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.
Brenda Ayers, called “Honey” by her family and friends, started feeling pain and tightness in her neck several months ago. When the pain went down into her upper back and left shoulder blade and got worse instead of going away, Honey went to her doctor and had an MRI. She was told she had cervical disc degeneration and was sent to physical therapy at Elite.
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.
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.
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,
Read about Chuck’s recovery from back pain through the use of Physical Therapy. Chuck Brown has had back pain issues for a long time, but this June 2019 beach trip to Florida will be one he will remember as a painful one. He knew it was time to professionally address his chronic back pain and have a safe recovery.