Many believe that an MRI is necessary to start treatment for back pain. This belief is not true. In fact, having an MRI can be more detrimental in the long-term. You may have read or heard that back pain is quite common. So common that about 80% of individuals will...
Imaging
Is Back Surgery Necessary?
Those long-suffering with back pain wonder if back surgery is their only hope. Having tried pain medication, massage, spinal adjustments, therapy, or even injections only to still be in pain. This is a very common story and one where surgery is not necessarily...
Why Physical Therapy 1st
For those with an injury or issue impacting daily life, they might ask the question Why Physical Therapy 1st? The simple answer is because fast action leads to fast result. BUT…really they want to know more. Many will ask the question, don’t I need to see my PCP 1st?...
Don’t I NEED and X-ray (to know how to treat this neck pain)?
People often ask if x-rays are necessary to know how to treat their neck pain. In most instances, outside of some kind of physical trauma (i.e. a fall or car accident) or concern for serious health issue, the answer is 100% NO. But doesn’t the provider need to know...
Avoiding Knee Surgery by putting in the work
Individuals with persistent knee pain often ask the question of how to avoid knee surgery? And the answer to HOW will depend upon what is going on and to what extent that person is willing to rehab to avoid knee surgery? So let’s take a couple different scenarios...
Sciatica (That annoying pain in your back and leg)
Sciatica is the general term used by many to describe back pain and associated back of the leg pain. Often it is described in terms of pain radiating either above or below the knee. But what is really going on here? Well the term itself is rather broad and encompasses...
Top 3 Reasons to See a PT for those Aches or Pains
If you are like most people, you will wait and see if your ache or pain gets better. Count me as one of them and I am a PT. The difference is, my education and profession give me a slight heads up on which issues I can work through more easily and others that I may...
“Degenerative Disk Disease” Is Just Normal Aging
Many of you out there with back pain may have been told you have “degenerative disk disease“. It is explained to you as a bad thing….like you are doomed to pain and an inability to function. What you SHOULD KNOW is that if you live beyond 35 yrs of...
Why imaging of your spine does not tell the story
Many of the patients who come to see me with spine (neck or back) problems in particular already had imaging. Most if not all come in saying “I have arthritis” or “I have degenerative or bulging/herniated discs”. Yes, well so do 50-70% of...
Arthritis is NOT a BAD word
Almost every single day I interact with a person who “HAS” arthritis. They say it like it is a death sentence. Like they are doomed to pain and the inability to enjoy life. How does one know if they have arthritis? Well, they just feel because their...
