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Lumbar disc herniation is a common disorder that can cause pain and limit function. Surgical intervention is usually considered, but before going under the knife, current literature suggests herniated discs may reduce completely or partially on their own! The rate of spontaneous regression was found to be: Disc Sequestration: 96% Disc Extrusion: 70% Disc Protrusion: 41% Disc Bulging: 13% In addition to the MRI showing regression of the discs, the majority of the patients reported significant pain relief and decreased low back disability over a 17 month period. Take home message: conservative treatment should be considered for people with disc herniations that do not have neurogenic complications due to nerve compression. Physical therapy is a great option for conservative therapy to improve strength, mobility and function. Do you or someone you know have back pain? I can help and I have appointments available same day or next day. Send me an email at contact@reikipt.com or fill out my contact form. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT References Chiu CC, Chuang TY, Chang KH, Wu CH, Lin PW, Hsu WY. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Feb;29(2).

Many of my patients have had Physical Therapy in the past and did not have a great experience. The PT didn't spend much time with them, didn't identify the source of their pain and in the end they didn't get any relief. Unfortunately, this story is one I hear far too often. A competent Physical Therapist will typically have the following characteristics: Your PT is able to identify the primary cause of your symptoms. -During the initial evaluation the PT completes a thorough exam. This includes a discussion of your pain and symptoms, a review of your medical history and a physical exam including tests and measures. During the evaluation, the PT puts the pieces of the puzzle together to develop a diagnosis that includes primary and secondary causes of your symptoms. This is important because it will guide which interventions the PT chooses. Your PT is always assessing your progress and adjusts the treatments accordingly. -At each visit your PT is completing a mini-evaluation to determine if the treatments and exercises are working. This is crucial because your symptoms will change during your plan of care and the PT needs to determine if the treatment plan is efficient and effective. Your PT progresses your exercises. -Your treatment exercises should progress. If you are doing the same 3 exercises at every visit, consider changing PTs. As your symptoms and functional ability improve, the exercises will evolve. If you are only given pelvic tilts, clamshells and bridges for your back pain, this is a disservice to you. Your PT is helping you feel better and achieve your goals. -Your pain should begin to reduce and your function improve within 3-4 visits. During your plan of care you may have fluctuations in your symptoms, but overall your progress should be moving in the right direction. If this is not happening, the PT needs to be having a conversation with you about why you are not making progress. Your PT listens to your concerns and addresses any fears. -Your PT is available and makes it a priority to discuss your concerns and fears related to your pain or symptoms. For a plan of care to be successful, you and your PT will make treatment decisions together based on your values and goals. You should feel seen, heard and appreciated. Your PT is setting you up for success after discharge. -The goal of physical therapy is to get you feeling better, to have better function and to give you the knowledge and tools to continue making progress on your own. Your PT is always there for check-ins, flare ups or new issues, but you shouldn’t need frequent treatments for the same issue for the rest of your life. One of the main reasons I started Reiki PT was to make sure I had 1:1 time with each of my patients to address everything listed above. If you have questions or concerns regarding your pain or Physical Therapy services, send me an email at contact@reikipt.com. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

There are many factors involved when acute pain transitions to chronic pain. This includes physical, psychological and social factors. One theory suggests that chronic pain continues in the absence of ongoing tissue damage due to misfiring pain signals from the nervous system that are influenced by these factors. When treating chronic pain all must be considered. Physical Therapy and Reiki can help in the acute or chronic pain phase. These two practices offer unique solutions that address the physical and psychological factors of pain. Instead of waiting another week to see if the pain will go away, send me an email and we can get you feeling better now! Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Dry needling is a technique that helps ease muscle tightness and pain and improves range of motion. Dry needling involves placing a small, thin needle (much thinner than a needle for injections) into a muscle at the trigger point or the surrounding area. It is called "dry" needling because there is no medication being injected. During dry needling you may feel muscle soreness, aching and a muscle twitch. The needles can be placed deeply or superficially for varying periods of time depending on the desired treatment effect. Dry needling is very different from acupuncture. During acupuncture, needles are inserted into the skin at energy points on the body which promotes the rebalancing of energy flow. You may benefit from dry needling if you answer yes to any of the following: -muscle tightness that doesn't go away with stretches -area of your body with limited range of motion -have chronic pain that has lasted longer than 3 months I use dry needling to compliment the hands-on work and exercises I give my patients. The most common conditions I use dry needling for are neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, tennis/golfers elbow, hip pain, knee pain and plantar fasciitis. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

BPPV is characterized by sudden vertigo that comes on by a change in head position. This can include turning over in bed, lying down (in bed or at the dentist or hairdresser), looking up, bending forward, or any sudden change in head position. Diagnosing BPPV is done by the Dix Hallpike test. This is a simple noninvasive test a health care provider or physical therapist can perform. This test involves laying the patient back quickly and observing the eyes for nystagmus. Nystagmus is repeated and rhythmic movements of the eyes. Once diagnosed, BPPV can be treated easily without drugs or surgery with the Epley maneuver. This maneuver involves a series of head positions performed in a certain order. Recurrences of BPPV can occur and multiple treatments may be needed. Vestibular physical therapists are trained in this maneuver. A physical therapist or health care provider must first diagnosis which part of the inner ear is involved to ensure the appropriate treatment. I completed my vestibular training in Austin, TX and have been treating BPPV for the past 10 years. You don't have to live with dizziness! Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

The holidays are a time to enjoy being with family and friends. You should be worrying if Grandma is going to like your new recipe for sugar cookies, not worrying about low back pain. The combination of traveling, leaning over to wrap gifts, prolonged standing while cooking and sitting at dinners can put a lot of stress on the low back. Here are some simple exercises you can do while sitting to help keep your low back moving and pain free: -Pelvic tilts -Nerve glides -Figure-4 stretch -Rotation stretch Check out the video below for a demonstration of each. You can start to sprinkle these exercises in during the day. Here is to a fun and pain free holiday season! Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT

Grounding techniques help connect or “ground” you in the present moment. They are a form of mindfulness which can help decrease mental chatter and anxiety. One popular grounding technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 method that uses your 5 senses: -5 things you can see around you -4 things you can touch around you -3 things you can hear around you -2 things you can smell around you -1 thing you can taste around you Continue this process until your thoughts slow down or you notice some relief. If grounding and centering are difficult for you, a Reiki session is a great place to start. Reiki is an energy healing method that has been shown to decrease anxiety, stress, pain, and promote a feeling of well-being. Reiki can be completed in person or virtually. If you have questions about Reiki and what a session consists of give me a call at 615-632-3375. Lauren DeYoe Doctor of Physical Therapy Reiki Master Owner Reiki PT