Blue Ridge_Herniated Discs

Back pain can develop for all sorts of reasons. From a car accident to bad posture, to an uncomfortable seat for a prolonged period of time, back pain can come out of nowhere and cause no small amount of discomfort once it arrives.

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

LEAVE YOUR BACK PAIN BEHIND We Will Help You Understand Your Pain Caused By A Herniated Disc.

Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

INSIDE:

• Leave Back Pain Behind • Treatment for Herniated Discs • Healthy Recipe • Relieve Back Pain In Minutes • Patient Success Spotlight

LEAVE BACK PAIN BEHIND Understanding Herniated Discs

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back strong. Without cushioning in between each of those sockets, the bones would rub against one another with every movement, and this would be incredibly painful. When a disc becomes herniated, the cushioning in between the vertebrae will rupture, essentially deflating the cushioning inbetween thevertebraeand causingthebonestobegintorubagainst one another. This is painful enough as it is, but can become even more painful if the herniated disc actually begins to press on the adjacent spinal nerves, causing the pain to spread even further up the spine. The most common placement for a herniateddisc isat the lumbarvertebrae in the lowerback.While it isnot theonly reason that pain can become severe in the lowerback, it isdefinitelyoneof the most severe forms of back pain. If you suspect thatyoumayhaveexperienced aherniated disc it is important that you seek medical attention, such as from yourphysical therapist.Aherniateddisc

Back pain can develop for all sorts of reasons. From a car accident to bad posture, to an uncomfortable seat for a prolonged period of time, back pain can come out of nowhere and cause no small amount of discomfort once it arrives. There are some back injuries, however, that are even more painful than your run-of-the-mill back pain. A herniated disc is one of the most painful back injuries that you can experience, and it is far more common than you may be initially aware. What is a herniated disc? Your spine is made up of a series of interlocking bones with small cushions in-between each joint socket. The structure of your spine is what allows you to move freely from side to side. Every time you crunch your abdomen by bending forward, or lean to one side or another for a deep stretch, those little vertebral bodies move with you, keeping you comfortable and your

will not heal on its own, and working with a physical therapist is one of the best ways to experience relief from the pain associated with this common concern. How does this happen? The vertebrae in the spine are stacked closely together, with only a small amountofspaceforthediscs inbetween eachbone.Adisccanbecomeherniated as a result of injury, car accident, or even simply from overuse. One of the most common causes of a herniated disc is heavy lifting. Weightlifters have to be especially wary not to suddenly lift something too heavy, otherwise risk experiencing a slipped disc. But experiencedgymgoersarenot theonly ones at risk. Every time you attempt to move a piece of furniture, a hevvy box, or even a big bag of books you need to be wary to lift correctly, otherwise face the risk of potentially herniating a disc in your back.

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TREATMENT FOR HERNIATED DISCS

What are My Treatment Options? Pain associated with a herniated disc often develops in the sciatica nerve,anddoesn’tsubsidewithsimple restand relaxation.Whilehot and cold therapy will help alleviate the pain associated with many different back issues, it won’t make the pain of a herniated disc go away. The pain is often frequently associated with numbness, weakness, and tingling in the legs. In many situations, the pain will feelmoresevereafter initialmovement,suchasstandingupor laying down. Many people mistakenly refer to having a herniated disc as having “pinched a nerve,” but that is not the case. Physical therapy is a great resource for attempting to overcome the pain associated with a herniated disc. A combination of passive and active techniques is typically employed, including deep tissue massage, electrical stimulation, and hydrotherapy, as well as deep stretching and strength building. Ifyoususpect thatyoumayhaveaherniateddisc,contactaphysical therapist rightaway.Attempting toengage in therapyathomecould lead to further injury. It is best to have an experienced therapist assess your injury before attempting any treatment options. For more information about physical therapy options for herniated discs, call Blue Ridge Physical Therapy at (423) 262-0020!

Relieve Back Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing back pain.

DISCOVER HOW TO LIVE PAIN-FREE

Helps With Tightness

Thoracic Rotation Kneel down buttocks to heels, elbow between knees. Place one hand in the small of your back Rotate your trunk upwards and breathe. Return to the start with control. Repeat6-10 times, then repeat the exercise for the other side.

At Blue Ridge Physical Therapy, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by our friendly, caring health experts during focused and individualized sessions.

It’s time to go to Blue Ridge Physical Therapy if: • You’re tired of living in pain • You want to feel better and move better • You have been in an auto accident or injured on the job • You want to prevent injury 1. Call and talk to your therapist 2. Discover why your pain has come back 3. Get your custom recovery program

CALL TODAY! (423) 262-0020

DO WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE HEART!

1. Aim for lucky number seven. Young and middle-aged adults who sleep 7 hours a night have less calcium in their arteries (an early sign ofheartdisease) than thosewhosleep 5 hours or less or those who slept 9 hours or more. 2. Keep the pressure off. Get your blood pressure checked every 3-5 years if you’re 18-39. If you’re 40 or older, or if you have high blood pressure, check it every year. 3. Move more. To keep it simple, you can aim for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of moderate exercise. Even if you exercise for 30 minutes a day, being sedentary for the other 23 1/2 hours is really bad for your heart. 4. Slash saturated fats. To help your heart’sarteries,cutdownonsaturated fats, which are mainly found in meat and full-fat dairy products. Choose leaner cuts and reduced-fat options. 5. Find out if you have diabetes. Millions of people don’t know that they have this condition. That’s risky because over time, high blood sugar

damages arteries and makes heart disease more likely. 6. Think beyond the scale. Ask your doctor if your weight is OK. If you have some pounds to lose, you’ll probably want to change your eating habits and be more active. 7. Ditch the cigarettes, real and electronic. Smoking and secondhand smoke are bad for your heart. If you smoke, quit, and don’t spend time around others who smoke as well. E-cigarettes are popular, but they’re not completely problem-free. They don’t contain the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke but, they still do contain nicotine, so your goal should be to quit completely, not just switch to a less toxic version. 8. Clean up. Your heart works best when it runsonclean fuel.Thatmeans lots of whole, plant-based foods (like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) and fewer refined or processed foods (like white bread, pasta, crackers, and cookies).

TIPS FOR BETTER HEART HEALTH

Patient Success Spotlight I love it here. Great atmosphere, very organized and knowledgeable staff.

Practice News

“When I came in for treatments, my left leg and low back were keeping me awake all night with cramps and unbearable pain. This had been going on for several weeks. After a few weeks of treatments, the pain is completely gone. Everyone at Blue Ridge PhysicalTherapy treatedmeverykindlyand withrespect. I love ithere.Greatatmosphere, very organized and knowledgeable staff.”

FREE HEALTH WORKSHOP Treating LowBack Pain FEBRUARY 16TH AT 11 AM AT OUR CLINIC 3915 Bristol Highway, Suite 301 Johnson City, TN 37601-1403 CALL TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT (423) 262-0020 SEATS ARE LIMITED

- Karen Lyons

www.blueridgephysicaltherapy.com

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