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HOW TO FIND RELIEF FROM SCIATICA
Our Location: 711 Hill Country Dr Kerrville, TX 78028 P: 830.488.7260
Email: info@kerrvillephysicaltherapy.com kerrvillephysicaltherapy.com
Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 5: 00 pm
You have the freedom to choose where to get physical therapy! Contact Kerrville Physical Therapy to learn more!
“Enjoy our monthly newsletter full of beneficial content!” Thomas Nemky PT, Founder
Madeline Smith DPT, Co-Owner
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PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT
Frank’s pain was the worst he’d ever felt. It started in his lower back but then radiated down the back of his leg all the way to his toes. Sometimes, he felt numbness or tingling in his leg, which he found especially concerning. But worst of all, this radiating pain made it almost impossible for him to get around. Eventually, Frank visited his physical therapist, where he learned this pain had a specific term: sciatica. Its name comes from the fact that it affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down into the foot. Frank also learned that his sciatica, like most people’s, came courtesy of a herniated disc in his lumbar spine. Fortunately, physical therapy is a frontline treatment for herniated discs, and with a month of regular PT sessions, Frank resolved his pain. Are you experiencing radiating leg pain like Frank? If so, reach out to us at Kerrville Physical Therapy. We can help you know for certain if your pain is sciatica or another similar condition — and we can help you find relief with a customized treatment plan. Call today to schedule your initial consultation!
“When I first came to KPTC, I was limping, could not bend my knee and was in a lot of pain after total knee replacement surgery. After seven weeks of physical therapy, I now walk normally without pain. I cannot say enough good about the staff. They knew what treatment I needed to recover. Everyone was friendly and made me feel comfortable. They encouraged me and pushed me to do my best and
were just as happy as I was with my improvement. Thank you all.” -M.G.
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WHAT IS SCIATICA? SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES Sciatica is a somewhat misunderstood condition. Many people refer to any radiating pain in the back and legs as “sciatica.” In reality, sciatica only refers to pain that stems from pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica’s main symptom is pain that starts in the lower back, radiates into the buttocks, and then runs down the back of one leg into the foot, following the path of the affected sciatic nerve. Often, the leg pain will be worse than the back pain. However, other symptoms often indicate sciatica, including the following: • Muscle spasms in the back • “Pins and needles” sensations in the leg and/or foot • Numbness in the leg and/or foot • Shooting or burning pain deep in the buttocks or legs • Weakness in the affected leg Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched, compressed, or irritated in some way. But what causes that nerve irritation in the first place? For most people, as it was for Frank, the answer is a herniated disc. Your spinal vertebrae are cushioned and protected by flexible cartilage discs (spinal discs). If one of these discs bulges or ruptures so that it irritates or pinches the sciatic nerve, you’ll experience sciatica pain. Other medical issues (such as a bone spur, inflammation related to pregnancy, or a tumor) can also cause sciatica, but these conditions are much more rare. If you have sciatica, the chances are good you have a herniated disc — and that’s something physical therapy can help resolve! How Physical Therapy Can Help With Sciatic Pain When treating a herniated disc (and, by extension, sciatica), our therapists will move through the following steps: • Manage Pain: We’ll develop a plan to address your acute pain, pulling from several options. Gentle spinal mobilizations, soft tissue manipulation of your back muscles, and pain relieving modalities such as TENS or hot and cold therapy can all help.
• Improve Mobility: Movement is crucial in addressing sciatica. Spinal mobilizations play an essential role here, allowing you to move the joint without exerting effort. We’ll also incorporate active stretches and mobility work to help ease range of motion restrictions and prepare your body for the next phase of treatment. • Strengthen Your Back and Core: As your pain lessens, we’ll begin working to build strength in your core muscles, which stabilize and support your spine. By strengthening these muscles, you can alleviate the pressure on your lumbar spine that contributes to sciatic pain and a herniated disc. • Educate to Prevent Future Pain: Finally, we can provide the tools to prevent a future bout of sciatica. We might help you develop a home exercise program to keep your spine healthy or show you how to properly lift heavy objects to avoid injury. Find Sciatica Relief at Kerrville Physical Therapy Sciatic pain can be incredibly intense and often debilitating. Regular physical therapy will help you resolve that pain — and the underlying cause — so you can get back to living a full, healthy life. To get started with your own personalized sciatica treatment plan, call to schedule an appointment today!
Kerrville Physical Therapy Center was founded in June of 1981 by Thomas C. Nemky, P.T. We have been serving the Hill Country for over 40 years! We are committed to providing the most personalized, integrative, and skilled physical therapy services available. With sensitivity and compassion, we work with our patients to promote physical rehabilitation in a professional, fun, and caring environment. Our highly-trained physical therapists provide treatment that reduces pain and inflammation, increases range of motion, and improves posture, strength and body mechanics. We pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, integrity and quality physical rehabilitation care through the variety of services our staff provides. With us, you will always be well cared for and receive the personalized attention you deserve. Your health is our highest priority. You’ll get back to enjoying your life sooner with our advanced physical therapy treatments, flexible scheduling and consistent care. Come see us! Your body will thank you. ABOUT OUR PRACTICE
RECIPE OF THE MONTH Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing
By ensuring you are staying on track with your physical therapy appointments with our clinic you will stay on the road of better health and wellness. Consistency is incredibly important in order to achieve the results you want. Contact us today with any questions or to schedule your next appointment today! ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH YOUR APPOINTMENTS?
Ingredients • 8 cups (400g) store-bought unseasoned stuffing cubes • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter • 1½ cups diced yellow onion (from 1 large or 2 small onions) • 1 cup diced celery (from 3 large celery stalks) • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage • 2¾ cups low sodium chicken broth • 1 large egg, beaten • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage • ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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Directions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter. Place the stuffing cubes in a large mixing bowl. In a large sauté pan, melt the butter. Add the onions and celery and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the vegetables to the stuffing cubes. (Don’t wash the pan but scrape out every last bit of vegetables, otherwise they will burn in the next step.) In the same pan, cook the sausage over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, until browned and cooked through, breaking up the sausage with a metal spatula while cooking (the largest pieces should be no greater than ¼-inch). Add the browned sausage and fat to the bread cubes and vegetables. Add the chicken broth, egg, rosemary, sage, parsley, salt and pepper to the bread cube mixture and mix until the bread is soft and moistened. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish and bake for 65-75 minutes, uncovered, until deeply golden and crisp on top.
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EXERCISE OF THE MONTH Seated Glute Stretch
Directions: Sit on the floor or a chair with your legs out in front of you. Bend your right leg, putting your right ankle on top of the left knee. Lean forward and allow your upper body to reach toward your thigh. Hold for 15-30 seconds. This stretches the glutes and lower back. Repeat on the other side.
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