can lead to a strong, dangerous level of addiction. It’s little wonder, then, that more than 11 million Americans abuse opioids. Eventually, escalating tolerance can force users to take a fatal dose. Two-thirds of all overdose-related deaths in the U.S. are related to some form of opioid.

The benefits of physical therapy

You have good reason to fear opioid dependence – and equally good reason to seek out physical therapy as a non-toxic alternative to drugs.

Our physical therapist can prescribe a personalized mix of treatment methods that loosen tight muscles, help joints move more freely, build up muscle strength, reduce inflammation, and help tame neurological problems such as herniated discs and pinched nerves.

You should consider physical therapy if:

  • You’re experiencing issues such as addiction, depression, or physical side effects from opioid usage – or you’re determined to avoid such issues
  • You suffer from a chronic, incurable pain condition that might otherwise require a lifetime on opioids
  • Your pain is musculoskeletal or neuromuscular in origin (as opposed to cancer pain, for instance)
  • You’re interested in actually treating the underlying cause of the pain, instead of simply numbing the pain itself

Physical therapy can help you get a handle on your pain so that you don’t need opioids anymore. Of course, you should only discontinue high doses of opioids under professional medical supervision (to prevent a potentially dangerous withdrawal).

In the meantime, however, our physical therapist can work with you on treating the biomechanical problems that caused your pain in the first place.

Here are just a few of the physical therapy modalities that can help you conquer your pain:

  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses electrical energy to block pain signals to nerves.
  • Laser therapy can ease pain caused by injuries, arthritis, muscular strain, tendinitis, or neuropathy.
  • Massage therapy can control painful muscle spasms, help the tissues expel inflammatory substances, and direct more blood and oxygen to an injury.
  • Exercises can increase your pain-free range of motion, strengthen the muscles that support your body, and increase blood flow to reduce inflammation.

Rid yourself of harmful opioids today:

Even if your pain cannot be fully relieved through physical therapy, our physical therapist’s methods may still ease your symptoms to the point that you can get by with minimal dosages.

But be aware that if you’re currently dependent on opioids, your doctor must supervise any reduction in dosage for your own safety.

You don’t have to place yourself in the grip of opioid dependence. Talk to our physical therapist about your non-pharmaceutical treatment options!

Are You Living With Back Pain? Chances Are, It Could Be From a Herniated Disc

Could Your Back Pain Be Caused By A Herniated Disc?

Do you sometimes feel pain like an electric shock radiating from your lower back down to your legs? Do you experience muscle weakness or numbness in your arms or legs?

If so, be sure to schedule a free consultation with our office for a proper diagnosis. Strange neck pains, back pains, or extremity symptoms can indicate a variety of potential problems – including one or more herniated discs.

Symptoms may also include pain on one side of the body, pain that radiates to the arms or legs, aching, burning sensations in the affected area, and pain with certain movements.

If you are experiencing any of those symptoms, you just may have a herniated disc. Fortunately, physical therapy can help relieve your herniated disc symptoms and help you move comfortably once again.

Herniated discs, defined

The vertebrae that comprise the spine are cushioned by discs. These discs are flat and round with an outer layer called the annulus, which surrounds a gel-like material called the nucleus. Discs are located in between each of the vertebrae in the spinal column. They act as shock absorbers.

Also referred to as a ruptured or bulged disc, a herniated disc occurs when the disc nucleus is moved out of the annulus and into the spinal canal. It’s important to note that the spinal canal has limited space, and this displacement often produces pain.

A herniated disc can happen anywhere in the spine, including the lower back and cervical spine areas. The area of pain often depends on which area of the spine that the herniated disc occurs in.

Why did my herniated disc develop?

Injury or strain can be the cause of a herniated disc. Sometimes, a predisposition for a herniated disc may exist in families.

In addition, the natural process of aging may be the culprit for a herniated disc. As one ages, the disc material degenerates naturally, and ligaments may tend to weaken. When this occurs, even a minor twisting motion can result in a herniated disc.

The symptoms of a herniated disc vary depending on the size of the herniated and where it’s located. If the disc isn’t compressing a nerve, there may be no pain.

If it is compressing a nerve, pain, weakness and numbness may travel to the part of the body that the nerve is pressing on. Often, there is lower back pain.

Sciatica may occur in the lower lumbar spine. This is when there’s pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can cause burning, pain and numbness that radiates from the buttocks, down the leg and the foot. It’s often a very sharp pain that may occur when sitting, walking or standing.

If a herniated disc occurs in the neck area, pain can result in the neck and between the shoulder blades. This pain may radiate down the arm and to the fingers.

Physical therapy treatments for herniated discs

A physician may recommend physical therapy. A physical therapist will conduct an in-depth evaluation and outline specific treatment for patients with herniated discs.

In addition to analyzing your symptoms and performing various tests and measures, a physical therapist can help you determine if you have a herniated disc by assessing your medical history and lifestyle.

We’ll look for risk factors known to be linked to herniated discs, including:

  • Acute trauma, e.g., auto accident or fall
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Male gender
  • Age between 30 and 50
  • Frequent bending, heavy lifting, or twisting
  • Physically demanding occupation

Once the cause of your pain is clear, an individualized treatment plan will be created for you, based on your specific needs.

This typically includes a series of stretches and exercises aimed at relieving your pain, improving your function, and promoting the natural healing process of your body. Additional treatments may be added as your physical therapist deems fit. These include:

  • Ultrasound
  • Pelvic traction
  • Education on posture and lifting mechanics
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
  • Class IV laser therapy
  • Traction
  • Ice and heat therapies
  • Manual therapy

According to research, physical therapy often plays a big role in herniated disc recovery. Physical therapy entails a holistic approach with both active and passive treatments.

Not only is pain relief a result of physical therapy, but a physical therapist will teach patients how to prevent further injury.

Ready to find relief?

Call Synergy Rehab and Wellness to schedule an appointment to discover how we can help reduce or alleviate your pain today.

Sources:

Pain and Inflammation Could Be a Thing of the Past with Diet Changes!

Did You Know a Nutritional Diet Could Help You Beat Your Pain?

Are you experiencing pain and inflammation in your joints? Many people may not realize that nutrition can play a crucial role in preventing and even eliminating these conditions in the body.

It’s important to understand what pain and inflammation are, the causes and symptoms, and how both nutrition and physical therapy can help.

Our innovative care strategies at Synergy Rehab and Wellness will help you find quick relief. Contact Synergy Rehab and Wellness regarding how we can help treat your pain and inflammation.

What’s the cause of my pain and inflammation?

Inflammation is the body’s natural response when it’s trying to heal or protect itself. This, of course, is usually a good thing.

Inflammation is harmful when it becomes a chronic condition. Pain and inflammation are often connected.

According to Harvard Health, chronic inflammation can also lead to a variety of health ailments such as heart disease and diabetes.

What can I do about my pain and inflammation?

Nutrition can play a major role in how much pain and inflammation you struggle with. You may be eating foods that contribute to increased inflammation throughout the body. There are several types of foods that are known to cause inflammation.

The following are those most often consumed that can contribute to these conditions:

  • Processed Meats – Smoked meats, sausage, and bacon are normally processed and contain high amounts of sodium. Eating these foods can increase inflammation.
  • Added Sugar – Foods that have added sugar that isn’t naturally occurring can increase inflammation. Regular table sugar and corn syrup with high-fructose are the two main types of added sugar.
  • White Bread & Pasta – These refined carbs are often referred to as “empty calories” and can cause excessive weight gain, which can lead to inflammation.

Even what you drink can affect pain and inflammation. Soda is one of the worst culprits. Most sodas not only contain lots of sugar but unhealthy preservatives such as sodium benzoate. Excessive amounts of alcohol should also be avoided.

In addition to avoiding or limiting certain foods, there are many healthy foods you should include in your diet:

  • Fish – Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can naturally reduce inflammation. Salmon, cod, tuna, bass, and halibut are all great choices.
  • Garlic – By itself garlic may not be very appetizing, but it can add flavor to countless dishes. Garlic contains diallyl disulfide, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Beans – Try pinto, garbanzo, red, or black beans. They’re all good for easing inflammation and are also good sources of protein and fiber.

There are several symptoms associated with inflammation. These often include swelling, redness, joint pain and stiffness.

If you’re suffering from pain and inflammation changing your diet could improve your muscles, joints, and overall health.

Pairing physical therapy with nutrition

While changing your diet is a good start, it may not be enough to eliminate ongoing inflammation and pain. Physical therapy may be able to help reduce or even eliminate the pain you’re experiencing.

There are several methods a physical therapist may use. A few techniques could include manual therapies, dry needling, or even ultrasound treatments.

More basic methods might include using heat or ice therapy. A physical therapist may even give you stretching and motion exercises you can do at home.

Say goodbye to your pain

You would be surprised to find out that many still are unaware of the relationship between a healthy body and good eating habits. The benefits of this lifestyle have been proven time and time again as an efficient and surgery and prescription free way of treatment.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects multiple parts of the body, wearing down cartilage at the ends of bones causing them to rub against each other. It’s the most common form of arthritis and millions of people struggle with it everyday.

According to a study conducted in 2014, evidence collected during it suggested that patients with Osteoarthritis benefited from an improved diet and exercise, helping to alleviate the pain in overweight and obese patients.

Healthier living should always begin with physical therapy, people who can recommend the right steps and directions to take to help you achieve a healthier body.

This can include them giving you the tools and advice you need to, or a referral to a dietitian or someone else who can help.

Ready to find relief?

Closely watching what you eat and drink may be able to dramatically decrease the pain and inflammation you experience. The American Physical Therapy Association states that there is an obvious link between nutrition and pain.

Physical therapy may also help as well. Make sure to find a physical therapist that has experience specifically treating pain and inflammation.

Call Synergy Rehab and Wellness today to receive more information.

Do You Have Stress-Related Headaches? Physical Therapy Has the Solutions

When you see someone at work or in a difficult situation clutching his head, you may assume either that he’s under extreme stress, or that he has a headache. In fact, you may be right on both counts. Both physical and emotional stress can cause tension headaches; they can also trigger cervicogenic and migraine headaches, any of which can leave you effectively disabled.

You may struggle with chronic or recurring headache pain yourself — in which case, you’re probably tired of taking pain relievers all the time. Maybe it’s time you found a better answer by consulting our physical therapist. Physical therapy can ease your headache symptoms by treating their underlying causes, giving you a safer, more sustainable headache management strategy.

The Relationship Between Stress and Headaches

Emotional stress and physical stress are closely linked, with either capable of causing or aggravating the other. Perceived crises can cause muscles to tighten up as the body goes into “fight or flight” mode. When that tightness affects small muscles at the base of the skull, such as the RCPM muscle in the neck, those muscles may pull on a pain-sensitive membrane in the head called the dura mater. The dura mater responds by sending out waves of pain, giving you a classic tension headache.

Cervicogenic headaches also originate in the neck. These headaches are often caused by alignment problems or imbalances in the cervical spine. These imbalances place the neck muscles under physical stress, producing both headaches and neck pain. Emotional stress can also play a role in cervicogenic headaches, since the muscle tightness they create can help to pull the neck out of alignment.

Last but certainly not least, migraines are the most dreaded of headaches. In fact, a migraine attack may go far beyond the crushing headache it is notorious for producing, causing symptoms such as:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Faintness
  • Sound and/or light sensitivity
  • Visual distortions known as “auras”

While it’s hard to pin down the underlying causes behind migraines, many of triggers are well known — and they include stress. In addition to various foods, bright lights, loud sounds, weather changes and hormonal swings, migraines can be set off by physical overexertion or emotional strain.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Pain relieving drugs such as NSAIDs can relieve the occasional headache, but they can’t address the stresses that lead to chronic headache problems. For that level of relief, turn to physical therapy. Our physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes an examination of your neck and cervical spine, discussion of your symptoms, and analysis of lifestyle factors that may be sources of stress. This background allows us to create a headache management program largely rooted in the management of stress and its effects. This program may include:

  • Exercises to limber up your neck or strengthen your neck muscles
  • Massage therapy to relax a chronically tight neck
  • Dry needling to ease stress-induced tension and pain
  • Ergonomic adjustments such as changing your computer monitor height (to prevent constant neck droop)
  • Chiropractic adjustments to correct cervical spinal alignment
  • Suggestions for changing or sleep position or trying a different kind of pillow
  • Mindfulness exercises such as yoga to help you add more serenity to your daily life

Let Our Physical Therapist Address Your Headache Pain

Conquer your stress, and you may just conquer your chronic headaches as well. Get in touch with our physical therapist at Synergy Rehab and Wellness to learn more about this drug-free approach to headache relief!

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