Often times its bad habits or mistakes we make that create the common disc issues so education is critical. Your physical therapist will give you a home exercise program(HEP) for your specific disc issue with detailed instructions and pictures of stretches and exercises to perform on the days you do not come into the clinic.
Disc issues are more common that you would think and understanding the treatment in clinic helps you to act promptly and quickly reduce any long term effects.
One of the most common disc issues is a ruptured or herniated disc, when the center of the disc (nucleus) pushes through the outer layer and presses against the nerves.
It is important to know the difference in the most common disc issues: herniated/ruptured disc, bulging discs and degenerative disc. It is also to important to understand the symptoms, risk factors and treatment options for disc issues. Most people are unaware that you can experience radicular pain in other parts of your body that originate from common disc issues in your spine.
Your PT will follow your MD’s recovery protocol for spinal stenosis. Proper postural awareness and core stability will also be of extreme importance to your recovery. Slouching and forward rounding of the shoulders and pelvis needs to be avoided along with poor lifting mechanics.
Application of ice packs or heat may also be suggested to help manage chronic or acute pain and inflammation at home.
Spinal stenosis can often be managed through physical therapy without the need for surgical intervention. If you require surgery, upon your initial evaluation at Elite Physical therapy, your physical therapist will educate you on your physician’s protocol for recovery.
Following your evaluation, your physical therapy team will develop and guide you through an individualized exercise program.
Spinal stenosis is defined as an abnormal narrowing of the space in the spinal canal. There are two main categories of spinal stenosis:
1) Primary spinal stenosis, which is known as congenital, is present since birth and typically becomes apparent in the fourth decade of life.
2) Secondary spinal stenosis,
After you have attended your first couple of physical therapy treatments for Sciatica back pain, your PT will send you home with a home exercise program. This will include a personalized list of stretches and exercises to be completed during the week, when you are not attending PT in person. The HEP will include pictures of the exercises along with written instructions that include the frequency and duration of each exercise.
If you’re experiencing Sciatica, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy or you can schedule an evaluation with a Physical Therapist through direct access. When coming to PT for sciatic pain, you can expect:
Ms. Ardis Rittenberry – or Ms. Ritt, as we call her – has been a patient at our Shelbyville clinic for several months now for bulging disc/sciatica. She originally came for her low back pain and complained of “walking like an old lady” because of her pain. Ms. Ritt is very active in her community and has great-grandchildren to play with,
Sciatica refers to nerve pain from an injury or irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in our bodies, running from the lumbar spine down through the glutes (buttocks), back of the thighs, and into the lower leg. Sciatica is a fairly common condition, usually affecting only one side of your lower body at a time,