To understand neck pain, its causes and potential treatment options, it’s important to understand the neck’s unique anatomy. The neck is also referred to as the cervical spine, and it consists of the spine’s first seven vertebrae. Spinal nerve roots are connected to the rest of the body through several holes in each of the cervical spine’s vertebra.

Each vertebra in the spine is connected to the next via facet joints and a connective tissue disc containing a gelatinous substance known as nucleus pulposus. Discs support proper spine alignment, and they provide spacing and cushioning for the vertebrae.

The cervical spine supports the head and allows for the neck’s range in motion. Any damage or strain to the components that make up the cervical spine can cause temporary or chronic neck pain. Neck pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Temporary neck sprains and strains caused by minor injuries and poor posture usually subside fairly quickly. Nonpermanent pain typically has the following causes:

• Holding your head in an abnormal position for a long time
• Sleeping with your head in an unnatural position
• Sports injuries
• Repetitive motion
• Slouching or slumping when you sit

Chronic neck pain persists for longer than a few weeks. Sometimes, chronic neck pain comes with additional symptoms such as difficulty walking, numbness and weakness, which can indicate a serious underlying condition. Chronic neck pain can occur due to the following:

• Aging
• Injuries
• Overuse of neck muscles
• Continuous poor posture
• Degenerative diseases such as arthritis
• Damage to the neck bones
• Abnormal structures within the neck bones
• Damage to the discs that are located between each cervical vertebrae
• Facet joint damage
• Severe muscle strains
• Tumors
• Severe ligament damage
• Cervical bone fractures and cracks

Whiplash can also cause neck pain, occurring after an incident when the neck moves back and forth rapidly. Whiplash can occur due to several traumas such as falls, car accidents and sports accidents.

Chronic neck pain is most commonly caused by disc and facet joint damage. Discs are flexible and elastic, but they can tear due to overuse, injury or aging. If the center of a disc tears, it can leak the nucleus pulposus and cause the nerves surrounding it to become irritated and inflamed. If the nucleus pulposus causes the disc to swell or distort, it is known as a herniated disc, which presses against cervical nerves and pinches them.

Over time, discs can naturally lose cushioning, thickness and hydration. This is known as cervical degenerative disc disease, and it can cause the same complications as a herniated disc such as arthritis and pinched nerves.

Neck pain is one of the most common disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system. However, there are some steps you can take to prevent neck pain. If you work at a desk in front of a computer all day, try to do some gentle neck stretches every hour and sit in a chair with an adjustable straight back, swivel seat and armrests.

You can also prevent neck pain by wearing shoes with cushioned soles and avoiding standing for long periods. If you are able to, you should sleep on a firm mattress and use a supportive pillow. Massages and yoga can also help prevent neck pain.

There are many cervical neck pain treatment options available if your pain is making it difficult to perform daily routines and live your life comfortably. Treatment for chronic neck pain can be as simple as resting, or it may require more intensive treatment options such as physical therapy or, in some cases, surgery.

The best treatment for neck pain varies by person, so what helps you will depend on your level of pain, how long it persists and what is causing it.

Individuals can sometimes manage neck pain without surgery. In some cases, simple therapy, medications and nonsurgical procedures can deliver chronic neck pain relief so people can continue performing their normal routines.

Nonsurgical solutions for neck pain are typically helpful if the pain is due to a minor strain or poor posture. However, if pain continues for a few weeks or more and pain relief efforts are unsuccessful, you may need to consider surgical options.

Sometimes, simply resting an injured neck can reduce pain. Spend some time with your neck in the most comfortable position that brings the least amount of pain. You can also roll up a towel and place it under your neck to keep your neck and head in a straight, neutral position.

Try to keep your neck and head upright and straight to maintain the correct posture while sitting. This can help relieve neck pain, and it also helps to prevent it. Avoid slouching or slumping when you sit on your couch or on chairs, and try to only sit on chairs that provide proper back support. If you work in front of a computer, keep it at eye level and avoid leaning backward or forward at your desk.

You can use hot and cold therapy to relieve neck pain if you experience a ligament sprain or muscle strain. For the first one or two days, you can apply ice to reduce swelling in your neck. Once the swelling subsides, you can use heat wraps to help your muscles relax and loosen. You should only use hot and cold therapy if it provides comfort. Use heat or ice at 20-minute intervals each.

If you experience pain for a few weeks or longer, there may be damage to your bones, facet joints or cervical discs. In this situation, hot and cold therapy will typically be ineffective because your condition requires more aggressive treatment.

You can use hot and cold therapy to relieve neck pain if you experience a ligament sprain or muscle strain. For the first one or two days, you can apply ice to reduce swelling in your neck. Once the swelling subsides, you can use heat wraps to help your muscles relax and loosen. You should only use hot and cold therapy if it provides comfort. Use heat or ice at 20-minute intervals each.

If you experience pain for a few weeks or longer, there may be damage to your bones, facet joints or cervical discs. In this situation, hot and cold therapy will typically be ineffective because your condition requires more aggressive treatment.

Water therapy can involve exercising in water, receiving an underwater massage or a hydro-massage that uses various levels of water pressure to target certain muscles. Water therapy can help to relieve neck pain because it does the following:

• Increases blood flow to muscles
• Reduces stress and tension
• Relaxes the body

You can also manage chronic neck pain with over-the-counter medications. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and ibuprofen can help alleviate neck pain. The best medicine for neck pain can vary by person, so the key is to find the medication that works best for you. Keep in mind any other medications you take and potential reactions, and speak to your doctor to determine what medications are safe to take.

Epidural steroid injections deliver an anesthetic and a steroid to the epidural space around your spinal cord where the nerves are irritated and inflamed. The steroid reduces inflammation, and the anesthetic relieves pain by temporarily blocking the nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain. Epidural steroid injections can relieve pain when the cervical spine’s nerves are compressed.

Facet joint injections are similar to epidural steroid injections because they help to manage pain and reduce inflammation. Facet joints allow you to move, twist and bend your neck without moving it too far in any direction, and injections to the area can help you control pain and tolerate rehabilitation after a neck injury.

Cervical Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a nonsurgical and fairly painless treatment that blocks nerves. During this treatment for neck pain, radiofrequency energy produces heat that creates a lesion on the nerves that disrupts and blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. RFA typically lasts longer than anesthetic nerve blocks and blocks pain for approximately nine months to one year.

In some cases of neck pain, you may need to seek surgical options. Surgery may be necessary if you experience persistent pain or if you also experience numbness, weakness or pain in your hands, arms or shoulders. In these situations, your doctor may recommend any of the following surgeries:

The Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC) offers cutting-edge treatment options to help patients find relief from chronic neck pain. Our surgeons treat a wide variety of spine conditions including degenerative disc disease, herniated disc and other cervical spine complications.

We offer advanced nonsurgical spine treatments and minimally invasive spine surgeries, and our board-certified surgeons hold 50 years of collective patient care experience. DISC is a worldwide leader in endoscopic spine surgery, and we provide patients with consistent results so they can enjoy life without pain. We will carefully choose the least invasive treatment method or surgical option to help you restore your lifestyle with minimal side effects.

Take control over your pain and get back to living your life comfortably. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you relieve your chronic neck pain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lower back pain causes more disability worldwide than any other condition. Acute back pain typically lasts less than four weeks, and chronic back pain persists longer than 12 weeks. Facet joint syndrome can cause both acute and chronic back pain. 

A chain of connected and moveable bones known as vertebrae make up the spine. The spine is able to bend and twist while the bones remain linked together because each vertebra contains a disc and two facet joints above it to form a three-joint complex. Facet joints contain synovial fluid lubrication, cartilage lining and a joint capsule cover. This allows them to slide, glide and prevent over-twisting as the spine bends and moves. 

Facet joint syndrome is an arthritis-like spine condition that causes pain in one or more facet joints. When degenerative changes occur in the spine, it can cause body weight to unevenly shift and place more pressure on the facet joints. The additional pressure causes wear and tear on the joints, and as a result, the following occurs over time:

• Joint capsules become thin.
• Smooth cartilage gradually breaks down.
• Bone spurs can develop.

As the joints undergo these changes, they fail to move fluidly, and they become irritated and inflamed. Pain signals travel from the joint’s sensory nerves to the brain, and this can cause discomfort as well as muscle spasms and stiffness. 

Facet joint syndrome may be painless until something triggers pain, but the pain can also be chronic. If any of your facet joints are damaged or degenerating, you will typically feel pain when you twist in the direction of the damaged joint or bend backward. You may also feel pain when you stand or sit still for some time. Leaning forward, sitting in certain positions or changing positions may temporarily ease the discomfort.

This spine condition usually causes a dull pain or ache that occurs over the spine in the lower back and extends to the buttocks, or it can cause pain at the base of the skull and in the shoulders. If bone spurs develop and place pressure on spinal nerves, pain can also extend down the legs or arms. Lumbar facet joints cause 14%-41% of lower back pain, which is the most common pain syndrome. 

People typically develop facet joint syndrome between the ages of 40 and 70. However, it is more common in adults over 50 years old. A spine injury, whiplash, genetics, poor posture, obesity, repetitive movements and various spine conditions can also increase the likelihood of developing the syndrome.

The pain that comes with facet joint syndrome can mimic other spine conditions, so a physician will carefully evaluate your condition to determine the source of your pain and make a diagnosis. To accurately diagnose facet joint syndrome, your doctor will consider the following factors:

• Your medical history
• Physical exam results
• History of injuries
• Any problems sleeping or standing
• Pain location

If your doctor suspects you may have facet joint syndrome, they may ask you to move or stand in various positions and indicate where you feel pain. They may also feel for tender spots on your spine and work your joints to determine where the damaged facet joints may be located. 

Once your doctor has a general idea of where your pain is coming from, they may order imaging studies to support their diagnosis and rule out any other spine-related conditions. An MRI, CT scan or X-ray provides a clear image of the spine so your physician can locate the damaged facet joints. 

Facet joint syndrome can complicate daily life due to pain and discomfort. However, there are some treatment methods that can relieve or eliminate pain to help you live more comfortably. Some patients experience pain relief with nonsurgical treatment methods, while others need to undergo a surgical procedure to achieve pain relief. 

The facet syndrome treatment method that’s best for you will depend on your condition and pain level, and a doctor can determine the proper treatments and procedures for you to try. 

If you develop facet joint syndrome and experience pain, you may be able to alleviate your discomfort with some at-home remedies or non-surgical medical procedures. Your doctor may recommend any of the following pain management treatment options:

Heat and cold therapy can help ease pain caused by facet joint syndrome. Heat boosts circulation, relaxes muscles and dilates blood vessels, while cold can constrict blood vessels to reduce swelling. When you apply heat, it allows more oxygen and blood to nourish tissues. You can use heat therapy throughout the day or try it when you wake up each day to relieve stiffness and pain. 

Cold therapy typically works best when you experience acute pain or have a flare-up. Placing a cold pack on the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time can restrict blood vessels to reduce blood flow to numb the pain. 

Both methods can alter pain sensations, and they can be used together or separately. You can try cold gel packs, heat patches, heating pads, hot water bags and warm baths to find which method or combination works best for you. 

Some patients with facet joint syndrome take medications to alleviate back or neck pain. The medication that’s right for you may depend on your pain level, any medications you’re currently taking and how you react to different types of medication. Helpful medications can include any of the following:

• Oral anti-inflammatory medications
• Topical creams or salves
• Topical patches
• Muscle relaxers

Your doctor can recommend specific medications and treatments, taking into account your medical status.

Exercise can help ease facet joint pain and speed the healing process. A physical therapist can instruct you on stretching and strengthening routines as well as proper walking and lifting techniques. They will help you learn how to properly stretch your leg, stomach and lower back muscles, and you can use what you learn to continue exercising on your own to aid your healing process and alleviate pain.

It’s important to consult with your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen. An experienced physician will be able to tell you how much physical activity is safe for your body and its condition. 

It’s important to keep your spine in its proper alignment to reduce or prevent pain. Keep a correct posture by keeping your spine straight, and avoid slouching or slumping. 

If you work at a desk, try to sit in a swivel chair that has a straight back and armrests. You may need to adjust your sleeping position to avoid compromising your posture overnight. You can also reduce pressure on your facet joints and reduce pain by losing weight and strengthening your core, which can benefit posture. 

A mechanical back brace can help you to keep your back straight while standing and sitting. It can also limit twisting, bending and micro-motions and decrease pressure on the facet joints. It’s important to consult with a doctor before using a back brace because some situations may require alternative or additional treatment methods. A doctor will also recommend the correct type of back brace and instruct you on the proper way to wear it.

Physicians can use epidural injections to both diagnose facet joint syndrome and ease pain caused by the condition. This injection method uses either steroids or a combination of steroids and anesthetics. 

When either of these injection types is used to diagnose facet joint syndrome and locate pain points, the diagnostic injection includes an anesthetic. The anesthetic helps locate the affected facet joints or medial branch nerves.

Synovial membrane tissue makes up joint capsules that surround facet joints. Each joint capsule’s upper pad is fused with the spinal nerve’s fatty sheath, and the capsule contains nerves that send signals to the brain. When a joint capsule’s synovial membrane is inflamed, facet joint injections can reduce pain in the following ways:

• Reducing pain receptor sensitivity to decrease pain signals to the brain
• Hindering inflammatory chemical production

If several facet joints are producing pain, your physician may deliver more than one injection to target each affected facet joint. The success rate of facet joint arthritis treatment injections can vary from person to person. Some patients experience short-term pain relief, while others experience long-term pain relief or find that their pain completely dissipates. 

Patients who experience short-term relief can use their time without pain to work on physical therapy until they need to receive repeat injections. Improving flexibility and strength can increase the chances that injections lead to long-term pain relief. 

Medial branch nerves extend from each spinal nerve’s dorsal rami, and they mainly have sensory properties with which they supply the facet joints. When a person receives injections near their branch nerves, it can reduce pain in the following ways:

• Decreasing nerve fiber permeability to reduce the blood each nerve receives
• Suppressing pain signals from the nerve
• Blocking C fibers to reduce pain transmission to the brain

For both facet joint injections and medial branch injections, the doctor will use ultrasound or fluoroscopy to deliver the needle to the correct area. 

When non-surgical pain treatment methods are unsuccessful, you may need to consider surgical pain management options. While surgery cannot reverse facet joint syndrome, it can help reduce or eliminate pain and improve your quality of life. Your doctor can evaluate your situation and recommend one of the following surgeries based on your condition:

Facet joint syndrome causes wear on the spine over time, but it is still possible to live a comfortable life with minimal or no back pain. Various at-home treatments, physical therapy and nonsurgical medical procedures can help alleviate the pain that comes with facet joint syndrome. If these remedies are unsuccessful, you can talk to a qualified physician about surgical treatment options for facet syndrome. 

The Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC) offers highly advanced treatment options, including nonsurgical procedures, least-invasive surgeries and minimally invasive surgeries. Our board-certified surgeons have over 50 collective years of experience in patient care, and we will care for you with the least invasive treatment options to help restore your lifestyle. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you relieve back pain and live life more comfortably. 

With some exceptions, doctors initially pursue non-surgical treatments for most sciatica cases. Whenever possible, avoiding surgery minimizes risks and shortens recovery times. The specific therapies doctors recommend depend on your pain level and condition. Here are a few possible treatments your doctor may recommend to help with your sciatica pain.

Doctors often prescribe physical therapy to sciatica patients as an initial measure. If significant pain is present, they will address that before prescribing physical therapy. Physical therapy for sciatica can strengthen your muscles and reduce inflammation. In doing so, it helps relieve pain and helps your body recover from sciatica over time.

Physical therapy consists of strength and aerobic conditioning and stretching exercises. Physical therapists tailor the exercise and conditioning programs to each patient’s fitness level and medical condition. Your routine should avoid aggravating your sciatica pain while working specific muscles to help you overcome it.

For sciatica, physical therapy routines generally focus on:

• Strengthening the spine and abdominal, buttocks, hip and lower back muscles.
• Increasing core strength.
• Stretching tight, inflexible muscles, such as your hamstrings or the piriformis muscles in your buttocks.
• Promoting circulation and the exchange of fluids and nutrients through light aerobic exercise

Physical therapy may involve walking, swimming, pool therapy, resistance training and range-of-motion exercise.

Alternating hot and cold therapy can promote healing and relieve pain. As you alternate with heat and ice, the ice decreases inflammation, and the heat increases circulation. The reduced inflammation relieves pain, while the increased circulation encourages healing.

Staying physically active can ease inflammation and promote healthy circulation. The amount of physical activity and exercise you can perform depends on your condition and pain level. Still, you should strive to stay as active as your body and sciatic pain allow. Even if your routine consists of light stretching or simple yoga practices, your body can still benefit. Whether you practice daily five-mile runs and resistance training or settle for short walks and light stretching, do as much as your body allows.

Physiotherapists recommend individuals with sciatica perform exercises that focus on:

• Core strength
• Correct posture
• Hamstring and lumbar spine flexibility
• Proper lifting techniques

While some resistance and mild discomfort is normal, stop exercising or stretching if your sciatica pain worsens.

To treat sciatic pain, your doctor may prescribe pain relief medication as a first-order treatment. After the pain subsides, they can explore restorative options with you. They may also prescribe pain relief medication for lingering soreness after physical therapy sessions or other sciatic nerve treatments. Pain relief medications are short-term solutions for immediate pain. As such, they are not viable as an ongoing pain management solution.

Some common medications that doctors prescribe for sciatica pain include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These include ibuprofen (Advil), acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and naproxen (Aleve).
• Opioid analgesics like oxycodone or tramadol
• Oral steroids, including prednisone or methylprednisolone

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) involve an injection of local anesthetics and corticosteroids into the epidural space of your spine. The epidural space separates your spinal cord’s protective dura mater layer from your vertebrae. Within the epidural space are blood vessels, connective tissue, fat and spinal nerve roots. The purpose of ESIs is to relieve inflamed and irritated spinal nerve roots. ESIs help sciatica through the following mechanisms:

Like ESIs, Nerve root blocks are injections that contain a steroid and local anesthetic. They work differently from ESIs because nerve root blocks target a specific nerve root, rather than the epidural space.

With a nerve root block injection for sciatica pain treatment, your doctor injects the steroid-anesthetic combination localized around the specific nerve root which connects to the sciatic nerve.

An ESI can numb sciatic pain and reduce inflammation. Local anesthesia interrupts the nerve signals between your brain and the irritated nerve. In comparison, corticosteroids help to block or slow the inflammation process that can increase the pain patients perceive.  The combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid has the following therapeutic effect:

• Block the damaging Inflammation process responsible for sciatic nerve irritation and pain.
• Blocking certain nerve fibers to transmit fewer pain signals to the brain.
• Decreasing blood flow to nerve fibers to reduce pain transmission.

Doctors usually explore non-invasive options before surgery. Still, some sciatica cases need surgery first. Other sciatica cases need surgery after conservative interventions fail to solve the problem.

Your doctor may pursue surgery as an initial treatment if any of the following conditions or injuries cause your sciatica pain:

Below are some common surgical treatments for sciatica.

Your doctor may recommend a microdiscectomy if a lumbar disc herniation (LDH) causes your sciatic pain. Since a microdiscectomy involves a small surgical incision, it is minimally invasive. A microdiscectomy takes approximately one to two hours. Before the procedure begins, an anesthesiologist or surgeon will give you either anesthesia so you feel no pain during the procedure.

A microdiscectomy occurs in the following steps:

• Your surgeon will make a small incision near the herniated disc in your back.
• They will use special X-ray guidance, known as fluoroscopy, to ensure they reach the correct location.
• Using fluoroscopy, your surgeon will insert a small, sterile wire into the incision.
• After inserting the wire, they will insert two or three tubes over the wire to gently push apart tissue so they can access the vertebrae. Each inserted tube is slightly bigger than the previous one.
• Your surgeon will insert surgical tools through the tube, such as a tiny camera, light and various instruments.
• Using those tools, your surgeon will remove the herniated part of the affected disc to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve.
• After removing the tools, tubes and wire, they will stitch and bandage the surgical wound.

Since a microdiscectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, patients often go home on the day of their surgery. After having a microdiscectomy, your surgeon will give you aftercare instructions to care for the wound and recover from the surgery.

Your doctor may encourage you to wear a back brace as you recover. Most patients resume driving and light activity approximately two weeks after the surgery. Your doctor will ask you to limit bending, twisting and lifting for six weeks after the procedure. After six weeks, most patients resume regular activity.

Depending on your condition and activity level, you can expect a full recovery from a microdiscectomy anywhere from 12 weeks to one year.

If your sciatica pain occurs from spinal stenosis or bone spurs, your doctor may suggest a laminectomy. Spinal stenosis occurs when the area around the spinal cord narrows due to various causes, including bone spurs or overgrowths. As that space narrows, it puts pressure on your spinal cord and nerves.

With a laminectomy, the surgeon removes the lamina section of vertebral bones. The lamina in each vertebra forms the roof above your spinal canal. A laminectomy provides space for your spinal nerves to move freely by removing part or all of the lamina. An anesthesiologist will give you general anesthesia before the surgeon begins the procedure. You will be asleep for the duration of a laminectomy, which is typically one to three hours long.

Surgeons generally perform laminectomies in the following steps:

• As you lie face-down, your surgeon will make an incision into the middle of your back.
• They will use a surgical microscope to look inside your back.
• Using special cutting devices known as kerrison rongeurs, the surgeon removes part or all of the lamina. They also remove the spinous process, or the bony part that juts out on each vertebra.
• Before closing the wound, they remove disc fragments, bone spurs and other tissues.
• The surgeon sews up and bandages the surgical wound.

Because this is an open surgery, patients stay in the hospital after a lumbar laminectomy for one to three nights. Most patients can drive within two weeks and resume light work after four weeks. The estimated recovery time for a lumbar laminectomy is four months to one year. Minimally invasive options for laminectomy procedures significantly reduce patient recovery times.

Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar decompression (TFELD) is ultra minimally invasive treatment for chronic sciatica pain or spinal stenosis when conservative approaches provide limited relief. This surgery focuses on freeing the nerves inside your foramen, which is the hollow boney tunnel your spinal cord exits out to your legs. A TFELD procedure widens this space to relieve pressure on your nerves. It can also be ideal for patients who have had failed back surgery.

As an endoscopic surgery, this outpatient procedure requires local anesthesia and mild sedation.

To perform a TFELD, surgeons follow these general steps:

• As you lie on your belly, your surgeon makes a ¼-inch incision in your lower back.
• They insert a ¼ inch metal tube into your disc, and then insert an endoscope, with camera attached, to visualize the affected nerve.
• They insert micro-surgical tools including a laser through the endoscope.
• To widen the foramen space and decompress the affected nerve, they clear away bone spurs, herniated discs and other debris compressing the nerve.
• The surgeon closes the skin with one stitch and bandages the wound.

After a TFELD procedure, most patients return to work within one to two weeks.

To diagnose sciatica, your doctor or spine specialist will ask you various questions about your pain and symptoms. Some of these questions may include:

• When did your pain start?
• Where do you experience your pain?
• Is there anything that triggers your sciatica pain?
• How would you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10?
• What is your normal activity level?
• Besides pain, what other symptoms do you have?
• How much do your pain and symptoms affect your daily life?

Depending on your answers, they may also run some tests after a physical and neurological exam. During the physical exam, they will evaluate your:

• Posture
• Range of motion
• Overall physical condition
• Spine alignment and curvature

For the neurological exam, your doctor will assess your reflexes, muscle strength and nerve function by gently holding your legs and knees in different positions. If they think testing is necessary, some standard diagnostic tests for sciatica include:

• X-ray
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Medical resonance imaging (MRI)
• Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Velocity (EMG/NCV) test

When dealing with sciatica, or any other spine-related issue, it is helpful to know all you can about the best treatments for sciatica. At DISC, our skilled spine specialists have expert knowledge and ability in diagnosing and treating sciatica. Whether you want more information about your treatment options or want to schedule an appointment for sciatica treatment with our spine specialists, we can help. Contact us today!

By Nima Salari, MD

Often patients ask me whether physical therapy is necessary before or after surgery. Although some conditions that cause severe debilitating pain may not respond to therapy right away, patients find a degree of relief in most cases. We typically do not exercise enough and when we do, many of us use poor form or do not do the correct exercises.

A good therapy program will include stretching especially around the area of the lower back and hips where we develop reduced range of motion over time. The stretching and subsequent exercise often help increase blood flow through the areas that hurt. This helps diminish inflammation and heats the area adding to the relief. Directed therapy also helps to strengthen the muscles of the back. The core muscles surrounding the spine are dynamic stabilizers. The stronger they are, the more they help to stabilize the spine and in turn keep pain at bay. As we improve with physical therapy, we are more likely to adopt other healthy habits including our diet.

Read the full article: “Physical Therapy and Improved Health”

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