by stretchmobility | Sep 9, 2017 | Uncategorized
Stop Spending Money on ineffective treatments and gadgets when managing pain.
Costs of Surgery 100-300K+ (Insurance will cover this if your deductible is Met)
Cost of Injections $150-400/injection ( Short lived and causes more damage)
Cost of Going to The Dr first for Pain (Time, waiting for medications to work, time off work, time back to Dr to say Pain medications are not working, Costly X-Rays, CAT scans and MRI’s that reveal no problem. Or your spine looks like the spine of a 90 year old.) Could be up to 2 months of your time. Pain still continues.
Dr refers you out to see a PAIN Specialist for injections. Cost $150-400/injection. (Typically the injections will last the longest the first time, then future injections cause damage but are still a bandaid and does not FIX the problem. )
Finally you get to see a P.T. in a hospital setting that gives you silly exercises that are temporary and in effective.
Then off to your Ortho Dr. You are a GREAT candidate for surgery. You see where this is going right?
From what my patients tell me, this process can take 6 months to a year. But barely any relief and you have missed so much work and have spent possibly your deductible. This is our current IN-Network system. So now that your deductible is met you want to only see providers that are any in network provider. I understand, you have spent a lot of Time and Money and want your insurance to now cover your treatment.
The problem with this model is that you will only reach the GOALs set forth by your insurance company. Typically if physical therapy is the option of treatment selected you can now be happy to reach a level of 3/10 pain by using your insurance card. Most people believe that PT does not work, because they chose a PT that was an in network provider that chose to get paid a discount from their insurance and because they are reimbursed so low they will need to see several people at one time to cover the expenses they have. This system does not work to effectively FIX your back pain or any other pain for that matter. You will see temporary results in this system. ( BTW, after this many will seek surgery because of the time) Ouch!
The choice that we recommend is much cheaper, saves time and will help you better understand your body and the pain you are experiencing.
Seeing a Therapist that specializes in Hands on Treatment first, followed by neuro re-ed, muscle energy techniques, Laser, Dry needling and cupping followed by some exercise. (Not hours of exercise) Will effectively FIX your pain and help you to return to doing the things you LOVE TO DO. The cost of this Model. Under $2000.00 to be fixed. In most cases it can be under $1000.00 for the total treatment. Better yet, you don’t need to see your Dr first, go in for X-Rays or expensive MRIs and will get relief the very 1st visit. Typically in 10-12 treatments you are done and better understand how to prevent the pain from coming back. Which treatment will you choose? Ready to FIX your pain? Reach out to me today [email protected] A Better You… One Stretch At A Time.
by stretchmobility | Aug 30, 2017 | Uncategorized
All too often people suffer from low back pain. The first step to treating the back pain is to find a pain relieving position. The pain relieving position is the foundation upon which we can build our exercise routine. No matter the type of back pain, the position as shown above tends to calm down the lower back pain. The position is to lay on your back with arms down by the side. The legs should have a moderate bend in both the hips and knees. Symptoms tend to subside upon getting into this position.
Why does this position tend to relieve lower back pain? Our biggest villain for joint pain is gravity. Gravity is relentlessly pushing down on our bodies all day, everyday. When we are sitting, standing or walking, gravity is putting pressure straight down our spine which takes its toll on our lower spine after a while. When we lie down, gravity is not pushing directly down the spine across the spine so it’s effects aren’t as great.
Now our posture also plays a part in this as well. Even if we had perfect posture, we wouldn’t be able to stand all day long due to gravity pushing on our lower spine all day. But very few people have great posture so our ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods is less than optimal. In this hooklying position, the position of the legs rotates the pelvis back and flattens the spine. The flattening of the spine helps muscles and ligaments relax and decompresses the forces gravity was exerting on the lower spine all day. This helps to get us into a better posture albeit laying down.
So do this next time your back pain acts up to see if you get relief. Just remember, movement is the real treatment to lower back pain so remember to do exercises as well.
Have a great day!
by stretchmobility | Mar 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
How to Prevent TMJ
If you don’t have any of these symptoms, let’s keep it that way! There are some simple things you can do at home or work to prevent TMD from occurring in your jaw joints:
Relax your face – remember the rule:
- “Lips together, teeth apart”
- Avoid grinding you teeth
- Avoid constant gum chewing
- Don’t cradle the phone receiver between your head and shoulder – either use a headset or hold the receiver to your ear
- Chew food evenly on both sides of your mouth
- Do not sit with your chin rested on your had
- Practice good posture – keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders square
by stretchmobility | Mar 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
Pain Is Your Brain’s Way Of Telling You Something Is Wrong, Not Unlike The Check Engine Light In Your Car
When the check engine light comes on in your car, you immediately know that the car engine needs your prompt attention in order to prevent further, often bigger, issues. In order to ensure the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of our vehicles, you have to provide regular maintenance.You change your oil, regulate your tire pressure, replace old tires and wiper blades and stay on top of regular maintenance to ensure that your cars are reliable enough to sustain their purpose.
But what about our bodies?
More often than not, (due to busy schedules or tight budgets) we eat processed foods, drink sugar laden beverages and rush around constantly. We keep our bodies fueled with poor quality foods and often sit for long hours in front of a computer or television screen. In the midst of our chaotic schedules, we often seek what’s most convenient—like fast food to eat, and less than supportive shoes to wear, and we spend most of our time focusing on everything we have to accomplish in a day rather than taking a second to listen to what our bodies are telling us. Regular stress and neglect can wear our bodies down and cause larger problems down the road. Fortunately, our body has a way to inform us of when something is wrong, this convenient signal is known quite well as pain. However, many of us ignore pain and consider it to be normal or insignificant. Although some pain may be fleeting and insignificant, the vast majority of pain is an indicator that something is wrong and requires the attention of a specialist in order to be resolved.
Do you know when your body is alerting you to get checked out?
Usually we go to the doctor when we are pain, sit in a waiting room full of other sore, sick people only to receive medications that will temporarily help us feel better by masking the pain. Or, we ignore injuries and put off seeking help until we can no longer function in our daily lives or jobs. By that point, we’ve ignored our body’s “check engine light” for so long that our only solution is to mask it with more medications or even undergo extensive surgery.
What are some common injuries that cause pain?
Herniated Disc- Discs are found between each vertebrae in your spine. They act as a cushion to prevent the bones from rubbing together. A herniation can occur with undue stress is placed on the spine causing the disc to burst or leak. This herniation causes pressure on a nerve and can cause the nerve to be injured or irritated. Disc herniation is found most in the neck and lower back.
- Scoliosis– A curvature of the spine opposite your natural curve. A normal spinal curve is distorted with scoliosis, causing a side shift of bones and the other structures in the spine. With this shift, the muscles try to balance usually causing myofascial restrictions that create a holding pattern to prevent pain.
- Arthritis/Osteoarthritis– Arthritis can affect the spine and other joints in the body. As you age, the friction from gravity, and poor posture as well as how your body corrects itself can cause pain. You may find that you are stiff after sitting or when waking.
- Muscle and ligament injury– These are the most common injuries and are usually caused be performing a task in poor posture when muscles are weak and the joints do not have their proper range of motion. Most of these injuries heal with in a few days to a couple of weeks.
- Osteoporosis- Called in the medical field “The Silent Killer.” As you age, the rigidity of the bone is weakened causing fractures to occur. You do not usually know that you have fractured until after the fracture happens and you have muscle pain from the fracture.
- Tendonitis– This is an inflamed tendon. Your tendons attach to your muscles and then to your bones. Usually these tendons are strained and become inflamed, causing pain with movement or walking.
- SI pain- Sacroiliac dysfunction “Literally a pain in your butt,” causing intense pain when standing or going from a sitting position to a standing position. The pelvis is usually rotated in one position causing this inflammation.
- Plantar Fasciitis– The plantar fascia is found in the arch of your foot. Pain is usually most intense when waking in the morning, usually causing you difficulty in bearing weight. In most cases plantar fasciitis can be prevented and healing can start with the use of properly fitted orthotics.
- Sciatica/Low Back pain– The nerves in your low back are affected by the vertebrae shifting and pressing on the nerve. You will feel this in your butt and running down the back side of your leg. Long periods sitting can cause more pain.
- Carpal tunnel/tennis elbow– These are typically overuse injuries that stem from prolonged poor positioning and overuse. Numbness/pain occurs due to the inflammatory process. Weakness and loss of muscle usually occur in more chronic cases.
- Headache/Migraine– Usually related to weakness in the upper back and increased myofascia in the neck. Diet can effect headaches. Headaches are very complex and require one on one attention as they are usually more chronic in nature.
We have an “indicator signal” in our bodies for a reason, not unlike the one we have in our cars. These signals are there to help us, and are not meant to go unattended. If you have muscle or joint pain—no matter how mild or intense— the best alternative is to seek an evaluation from a licensed Physical Therapist.
How can we help?
At Stretch Physical Therapy & Total Wellness, we specialize in resolving, relieving, and preventing pain. A simple trip to our local physical therapy clinic can often help you avoid costly trips to the doctor and expensive surgeries. At Stretch, we offer pain relief and physical therapy. We thoroughly assess the area of pain to accurately locate the root cause of the problem. We, then, tailor a plan of care for you in order to start fixing (not masking) that problem. In fact, the earlier you seek treatment, the shorter the time necessary to resolve and put an end to the pain. Call us today if you experience any sort of pain. We’re here to help.
by stretchmobility | Mar 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
Choose Physical Therapy first for Spinal Stenosis
Here is a good article that shows that Physical Therapy treatment for Spinal Stenosis is as effective as the more popular decompression surgery. In healthcare today, surgery seems to be the first option. If you are looking to prevent or fix your spinal stenosis without an expensive surgery or the use of pain medication,then read this article.
PT and Surgery Equally Effective for Spinal Stenosis
Physical Therapy is a great non surgical option for those clients who prefer not to undergo surgery. Stretch Physical Therapy & Total Wellness in West Chester Township Ohio has helped many patients avoid and cancel surgeries.
What can you expect from an appointment with a Stretch Physical Therapist? Learn more about what stenosis is and how to start healing from the pain. If you have any questions about the article or how we can help you heal quickly with simple exercises and manual therapy, call us Today at 1-513-874-8800.
