Are you suffering with acute or chronic back pain? Have you already tried everything? Maybe you’ve already tried medication, traditional physiotherapy, chiropactic, or massage……Are you looking for advice & guidance on what next steps you should take to address your back pain or sciatica?
Take this free on line assessment to see if MDT (Mechanincal Diagnosis and Therapy), or the McKenzie Method could work for you. See the link provided under McKenzie Method on our website or simply go to: www.howtotreatmybackpain.com.
If you are a candidate for MDT, you should notice definite improvement in your symptoms within the first 3 sessions.
A question I am often asked is: “Do I use heat or ice after an injury?“. The answer is simple. During the first 24-48 hours following an acute injury, always remember this rule of thumb: “R.I.C.E” –Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation. This rule goes for ALL injuries – even back or neck injuries respond well to ice in the initial stages of healing.
You may not be aware that all injuries heal in stages. These stages are:
1. Inflammatory Phase (0-5 days): characterized by pain, swelling and heat
-this phase may be prolonged if not managed appropriately!
-If the acute phase lasts longer than 5 days, consult your medical doctor or physiotherapist
2. Proliferation Phase:(about 5-15 days)
-Scar tissue starts to build and contract
-Light stretching and movement will benefit wound healing, physiotherapy should be initiated
3.Remodelling Phase:(15 days up to a year)
-Scar tissue becomes tighter and stronger for up to 2 months
-Scar tissue remodels according to the stresses placed upon it for up to a or longer
-More intense activity would be appropriate
No injury can be made to heal faster than normal/natural speed. While the injury is healing however, we must make sure not to delay healing through inappropriate management initially. So remember R.I.C.E for the first 24-48 hours. Once the inflammatory phase is over, you can use heat OR ice and gradually return to activity. **Ice linaments are not the same as an ice pack, and are not effective in controlling inflammation**
I used to be a good soccer player. Now as a “mature player”, I carry all of the damage, joint weakness and pains with me. After my latest rolled ankle I was fortunate enough to be seen by Kari at the Performance Physical Therapy clinic at NSD. After assessing my injury, Kari shared with me that my ankle no longer had the ligaments required to support it and explained why it looked different than other sprains and hurt in different places. The stretching she gave me to do both in clinic and on my own brought tears to my eyes – I thought she was just being mean… turns out she knew exactly what she was doing. After discussing taping and bracing options that I will need to continue on in my season, she taped my ankle sending me on my way. It’s 2 days later as I write this note, and I can’t believe the difference in my ankle. With a little luck I’ll be strapping on my new ankle brace and playing next week. I rolled this same ankle last summer and didn’t bother to get treatment – I missed about 6 weeks of games. Having the education, treatment, orthopedic support and home care makes injuries manageable and will get me back in the game sooner. Thanks to Kari for helping me understand that tape and braces aren’t an inconvenience – they are my new reality but a bigger thanks for making this easier and quicker than I thought possible
Thanks!!! Stacey T
Bonavista Physical Therapy is looking for a part time or full time physiotherapist. Interest in MDT (McKenzie Method) would be an asset. Become part of our dyamic team! New grads welcome to apply. Please email or fax us your resume attention to: Kari Lambden
Audrey: Have you been able to keep up with the house work for a few weeks now and still keep your pain under control?
Client reply: This is a coincidence because I just finished vacuuming the whole house today. I did my arching stretch during the process when I felt the pain, and again at the end, and I am essentially pain free now. It has been such a relief to find this simple exercise makes all of the difference. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your assistance. I can’t believe that something this simple and effective was not prescribed to me sooner by others.??
Oct 20/10
Since a bad fall down the stairs in college, this 36 year old has experienced recurrent episodes of severe “bra area” pain that radiates around the right side of her chest. It will “go out” with a bad cough and is aggravated by taking a deep breath. She had a reoccurrence 4 days ago. PT has worked for her in the past but today with the McKenzie Method she was amazed at the fast relief AND the fact this relief occurred without machines or even the therapist’s hands. We tried this hands off approach on the first day because someone with recurrent episodes is best served if they can learn to “put it back in” themselves. This type of problem typically resolves in 2 or 3 visits, only a few need some extra hands-on help. The goal is that she manage on her own in the future.
Oct 20/10
Today we saw a woman who has been troubled by right neck and shoulder blade area pain for about 25 years. This was further aggravated by a car accident in September 2010. She has seen two different chiropractors and was frustrated by the very temporary relief from these treatments (laser, manipulation, active release). Recently she picked up a book called “Seven steps to a healthy neck and back” co-authored by Robin McKenzie. She could not believe the improvement she has had with this book and the exercises outlined. This motivated her to look up a McKenzie clinic like ours to seek out further progression of this form of treatment. She was surprised to find that Bonavista Physical Therapy is the only Certified McKenzie Clinic in Alberta. Our goal is to teach her to self treat.
Arthritis of the KNEE
We recently had a 68 yr old male patient who had been complaining of knee pain since a fall 6 months ago. He saw his family doctor who recommended X-Rays that showed he had some arthritis in his knee. Over the past 6 months he had tried two kinds of anti inflammatory medication and steroid injections to his knee with no improvement. The next step was going to be lubricant injections to his knee. The client decided to try physiotherapy on his own with the encouragement of his wife who had been treated successfully here for a previous knee injury. After a thorough assessment, the physiotherapist was able to prescribe a simple exercise for the client. He had to perform 10 repetitions every 2 hours for the next few days. By his second visit, his range of motion had returned to normal and he no longer had knee pain on the stairs or arising from sitting. The client was very happy with his rapid improvement but wished he had come in for treatment sooner!
Arthritis of the HIP
We recently saw a 58 yr old male patient who had been complaining of intermittent right hip and groin pain over the past 2 years. His x-rays showed some very early signs of arthritis. His symptoms were worsened with golfing successive days, walking up hill, and prolonged sitting. On examination, the physiotherapist found his hip to be extremely stiff. After performing 2 simple exercises repeatedly for a few days, his symptoms were significantly less and function was noticeably better. Again, the client wished he had come sooner and maybe he wouldn’t have missed so much golf!
Physiotherapists are uniquely qualified to educate and treat for disability and pain related to osteoarthritis. As well, if we can see clients early enough and treat them for the stiffness that is often present before bony changes start to occur, perhaps we can play a role in prolonging the “life” of the joint.
A patient arrived to physio for a fractured ankle after seeing his surgeon and having his cast removed. Rehabilitating a post fracture typically requires a standard assessment and treatment. However, upon first observation of the unusual swelling in his calf, I probed further and discovered he had occasional discoloration, tenderness in the calf muscle and some other classic signs of a Deep Vein Thrombosis (or blood clot). After completing my basic examination, I explained the concerns I had to the patient and recommended that he immediately visit the urgent care for further investigation. The next day I received a phone call from the patient thanking me, as they had discovered a massive blood clot in his leg that could have led to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. As a physical therapist we are trained not only rehabilitate the obvious injury or illness, but rather look at the patient in a holistic manner and take into consideration the patient’s well-being in it’s entirety.
I recently had a client (50 yrs old) who came to the clinic complaining of a stiff neck of over 6 months duration. She said the pain was not too bad and that it tended to come and go. She could not remember any particular incident where she injured it. She delayed coming in because the pain was tolerable and she thought it would just “go away on its own”.
When I began taking her history, it came out that she was also suffering from occasional dizziness and nausea. She was not sure if it was related to her stiff neck or not. When I looked at her posture I noticed a significant forward head position. As she tended to spend a lot of time sitting and in the car, I could imagine this was a posture she spent quite a bit of time in. Her range of motion was limited as well. I assessed her using the McKenzie Method and during the assessment, it became apparent that her nausea was indeed related to her neck as we were able to turn it on and off with movement. I was able to identify an exercise that worked for her (ie. Her movement was better after this exercise) and prescribed it for a home program. She was instructed in how to properly support herself in a chair to improve her posture as well.
After 3 days, I followed up with this client who reported that her nausea did not return and her neck was much better. I progressed her exercises and saw her once more for follow up. At her last appointment, she had full range of motion and no nausea. Both the client and I were happy with the results but she regretted not having come in sooner. She was impressed it only took 2 sessions to sort out and treat the problem effectively.
This is a great example of how well MDT can work! For very little time and money, we can show you what to do to fix and or manage your problem. Call for an appointment today! 403 278-0705.
Kari Lambden
