HandsOn: Is It Back Pain Or Sciatica?

Newsletter by Hands-On Physical Therapy

N E W S L E T T E R

DON’T LET BACK PAIN OR SCIATICA SLOW YOU DOWN

www.handsonpt.org

N E W S L E T T E R

IS IT BACK PAIN OR SCIATICA?

INSIDE : • Understanding Back Pain • Videonystagmography

• Patient Success Spotlight • Healthy Recipe

Does life ever feel like one large pain in the back? Back pain is difficult to deal with on a daily basis, yet for so many people, this is a total reality. By certain estimates, as many as 85 percent of adults in the United States struggle with back pain at some point in their lives. The most common type of back pain experienced is in the lower back, and it can happen for any variety of reasons. Being in a car accident can cause you to experience lingering back pain for years after the accident. Accidents at work can lead to similar consequences. But sometimes the cause of your back pain isn’t as straightforward. Back pain can also develop for any number of common reasons — things that you do every day without thinking twice. An old desk chair that doesn’t provide much lumbar support can take its toll over time, as can wearing shoes that don’t have much support, or even gaining weight, particularly around the stomach area.

Too many people consider back pain a normal experience of their lives and don’t immediately seek support that could make the pain an issue of the past. Working with a physical therapist is, hands down, the best thing that you can do when you are looking to overcome back pain. A physical therapist can identify the cause of the back pain and present you with helpful strategies that can strengthen your back and reduce the severity of your pain. Physical therapy for back pain often includes a combination of targeted massage, flexibility and range of motion training, muscle building, and targeted stretching techniques. Using these strategies in combination with anti-inflammatory medication, as recommended by your physician, is often considered the most-efficient approach to handling back pain and is recommended by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. If you have back pain or sciatica, our therapists can design a treatment plan to promote improved function, wellness and minimize pain.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION TODAY GET RID OF YOUR NAGGING PAIN!

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VIDEONYSTAGMOGRAPHY

UNDERSTANDING BACK PAIN

Beingeducatedaboutyourbackpaincanhelpyoumaketherightchoicestoovercome itasquicklyaspossible.Oneof thebiggestproblemswithbackpain is that it lingers. This leads many people to deal with back pain for years on end without seemingly anyend insight.While there isbackpain thatdevelopsasa resultofstrainorsprain, there is also something called low back degenerative disc disease, which happens when thediscs inyourspineweaken.This frequentlydevelopsasaresultofrepetitive back injury and can also develop as a result of age. With degenerative disc disease, thespacebetween thediscsbegins tocollapseandbecomeunstableandwillcause back pain to develop. When you work with a physical therapist to overcome back pain as a result of degenerative disc disease, your physical therapist will begin by strengtheningcoremusclegroups,which includes theabdominalwall,andwillprovide you with targeted massage and stretching techniques to alleviate pain. Whilesomebackpain iseasy to identifyaspain,suchas is thecasewithdegenerative discdisease,thereareothersituations inwhichthepainmaybeabitmorecomplicated to understand. One of the most common back issues experienced in the United States is sciatica pain, and this sort of pain is often a lot more difficult to identify — especially by those who aren’t familiar with the problem. How can you tell the difference between back pain and sciatica pain? The answer is that sciatica pain is characterized by the following factors: • Constant pain is only present in one side of the buttocks or leg • The pain becomes worse when you are sitting • The leg pain develops more as a burning, tingling or searing sensation, and not as a plain ache • There is a sharp pain that occurs at times, making it sometimes difficult to stand or walk •Thepain isradiating,shootingdownthe legandsometimeseven intothefeetandtoes Sciatica pain develops in the nerves that connect the lower back to the legs, and so while the pain itself is generated from the back, a lot of time, the experience of the pain is more largely associated with the upper legs. What’s more, sciatica pain doesn’talwaysdevelop likepain in the traditionalsense.Sciaticapain insteadcauses a buildup of tingling, numbness and weakness in the lower back and upper legs, and the pain isn’t consistent either. The sensation will typically run through the leg in waves, causing discomfort at seemingly unpredictable times. Ifyouareexperiencingbackpainandyouhaven’ttalkedtoamedicalprofessionalabout the concern, then now is the time to take action. Working with a physical therapist can cut your time struggling with back pain literally in half. For more information about overcoming back pain, contact us.

VNG (Videonystagmography) test is considered the new standard for testing inner ear functions. VNG test measures the movements of the eyes directly through infrared cameras. VNG test is used to determine if a vestibular (inner ear) disease may be causing a balance or dizziness problem, and is one of the only tests available today that can decipher between a unilateral (one ear) and bilateral (both ears) vestibular loss. VNG testing is a series of tests designed to document a person’s ability to follow visual objects with their eyes and how well the eyes respond to information from the vestibular system. VNG test also addresses the functionality of each ear and if a vestibulardeficitmaybe thecauseofadizzinessorbalanceproblem. To monitor the movements of the eyes, infrared goggles are placed around the eyes to record eye movements during testing. VNG test is non-invasive. For more information, contact us at Astoria, NY center. Don’t hesitate to contact Hands-On Physical Therapy today to learn more about what our Videonystagmography service can do for you and get started on the first steps toward relief!

Source:https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-you-need-know-about-sciatica

CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PAIN (718) 626-2699

Patient Success Spotlight

Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help?

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http://1sudoku.com Do You Have Friends Or Family That Can’t: n° 315825 - LevelHard

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6 � Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely

4 7 � Sit for long periods � Walk for long distances � Live active and healthy

“One of the best therapists I’ve had inmy long history of PTs!” “Wonderful PT clinic. Everyone is knowledgeable, helpful, and very kind. The therapists are exceptional and the aids are very kind. Dr. Rizopoulos is always accessible if a patient needs to have a consultation. My therapist was Sean, one of the best therapists I’ve had in my long history of PTs. Not only does he know exactly what each individual patient needs, he’s also kind and truly cares about his patients and worries about us when we are hospitalized. He has a wonderful personality which is so important when a patient is suffering. Thank you to everyone!” - Liz K.

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Call to schedule.

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3 5 32-44 31st Street • Astoria, NY 11106 Tel: (718) 626-2699 • Fax: (718) 626-0923 1 2 2 5 7 6 STRENGTHEN YOUR MIND! 9 1 3 8 4 9

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Healthy Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

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INGREDIENTS • 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3 garlic cloves, minced

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• 1 Tbsp lemon zest • 2 Tbsp lemon juice • 3/4 tsp sea salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 ½ tsp cumin seeds* • 2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained & rinsed • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved • 4 Medjool dates, pitted and diced • 3 Persian cucumbers, sliced into thin half moons • 1 cup chopped roasted red peppers

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• ¼ cup finely chopped parsley • 3 ounces honey goat cheese (or similar) • ¼ cup fresh mint • 1 cup chopped roasted chickpeas, (optional)

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Play on your mobile these puzzles and find their solutions by flashing the codes bel n° 315825 n°329837 n° 3996 n°34745 The object is to fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear exactly once in each row, column and 3x3 box, and the sum of the numbers in each area is equal to the clue in the area’s top-left corner.

INSTRUCTIONS Ina largebowl,combineoliveoil,garlic, lemonzest, lemon juice,salt,andseveralgrinds of pepper. In a skillet over medium-low heat, toast the cumin seeds until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Remove seeds from heat and crush (a mortar & pestle is easiest). Add seeds to the bowl and stir. Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, dates, cucumbers, red pepper, and parsley to the bowl and toss. Transfer to a serving platter and dollop with goat cheese, sprinkle with mint, and top with extra roasted chickpeas, if desired. Season to taste and serve.

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