Peak Motion: Herniated Discs

Health & Wellness Newsletter by Peak Motion Physical Therapy

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

April, 2018

MEET OUR NEWEST PT AIDE

If you haven’t been to the clinic in awhile you might not have met Kelly, our newest PT aide. We are thrilled to have her as part of our awesome team! Here is a little about Kelly to help you get to know her better. Where were you born/ how long have you lived in the Pacific NW? I was born in Palo Alto, California, then moved to Eugene in 2013 to go to the University of Oregon, and moved to Portland this last September. Where do you hope to be in 5 years? In 5 years I hope to be in grad school! Still deciding exactly

what I want to do, but there’s a good chance I’ll be aiming for PT school. What do you like most about working at Peak Motion so far? Working at Peak Motion has been great not only because of the fantastic staff and patients I get to work with every day, but because I learn something new almost every shift. What hobbies/interests do you have outside of work? Outside of work I ride horses, just started getting into bike riding, and I play guitar and piano.

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

RELIEVING PAIN FROMA HERNIATED DISC “Could Your Back Pain Be A Herniated Disc?” April, 2018

INSIDE:

• Is That Thigh Pain Really Sciatica? • FREE Back Pain Consultation • Patient Success Spotlight • Healthy Recipe

Do you suffer from back or neck pain? At times this pain can radiate indicating a potential problem with the discs. The bones in your spine are called the vertebrae. The vertebrae are held together and in place by ligaments and small discs that act as shock absorbers. These control your spine’s range ofmovement,flexibilityandkeep thespinalcordsafe fromdamage.However,whenadisc isdamaged, the inside can squeeze out of place and either bulge or herniate, leaving the spinal nerves susceptible to damage. When this occurs, the result is called a “herniated disc”, “slipped” or “ruptured disc.” A herniated disc can be incredibly painful and can cause a great deal of limitations on the body’s movement, thus hindering a person’s movement and overall ability to perform day-to-day tasks. A herniated disc can cause a variety of symptoms including radiating pain down the arm or leg, depending if the herniated disc is in your neck or low back. Bulging discs are the beginning phase of herniated discs. Very often people have a bulging disc and don’t even know it. Only when the outside

of a bulging disc becomes irritated and affects the surrounding tissuedoes itbegin tocausebackache, generally in the same area and not down the leg. A herniated disc in theneckcan be just as painful as a herniated disc in the back. Arm pain from a neck herniated disc is one of the more common neck conditions treatedbyourspinespecialists.Although a neck herniated disc may start from injury to the spine, thesymptoms, includingarmpain,commonly start from poor posture or muscle strains. The arm pain from a neck herniated disc occurs because the herniated disc material “pinches” or presses on a nerve, causing pain to radiate along the nerve down the arm. Our specialized physical therapists are trained to examine your spine and movement to find the root cause of your problem. Then we work with you and your doctor to put together a plan that helps you achieveoptimum results. Look inside to learn more about our programs and say good-bye to that aching herniated disc!

Made my life so much better! "Before I started coming to Peak Motion and seeing Mike and his staff, I was in constant aching pain. I love to run, every day! Ihadhipand lowbackpain froma fall I took while backpacking in Denali. In at least 5.5 years I’ve just managed the pain by taking lots of Ibuprofen, just so I didn’t hurt (ache) all day. Finally, I had enough and decided to try PT. Best decision I’ve ever made! I ran Hood to Coast this year pain free–21milesand I feel reallygood! I amsohappy tosay thatmaking thechoice to try physical therapy and being Mike’s patient has made my life so much better! I love Peak Motion, Mike, and the quality of his staff. P.S. I am now Ibuprofen free!” - Kimberley E. Patient Success SPOTLIGHT

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IS THAT THIGH PAIN REALLY SCIATICA?

PHYSICAL THERAPY HELPS SCIATICA PAIN One of the most common mistakes is to assume that all leg pain is sciatica, and must be due to a disc in the back pressing on a nerve. In fact, most leg pain is not pain from the nerve in your spine, and has nothing to do with a herniated disc.There is much confusion about the term sciatica.The term sciatica is defined as pain running down the leg in the path of the sciatic nerve. It is best to understand the difference between referred leg pain, which “refers” from another area and nerve root pain which begins in the spine. Irritation of any of the tissues of the back can cause pain down one or both legs. Seventy percent of patients with back pain have some radiating pain to their legs. This referred pain can come from the tissues, muscles, ligaments, joints, discs or other back structures. It is usually a dull ache that spreads into the buttocks and thighs. In addition, it may affect both legs, however, it usually does not go much below the knee. Referred pain is not due to anything pressing on a nerve. It is not sciatica. Irritation of the nerve root in the spine gives a quite different pain, which is sharp and specific to an area of your leg. Nerve root pain usually radiates to the foot or toes. Patients often describe the pain with sensations such as pins and needles or numbness. It usually affects one leg only and is greater than the pain one has in the back. Nerve www.mypeakmotion.com

root pain is much less common than referred leg pain. Furthermore, if you have back pain alone and no leg pain or nerve symptoms, a nerve root problem is very unlikely. If you do have leg pain, then your legs should be examined by a physical therapist for signs of nerve irritation or nerve compression. Diagnosing nerve irritation depends on tests that stretch or press on an irritated nerve root to cause pain. Our physical therapists at Peak Motion Physical Therapy perform different tests for nerve irritation. A common test is raising the leg straight in the air and looking for radiating pain with limitation. Discover how our Spine Program transforms your back pain from a pressing problem, to a distant memory, allowing you to live a happy, active and pain-free life.

HEALTHY RECIPE Pan Roasted Lemon Chicken

• 4 boneless chicken breasts • Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth • 2 teaspoons flour • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil • 3 cloves garlic, minced

Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1½ teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1½ teaspoons oil to the pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes.Transfer the chicken to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.

CALL TODAY! (360) 210-5440

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Think PT First

More Patient Success

Why You Need To Come Back In For A Tune- Up: � Move without pain

“I had a herniated disc 3-4 years ago. I had PT at the time, but my disc would tweak several times a year since then. My reason for coming here was to learn how to prevent the periodic slipping of the disc. After a month or so of regular therapy to strengthen my core muscles, my lower back feels much more secure. I now have a motive to maintain my core strength which will hopefully prevent future back problems.” - John W. My lower back feels much more secure!

� Sit for long periods comfortably

� Bend and move freely � Balance confidently and securely

� Walk for long distances � Live an active and healthy lifestyle

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Take Care of Your Aches and Pains Before It’s Too Late.

Attention Back Pain Sufferers!

Do You Have Difficulty With Back Pain?

• Decrease your pain • Increase your strength • Increase your activity level We can help:

• Increase your flexibility • Improve your health • Get back to living

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