Why Orthopedic Treatment is Best for Sciatica

Are you feeling pain in your back? Like most of our patients at Sea Spine Orlando Orthopedic you probably think it’s from sleeping in an awkward position or a common exercise strain. But in most cases it turns out to be Sciatica. Sciatica is the pain that runs from the lower back or (lumbar region) down the back of the leg caused from inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The diagnosis of ‘sciatica' means that the sciatic nerve is compressed or injured.

Symptoms of sciatica are most commonly seen among 30 - 50-year-olds, symptoms that include muscle weakness, burning, cramping, and numbness. The pain can become intense and long lasting. Pain increases due to prolonged seating or if the body has sudden irregular movements. Fortunately sciatica is treatable.

Orlando Orthopedic Specialists are an accepted choice for treatment of sciatica, mostly because they often treat lower back pain and problems related to the spine.  An orthopedic surgeon will often use the same procedures a chiropractor would to evaluate the condition of a patient. But contrary to a chiropractor, an orthopedic surgeon may use both non-invasive and invasive measures of treatment.

The goal of many orthopedic doctors who treat patients suffering from sciatica is to help them manage the problem without having to resort to surgical options. Initially, the orthopedic specialist will try all non-invasive measures by recommending you to a specialist where you can receive massage, heat and ice therapy, and ultrasound therapy.

Generally, orthopedic doctors will advise a few days of bed rest, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, and some gentle walking and stretches. In some cases your doctor may inject the affected areas of your spine with cortisone to reduce inflammation and to lessen the pain. While this may provide temporary relief it does not alleviate the problem.

If sciatic pain continues, the patient may require surgical intervention, so it is in the best interest of patients to follow the orthopedic surgeons orders and begin a physical therapy routine to increase their mobility and decrease any discomfort before undergoing surgery.

                              

Every case is different and if you find yourself suffering from the following:

•  Lower back pain
•  Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg
• Pain that originates in the low back or buttock and continues along the path of the sciatic nerve - down the back of the thigh and into the lower leg and foot
• Pain that feels better when laying down or are walking, but worsens when standing or sitting
• Pain that is typically described as sharp or searing, rather than dull

• You experience a “pins-and-needles” sensation, numbness or weakness, or a prickling sensation down the leg

Get immediate medical care if: Self-care measures fail to ease your symptoms, pain lasts longer than a week, or pain becomes progressively worse.

For complete diagnosis and treatment of Sciatica, visit us at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute today at http://www.seaspineortho.com/ or call 866-816-ORTHO. Visit one of our four locations: Hallandale, Jacksonville, Tampa or Orlando Orthopedics. We are a team of orthopedists who specialize in treating conditions affecting the knee, hip, shoulder, arm, wrist and Spine.

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Head Conditions and Orthopedic Treatment.

At Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we don’t just help treat patients with their back problems, we also educate on how proper back care can benefit many aspects of an individual’s life. One of the most common conditions people suffer from daily are migraines.

The traditional way of migraine treatment has been medications. However many people who suffer migraines find that conventional medicine and prescription drugs offer little relief from their condition, and many are turning to alternatives methods of treatment in order to manage and cure the pain. One such alternative is Orthopedic/chiropractic treatment.

Migraines usually begin in childhood or adolescence; Common symptoms include:

• Moderate to severe pain on one side of the head
• Pulsating or throbbing head pains
• Pain that worsens with physical activity
• Pain that interferes with regular activities
• Sensibility to light and sound

Back treatment focuses on aiding numerous health issues through massage, spinal manipulation and adjustment of the body’s soft tissues and joints, primarily in the back. Experts believe that some migraines originate in the spine. Often a misalignment of the vertebrae, or subluxation, can irritate the nerves that travel through the spine to the brain. This type of misalignment makes a person more prone to chemical imbalances in the brain. Restoring the vertebrae relieves the pressure against inflamed nerves and can in turn relieve the pain and make migraines disappear.

Studies have shown that spinal manipulation therapy may help treat migraine headaches and pains. 22% of people with migraines who have received back treatment or surgery reported a 90% reduction of occurrences. Also, 49% reported an important reduction of the pain intensity in their migraines.

What Orthopedic back treatment does is relieve some of the nerve irritation and, as a result, the blood vessels are less reactive to triggers. For migraines caused by subluxation, experts recommend gently stretching the neck, rolling and sudden movements should be avoided. To prevent subluxations, pay attention to your posture. If you sit for long periods in front of a computer, move your body around frequently and stretch.

If you or someone you know experiences any or all of the migraine symptoms described or you are interested in learning how back care may treat migraine headaches, contact our expert Florida orthopedic at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute today  (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO to make an appointment.

Taking care of your Knees

Did you know that the knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the human body? Knees are designed for both mobility and stability. However, it’s also one of the most common injuries seen at Sea Spine Florida Orthopedic Institute.

Knee problems can occur from a fall, collision, or from awkward repetitive movements over a relatively long period of time, which result in injuries. Due to the high risk for knee problems, one should take special precautions to keep their knees healthy. Taking care of your knees can be easy if certain preventative actions are taken.

Watch your weight

Being over weight can put a lot of strain on the knees. So by staying fit and at a healthy weight your knees, and many other parts of your body, will appreciate it. Every extra pound adds about 4 extra pounds of pressure on the knees when walking. The risk for developing knee injury is 50% greater for people overweight than those without weight problems. If you feel pain, keeping a healthy weight helps minimize symptoms and can sometimes alleviate the pain altogether.

Walk Correctly

Something as simple as walking correctly can prevent future knee injuries. Example, Running up and down the stairs can put significant stress and strain on the kneecaps if you’re not in great shape. So walk, don’t run. Awkward surfaces like grass and cobblestone pathways can cause extra strain for those who suffer from past knee injuries. Choosing to walk on sidewalks or worn paths can help with stability and minimize the chances of tripping too.

Wear the right Shoes

It's amazing what a difference a good pair of shoes can make. Make sure the shoes you are wearing are right for the activity you are undertaking. Shoes for aerobics offer a different type of support than running shoes. Many people don't realize the importance of wearing the right athletic shoes. If you can’t afford shoes for every activity, use special inserts, such as arch supports.

Exercise properly

Exercising improperly or overdoing certain routines can inadvertently cause you to overextend the knee.  Warm up before working out and start off slow.  Cold muscles are more prone to cause injuries. Even if you're just going for a walk, you should begin at an easy pace before picking up speed.

After a workout apply ice packs to your knees to help keep reduce any pain and swelling from inflammation. Keep the ice pack wrapped in a towel and take it off after 20 minutes.

Consult an Expert.

If you are a very active person you may want to see a physician who's a specialist in sports Medicine. You don't have to be an athlete or a professional dancer to benefit from this type of doctor. Sports medicine focuses on getting you healed properly and back to an exercise routine.

If you have knee problems: heard a pop or a tear when you injured it, if it swells or if you just know you've hurt it badly, see a doctor. With new technologies like MRI scans and arthroscopy, experts can diagnose and treat knee problems quicker, easier, and better. If you feel uncomfortable, or sharp pains seek a professional’s help without delay.

Use common sense and listen to your body. Aim for prevention whenever possible and seek out help when appropriate. Your body does communicate to you. You just need to listen.  If you're looking for professional and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact SeaSpine Orthopedic Institute today at (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO.

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Protecting Your Back When Moving Objects

At Sea Spine Florida Orthopedic Institute we treat numerous patients that suffer from different types of back problems. One of the most common reasons for their pain comes from incorrectly lifting and moving heavy objects.

No matter how hard one tries, avoiding certain situations that may be hazardous for your back is difficult. Sometimes you have to lift heavy objects. As the weight of the object increases, so does the risk of injuring your back.

However, the actual stress on your back is also related to the position of your body when you lift an object. Understanding how body positioning affects your actions can decrease your chance of a back strain or injury.

Here's a few safety tips from Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute to keep in mind:

Think before you lift

Before you begin, assess the situation. Take a look at what needs to be moved and make sure that you are capable of lifting the object. A person can lift only a certain amount of weight. Even if you are extremely strong lifting heavy objects can be hazardous. When lifting an unfamiliar object test its weight by pushing it with your foot, this usually is enough to give you an idea. Before lifting anything, warm up, stretch your legs and back.

Make sure you have enough room to safely lift the object. If not make space to avoid obstacles. Look around before you lift, and look around as you carry. Make sure you can see where you are walking. Know where you are going to put the object down and avoid walking on slippery, uneven surfaces while carrying heavy items.

The right Technique

When lifting an object, position yourself over it, with your feet about shoulder-width apart. If possible place the object between your legs, so that you don't have to reach out for it. Squat down, keeping your head up, shoulders back, and spine erect. The bending should come only from your hips and knees. Get a strong grip on the object and keep it close to your body. Slowly straighten your knees and back while you stand up and use your legs to lift. Your leg muscles are the strongest muscles in your body they can handle burden better than your back can.

Walk with the item without twisting your body. Stand straight and take small steps. Remember that what goes up must come down, so set the object down using the same technique you used to lift it.

Take small breaks between lifts if you are moving several objects.

Moving heavy objects on a cart is much easier than carrying them, but even with a cart, you can still hurt your back if you're not careful. It is safer to push an object than pull it. When you push, you use your weight, the strength of your legs and your back to move the object. When you pull, the tendency is to rely solely on your back in a poor position, increasing the risk of a strain. If you can use a dolly or a forklift to avoid any stress go right ahead.

Team Work

If you can, get help before lifting a heavy object. Lifting and moving an object in unison will lower the risk of injury for the individuals involved. Assign one person the responsibility of saying "lift" so there is no confusion. Lift at the same time and have someone help you lead the way to avoid running into someone or something.

It is easy to keep lower back problems away and if you or anyone you know is experiencing problems caused from lifting heavy objects, please contact one of our many offices to set up an appointment.  Our professional team of nurses and surgeons would be more than happy to help you get back to a healthy lifestyle. 

If you're looking for qualified and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact SeaSpine Orthopedic Institute today at    

(http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO.

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The Benefits of Stretching

As you age, your muscles tighten and the range of motion in your joints diminishes. This can limit your active lifestyle or make normal day-to-day activities harder. People notice that tasks that were simple before, now become extremely difficult.

Florida orthopedic specialists,  Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute say that stretching is just about the simplest of all physical activities. Children, teenagers, adults and senior citizens can improve their body’s health by stretching.

“Stretching is one element of fitness that is often neglected until pain or discomfort set in, yet a small investment of time every day can lead to improved flexibility and greater performance in all aspects of life. Says Dr. Griffes Author of Stretching for Life Today's sedentary lifestyle leads to lack of movement, which in turn, leads to adaptive shortening of your muscles. This muscle shortening can influence your balance and coordination, along with strength and agility. Daily or nightly stretching of muscles helps alleviate muscular aches and pains and reduces the risk of injury. Stretching different muscle groups throughout the day helps keep you relaxed and alert. Consider adding stretching into your daily diet of health and fitness”. The benefits of stretching for your wellbeing include:

Increases Flexibility

Flexibility is the point in which an individual’s muscle will lengthen to. Lack of flexibility makes your movement slower and less fluid.  Lack of flexibility makes you more susceptible to muscle strains, and other soft tissue injuries. Stretching can avoid this.

Balance and Coordination.

The increased flexibility that occurs from adequate stretching improves balance and coordination. Improved balance and coordination lowers your risk for falls,  better agility and quicker reflexes.

Better circulation

Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Blood flowing to your muscles brings nutrition and gets rid of unwanted byproducts from the muscle tissue. Better circulation can help shorten recovery time,  if you've had muscle injuries.

Lower Cholesterol
Prolonged stretching exercises will help reduce the cholesterol in your body. Of course this must be supplemented  with a healthy diet. This  could prevent and even setback the clotting of the arteries, allowing you to avoid heart problems.

Improving Posture

Poor posture, which has developed over time, can be attributed to muscle imbalances. A good example is, people who hunch over a computer for long periods of time tend to shorten the chest muscles. Stretching these muscles can help to improve posture. Stretching is also beneficial in reducing lower back pain and future injuries.

Stress relief

Muscle tightness is often linked to stress. Our body tends to tighten up when stressed. Stretching relaxes these muscles. A good example of this is the neck muscles.

Reduces Fatigue

When muscles are tight one becomes tired more quickly. This fatigue decreases mental and physical performance. Stretching can help with this. You may have notice that if you have been sitting in a particular position for a long time, you stretch unconsciously, this is the body fighting fatigue.

Audrey Phillips Green, fitness professional says “I must confess that stretching is not my favorite thing to do. I would rather perform an intense cardio routine than stretching. Do I skip stretching due to the fact that I do not enjoy it? Of course not, and I will give you the reasons why. Stretching increases the body’s range of motion; therefore a person’s athletic performance is increased. Moreover, the risk of injury is greatly reduced when one incorporates stretching into their daily routine. During a stretch, the muscle fibers are lengthened which creates greater ease of movement; thereby, improving coordination and posture and decreasing muscle soreness and lower back pain. Not only is stretching awesome for your muscles; it has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. The perfect example I can give is my dog. The first thing he does when he wakes up in the morning is stretch, and he lives a totally carefree life. So, get to stretching people and enjoy your life!”

If you have an injury or any type of recurring soreness see a doctor or back professional quickly. Stretching is not intended to cure serious problems. If you have pain of a repetitive strain injury, some damage has already been done.

If you're looking for professional and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute today at    

http://www.seaspineortho.com/ or call  866-816-ORTHO.

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