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Back pain is something that many people live with, but shouldn’t have to. If you are currently suffering from back pain, you should consult a doctor or Wyoming physical therapist and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. However, there are some instances in which you need to see a doctor immediately. If you experience any of the following accompanied with leg pain, get to a medical professional immediately. 

Leg Weakness
This one is a big one. If you are experiencing any leg weakness, or weakness in your hips or groin area, (in addition to back pain) you need to seek medical care immediately. Progressive leg weakness might be a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a syndrome in which the entire nerve sack in the lower back can be compressed. Besides progressive leg weakness, other symptoms can include loss of sensation and difficulty walking. When left untreated, cauda equina syndrome can cause paralysis and loss of bladder/bowel control. 

Unexplained Weight Loss
If you have rapid weight loss, for no apparent reason that is accompanied by back pain you could have a serious medical condition that would require further doctor consultation - such as cancer. However, typically cancer in your spine would result in the following symptoms: pain in the neck/back, loss of appetite, nauseous, vomiting, fever, chills, and/or shakes. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Abdominal Pain 
If you are experiencing severe, continuous abdominal pain in general you should seek a doctor’s assistance immediately. If continuous abdominal pain is accompanied with lower back pain, it can be a number of things but it depends on how soon your pain started. If your pain was sudden and a quick onset, it can mean that one of your arteries in the lower back are severely enlarged. If it was a gradual increase over time, you should talk to your doctor and be evaluated for possible causes. 

Sustained Fever
As usual, a fever can indicate an infection. Spinal infections are rare in general, but can occur after a surgery or when your immune system has been compromised. Once they do occur, they can cause severe pain or even impair motor functions in addition to the pain and fever associated with this type of infection.

There are some additional risk factors that should be taken in to consideration if you are experiencing back pain. If you have a history of cancer, trauma, other nerve compression symptoms, diabetes, and/or other recent infections. All of these can indicate a much more severe problem when back pain starts. As always, if you have concerns about your physical health and wellbeing please contact your local Wyoming physical therapist and doctor.

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we are here to help meet your needs when it comes to managing and healing back pain. We serve the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska with 22 clinics offering a full range of physical therapy services for post-cast recovery. Contact us today for more information.

 

You are about to undergo, or are currently recovering, from back surgery and you may be wondering if there are ways to speed up your recovery time. The good news is there are a few things you can do to speed up recovery, and get back on your feet! We’ve provided you with four ways to speed up your recovery, but want to remind you that before changing or adding to your recovery regime, consult your Wyoming physical therapist. Everyone has a different recovery time and process, so what works for one might not work for all. 

Get Healthy
You might be considered healthy already (in which case stay healthy), but if you could do better this is a great time to really focus on your health. Fueling your body with the right foods will not only have you feeling better, but will help your body begin to recover quickly. If you haven’t already, talk with your physical therapist about starting a light exercise routine to aid in the recovery process. With back injuries and recovery you will need to be cautious, but light exercise can help decrease any pain you might be experiencing and get you on the road to recovery.

Kick the Bad Habits
Have any bad habits lurking in your closet? Now is a great time to work on kicking your bad habits, such as smoking cigarettes. We know we don’t have to tell you about all of the negative outcomes that cigarettes can cause, but by not smoking you can speed up your recovery time as well. 

Your Day to Day
When operating day to day, be sure to follow the basic mobility requirements and regulations set out by your physical therapist. They have set these guidelines for a reason, and any deviation could slow your recovery time. By following them to a “t” you are more likely to recover quickly and safely. In addition, be sure to have someone in your home who can assist you with movements, household chores, and basic things such as eating, drinking, and even bathing. An available and attentive caregiver will be your key to a safe and speedy recovery. Be sure to take care when bathing, you don’t 
want to overstrain your body or cause damage to your incision. Often times your doctor might recommend avoiding washing the area under running water for the first two weeks - in which case have some assist you in using a damp washcloth. 

Stay Vigilant 
While following your doctor’s recommendations for care and maintenance, be sure to stay aware of how your body is feeling and how your wound is healing. Check the incision daily to ensure there is no infection, and that there is no inflammation or redness. This can be indicative of a deeper problem that might cause you to see your doctor.

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we are here to help meet your needs and ensure a safe recovery after a back surgery. We serve the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska with 22 clinics offering a full range of physical therapy services for post-cast recovery. Contact us today for more information.

 

If you've recently experienced an injury, or you are looking to start a new exercise routine and need some assistance you will need to start the search for a Denver physical therapist. Looking for a physical therapist can be overwhelming, and if you are looking for the first time, even a little confusing. When determining which physical therapist to go with, be sure to ask the following questions to ensure you find the right physical therapist for your needs. 

What can I expect from my session?
This is an important opportunity for you to ask questions of your physical therapist such as how they run the session, what your exercises will look like, what you will need to bring, etc. It’s important that you fully understand what you are getting yourself in to, and to fully understand what your therapy will look. 

How many patients do you see at one time? 
This question is an important one, and goes hand in hand with the last. If multiple patients are seen at once you would be in your session with others. Determine if it matters to you to be seen alone or with others. 

When will I see improvements? 
If you are seeing a physical therapist to recover from an injury, you are probably hoping for a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, this might not always be the case. Recovery time is going to depend on your injury, as well as what your routine will look like. If you are curious, always ask prior to selecting your physical therapist. If different therapists have different answers, it could be for very different but important reasons. 

Do you accept my insurance?
It’s important to ask if the physical therapist accepts your insurance. Physical therapy can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be if your insurance can help. Contact your insurance about their co-pay policies and what costs look like for in- and out- of network.

What is your cancellation policy?
Life happens and sometimes you might need to cancel your appointment. When you cancel your appointment you want to know what the policy will be. Will they charge you extra? Most of the time you will need to cancel at least 24 hours in advance to avoid any additional fees or costs. 

What do you expect from me? 
This will be a great question to learn more about your physical therapist and begin to build a personal relationship. This will also be a great question to differentiate your options and give you valuable insight into the type of physical therapist you will be selecting. While this can certainly be an uncomfortable question to ask, it’s an important one! 

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we are here to help meet your needs and ensure a safe recovery, or a safe start to a new exercise routine. We serve the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska with 22 clinics offering a full range of physical therapy services for post-cast recovery. Contact us today for more information.
 

When you’re recovering from a physical injury, low-impact exercise is going to be your best friend. One of the best low-impact exercises you can invest in is swimming. While the following explains why we recommend swimming, before you start a new exercise routine after an injury it’s always important that you visit your primary care physician and/or North Platte Physical Therapy to get the help you need.

The Benefits
We’ve already discussed the benefits of swimming as it relates to low-impact exercise. Swimming also keeps your body from feeling a lot of pressure. While you will be exerting a lot of effort, the buoyancy of the water allows for you to have an effective no-weight workout. As a form of exercise, swimming can help reduce stress, improve your mood, increase your strength, and your cardiovascular endurance. Swimming will also help increase flexibility and improve your aerobic endurance. In addition to improving your overall fitness, swimming can be a powerful tool to help lose weight. 

The Focus
Swimming truly utilizes all muscle groups. You’ll workout your core, arms, legs, back, and glutes which makes for the perfect full body workout. the best part is that while swimming will give you a full body workout, it won’t harm your joints or put any additional stress. 

Getting Started
Swimming will give you a great workout - we recommend aiming to swim approximately two and a half hours a week in thirty minute blocks. When you first start your workout routine, you probably won’t be able to complete a full thirty minute block but that’s completely okay. You can start slow and steady, eventually working yourself up to a thirty minute workout. 

When starting a swim workout, you won’t need anything but a swimsuit and some goggles. For those with longer hair, you might want to also look at a swim cap to help keep your hair from being severely damaged by the chlorine. You can look into adding additional equipment such as a kick board, pull buoy, or paddles to add additional variety to your workout.

Swimming can be as intense as you’d like, it’s all about how hard you are willing to push yourself. When you are first starting out, it can be tempting to give it your all, but slow and steady will win the race. You want to keep coming back to participate in your workout, and you will be very sore after your first day.

Are you ready to receive additional help managing your physical therapy recovery? Contact us today, we can help. Our team of professionals will implement a safe, effective, and reasonably-priced treatment plan that will have you living better, whether that means sleeping more soundly or getting through your work day without pain. Patients across Wyoming and Western Nebraska have relied on North Platte Physical Therapy for their pain prevention and physical recovery needs for years.
 

You may have been experiencing some lower back pain, and this can come from a number of different issues. No matter whether you’ve listed a package that’s to heavy or are suffering from chronic lower back pain, there are a few things you can do to help ease your pain. While the following tips will certainly help you manage lower back pain, it’s important that you visit your primary care physician and/or North Platte Physical Therapy to get the help you need.

Ice
Make sure you apply ice to the area that’s bothering you, preferably within the first 24-48 hours that you are experiencing pain. Icing your back will also help to lessen any inflammation and prevent additional swelling. After spending some time icing your back, feel free to switch to a heating pack - but wait until 48 hours after the injury. After the first 48 hours, if you decide to heat and ice do so in 20 minute increments - alternating between the two.

Activity
You might be inclined to avoid any type of physical activity, but you should engage in light physical activity. This might include taking a relaxing walk, straightening up your home, or even completing very light household chores. Resting your back could prevent your back from healing, and may even make your pain and injury worse. Just be careful to not overdo it - once you are feeling completely yourself again you can resume more intense physical activity such as running and weightlifting. 

Stretching
After you are feeling much better, you should start incorporating more stretching into your daily routine. By stretching your back muscles daily, you can help to strengthen and elongate your muscles - preventing future injury. Your spine is meant to move, be sure you are taking time to encourage movement throughout the day. Over time, we recommend looking into some consistent form of exercise such as yoga, to help strengthen and elongate your back muscles. 

Weight
This one isn’t a quick fix. Staying at a healthy weight, and managing your weight overtime will keep your back in great condition. Overtime, weight puts a lot of strain on your back, particularly your lower back. 

Medicine
If you are experiencing pain you might want to consider taking a few anti-inflammatory pain relievers including advil, tylenol, and ibuprofen. When taking over the counter anti-inflammatories, be sure to abide by the dosage recommendations. If the recommended dosage isn’t helping as it should, you might have to meet with your primary care practitioner or a physical therapist for an exam. This could be indicative of a bigger problem.

Are you ready to receive additional help managing your lower back pain? Contact us today to let us know what’s bothering you. Our team of professionals will implement a safe, effective, and reasonably-priced treatment plan that will have you living better, whether that means sleeping more soundly or getting through your work day without pain. Patients across Wyoming and Western Nebraska have relied on North Platte Physical Therapy for their pain prevention and physical recovery needs for years.