Category: Sciatica

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By manish 0 Comments Back Pain, Physical Therapy, Sciatica

Suffering From Back Pain? A Herniated Disc Might Be The Culprit

You know something is wrong with you, but you’re not sure what it is. Strange neck pains, back pain, or extremities symptoms can suggest a multitude of issues, including a herniated disc or several herniated discs.

What are your options if you have a herniated disc? These questions don’t have to add to your physical pain and confusion!

Our physical therapist has provided some useful information regarding herniated discs, their frequent symptoms, and how physical therapy can help you overcome your discomfort.

Herniated discs, defined

“Herniated disc,” “slipped disc,” and “ruptured disc” are all just different ways of describing the same physical problem. Your spinal discs are squat discs of tissue that lie between the vertebrae.

A disc consists of a fluid-filled center called the nucleus pulposus encased in an outer structure called the annulus fibrosus. This arrangement makes the disc both tough enough and spongy enough to absorb shocks.

Unfortunately, that toughness has its limits. Sometimes a disc will lose hydration over time, causing the nucleus pulposus to shrink. The disc loses its height, which stresses the spinal joints and may cause the disc to bulge outward.

Eventually these changes can cause part of the annulus fibrosus to balloon and tear open; this is a herniated disc. Herniated discs can also occur suddenly due to an auto accident, workplace accident, or sports injury that traumatizes the spine.

Symptoms of Back Pain: herniated disc

Herniated discs don’t always cause symptoms, but the symptoms that they do cause can help you troubleshoot the nature of your problem. The most common symptoms include:

  • An inability to walk more than a few steps without pain
  • Pain, tingling, or loss of sensation in a limb (the result of a herniated disc pressing against nerve roots)
  • Back pain that seems to grow worse when you sneeze, cough, stand up, or sit down
  • Neck pain (if it’s a cervical disc)
  • Symptoms that began after you gained a lot of weight (since obesity is a risk factor for disc problems)
  • Symptoms that started shortly after an accident, extreme twisting of the neck or back, or an attempt to lift a heavy object

If your symptoms seem to be soothed by massage, heat, or cold, you’re more likely to have a strained muscle or tendon than a herniated disc.

Ultimately, the most accurate way to confirm a herniated disc is through medical imaging. X-rays can reveal not only the abnormal shape of a herniated disc, but also whether the herniation is pinching a nerve.

Treatment for Back Pain: herniated discs

Physical therapy is an effective treatment for herniated discs. One of our physical therapists will run diagnostic tests at your first consultation to discover the source of your discomfort and confirm that it is really caused by a herniated disc.

Once the source of your pain has been identified, a personalised treatment plan tailored to your unique needs will be developed for you. This usually consists of a sequence of stretches and movements targeted at reducing discomfort, enhancing function, and supporting your body’s natural healing process. As your physical therapist sees fit, further treatments may be offered. These are some of them:

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

Your physical therapist will also advise you on any lifestyle changes that may be recommended in order to prevent herniated discs from developing again in the future. Physical therapy is one of the safest, quickest, and most effective ways to treat herniated discs. It is a holistic and non-invasive approach that, in many cases, has been able to eliminate the need for harmful drugs or surgical intervention.

A PT can help you feel better, faster

A herniated disc can cause a lot of misery — but don’t panic. Most herniated discs can be treated successfully without surgery. Physical therapy can be instrumental in helping you reduce or eliminate your symptoms.

Our physical therapist can recommend specific exercises to build up the strength in your back or neck. These exercises can counter any atrophy or weakness you’ve experienced due to your herniated disc. They can also reinforce your neck and back, lending these structures extra support and making them less vulnerable to future herniation.

We may also recommend other non-invasive techniques to complement your physical therapy exercises and help you heal.

Contact us today

Are you ready to learn more about herniated discs and get the answers your neck or back needs? Contact�our physical therapist today to schedule a consultation!

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By manish 0 Comments Aches & pains, Back Pain, Sciatica

Is a Herniated Disc The Culprit of Your Back Pain?

Chronic back pain is one of the most common reasons patients come to see our physical therapist. In fact, it’s the most common cause of pain in the United States. Back pain can be caused by a variety of medical disorders, but herniated discs are the most common cause.

It is estimated that about 60-80% of people will experience some level of lower back pain in their lives, and many may experience the issue due to a herniated disc.

Herniated discs can occur anywhere along the spine, but they are most common in the lower back. Other terminology for a herniated disc that physical therapy patients may be familiar with include “protruding disc,” “ruptured disc,” and “bulging disc.”

Nevertheless, the treatment for a herniated disc remains the same. While they can be very painful, our licensed physical therapists can help patients of all ages find fast relief and learn to manage their pain with regular physical therapy appointments.

Signs you may have a herniated disc

Symptoms associated with a herniated disc may vary, depending on where the injured disc is located. Some of the most common symptoms people experience with a herniated disc include:

  • Numbness, tingling, or burning in the back, buttock, legs, and/or feet.
  • Weakness in the legs.
  • Pain when bending or twisting.
  • Pain that intensifies when bending, sitting, coughing, or sneezing.

You may have a herniated disc if you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms. Physical therapy, fortunately, can help relieve pain caused by a herniated disc or any other type of back discomfort.

To treat the discomfort before it worsens, we recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our physical therapists as soon as possible.

Reasons for herniated discs

When you are young, your spinal discs have a high water-content level, made up of almost 80% water. However, as you age, the water content in your spinal discs lowers. This causes the discs to become less pliable, thus increasing the risk of tears or other defects.

Spinal discs are soft, rubbery cushions that sit between the bony vertebrae that help to support the spine. They’re made up of a thick cartilage outer ring and an interior gel-like substance that acts as a shock absorber. Your spinal discs assist in protecting your spinal cord and the delicate nerves in your back by allowing you to bend your back easily.

If the cartilage in your spinal disc somehow tears or develops a defect, the inner gel-like substance, also known as the “nucleus,” can break through. This bulging or herniation can then put pressure on the nerves, resulting in intense pain. In fact, even small amounts of pressure on your spinal nerves can cause pain, numbness, or weakness.

Herniated discs in the lower back can be especially painful because they press against the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. The sciatic nerve is made up of many spinal nerve branches that run down the leg from the spine. Pain can spread from the buttocks area, down the back of the leg, and into the shin and foot if the sciatic nerve is pinched. Fortunately, physical therapy can help to alleviate the discomfort produced by this illness.

Some of the other common causes of herniated discs include:

  • Traumatic injury.
  • Repetitive twisting movements.
  • Heavy or incorrect lifting.
  • Excessive body weight or obesity.
  • High-impact sports.

How does physical therapy decrease herniated disc pain?

Physical therapy is a pain treatment option that is both safe and non-invasive, and it is meant to help patients of all ages heal from the inside out.

Our expert physical therapists can ease back pain, reduce inflammation, boost blood flow, and restore range of motion by applying tailored physical therapy treatments.

A physical therapist’s active treatments address joint mobility, stability, flexibility, strength, and posture. To strengthen the back muscles, a physical therapist will teach you core stabilizing exercises.

To improve and condition the body, you’ll also participate in body muscle exercises. In addition, you will be taught flexibility exercises and proper strengthening techniques by a physical therapist.

If you have back pain, know that you can turn to physical therapy for help. A physical therapist will do a comprehensive exam and review your medical history to determine if you have a herniated disc. Once a proper diagnosis is made, a physical therapist will then create and implement a personalized treatment plan targeted to the affected area.

Get to the root of your pain today

If you’re living with back pain, know that you’re not alone. There are treatment options available to help you! Call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable and highly-trained physical therapists, and learn more about how our services can benefit you.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Sciatica

Say No to Sciatica Today with Physical Therapy!

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It extends from the lumbar spine through the buttocks area. Sciatica is pain that results from the irritation of the sciatic nerve. Generally, pain is felt in the lumbar area and behind the thigh. The pain can also radiate to the lower limbs. Sciatica can make bending and walking very difficult. The most common cause of sciatica is lumbar disc herniation, but it can be caused by a back injury and disc degeneration. Sciatica is also referred to as lumbar radiculopathy.

Diagnosing and Treating Sciatica

Sciatica is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. A CT scan or MRI may be performed to locate the root cause of sciatica. According to Move Forward, “Conservative care like physical therapy often results in better and faster results than surgery or pain medication.” A physical therapist�will work with you to:

  • Reduce sciatica pain.
  • Improve motion.
  • Improve flexibility.
  • Increase in strength.
  • Educate you on how to stand, bend and twist.
  • Return to normal activities.

A physical therapist may use several types of treatments to reduce pain and symptoms of sciatica. Active treatments include motions, stretches and specific exercises to accelerate healing and give pain relief. A physical therapist will teach you different motions that you can do at home for pain relief. If a physical therapist discovers any weak muscles, you will be given corrective exercises for core strengthening. The strengthening exercises in physical therapy not only focus on the lower back but the abdominal muscles, hip muscles, and glutes. All of these exercises help strengthen the spinal column, including the tendons, ligaments and supporting muscles while keeping the spine in proper alignment.

The stretching exercises in physical therapy target muscles that are inflexible and tight. Hamstring stretching is an important part of a physical therapy treatment program to alleviate sciatica. An aquatic exercise program may also be recommended by a physical therapist. You can do exercises easily with the buoyancy of water.

Passive treatments may include electric therapy, heat therapy, ultrasound or massage therapy. All of these different modalities help reduce pain, stimulate blood flow and accelerate healing. Electrotherapy uses electricity to reduce pain, strengthen muscles, ramp up circulation and improve physical function. Massage therapy helps alleviate sciatic nerve pain. It loosens tight back muscles that may be pressing on the sciatic nerve, and it increases the release of endorphins for pain relief. Heat therapy helps relax muscles and reduce inflammation.

All around, physical therapy for sciatica is a non-invasive, multifaceted treatment and an effective treatment plan that is targeted to the root cause of sciatica. A physical therapist will devise a personalized treatment just for you. The goal is to help you live a pain-free life. Say “no” to surgery and opioids with physical therapy.

You can say “no” to sciatica with physical therapy. Plus, you’ll learn how to prevent sciatica in the future by doing home-exercise motions that your physical therapist has taught you for maintenance. By practicing good posture, proper body mechanics and staying in good shape, you can also prevent sciatica from occurring again.

If you’re suffering from sciatica, be sure to give us a call�at one of our two MI physical therapy offices for a one-on-one consultation with one of our physical therapists. A comprehensive exam will be performed, and our physical therapists will get you on the road to recovery. Get back in the game with physical therapy. You’re just a phone call away from living a pain-free life.