Where is Your Pain

Head, Headache Pain

If you have a headache you are not alone. Research has shown that 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some symptoms vary based on the severity. Headaches are a very common ailment that can range in severity. Migraine, Tension, Cluster, and Sinus are a few types of headaches. They may range from a mild, dull headache to extreme pounding pain that is debilitating. Some people even experience dizziness, nausea and visual disturbance. Dr. Brian Pfaff and Dr. Ken Gough are Chiropractors that can help you get back to a pain free life! You will experience a significant reduction in the frequency of headache episodes.

Common Head, Brain Injury Problems

The CDC estimates that there are 1.6-3.8 million concussions each year in the United States that resulted from sports or recreation injuries. Because concussions can have long-term health effects, it is imperative to identify and treat concussion immediately. Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS) offers a comprehensive concussion management program – from evaluations and testing to physical therapy, cognitive therapy and more.

Here are some common head injuries, problems we often see:

• Concussion
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Migraine Headache
• Cervicogenic Headache
• Tension headache
• Sinus Headache

Physical Therapy Solutions

The primary goal of the Brain Injury Program at STARS is to help you through the next phase of your recovery– to help you become as independent as possible in your home, community, and work or school environments. We are eager to work side by side with you in developing and achieving your rehabilitation goals. A Return to Work, Return to Play, and Return to Learn protocols are provided to patients as well.

STARS’ Specialized Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team includes

• You!
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Rehabilitation
• Speech/Language/Cognitive Therapy
• Social Work
• Physiatry/ Rehabilitation Medicine Services
• Neuropsychology

Resources

• Concussion
• Get rid of headache
• One less headache to worry about
• Patient video

When to See a Physical Therapist or Chiropractor

Depending on the type of head injury you are experiencing. Many of us have headaches come and go but if it persists and is not getting better please don't hesitate to contact us for any question or concern. If you or someone you know has experienced a concussion please DON'T HESTITATE. Call our " Brain Injury" contact line asap.

Interested in more information about the STARS Concussion Program? You can reach STARS directly at our “Brain Injury” contact line at 208-367-8962 or by using a specialized contact form for brain injury cases.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is a very common complaint. The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics or the way the neck is designed. It also can be due to poor posture and/or an accident such as whiplash while driving a car or straining during weigh training.

Common Neck Problems

• Neck Strain
• Stiff Neck
• Referred pain or numbness in the shoulder, arm, leg, or knee
• Whiplash
• Headaches

Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain

A physical therapist could perform a posture evaluation to determine which of her muscles are tight and need to be stretched, and which ones are weak and need to be strengthened. Following a trauma like a car accident, several tissues in the neck can be injured. These may include muscles, ligaments and joints. If the accident initially caused most of its damage to the left side of your neck, a joint on that side may have become stiff. This stiffness alters how motion occurs at this segment in your neck, eventually leading to increased or excessive motion on the right side. The right side then becomes the most painful site of pain. A physical therapist can evaluate and treat this condition by improving motion on the stiff side and "calming down" the right side. Your therapist may use ultrasound, electrical stimulation, FDM, massage and other modalities to decrease your pain.

Our Chiropractors, Brian Pfaff and Kevin Gough are an important component of the integrative approach to rehabilitation at Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS). They will review your symptoms in depth and ask you a series of questions to accurately diagnose the source of your pain. By reviewing your posture, alignment, range of motion, and physical condition, Dr. Pfaff and Dr. Gough will identify the proper plan of care. A cervical (neck) adjustment may be in order to restore mobility to the spine and increase range of motion. After the adjustment you will be asked to perform a series of neck movements to prove an increased range of motion and decreased pain and sensitivity due to the manipulation.

Tips to Prevent Some Neck Pain Symptoms

• Use good posture. When standing and sitting, be sure your shoulders are in a straight line over your hips and your ears are directly over your shoulders.
• Adjust your desk, chair and computer so that the monitor is at eye level. Knees should be slightly lower than hips. Use your chair's armrests.
• Sleep in a good position. Your head and neck should be aligned with your body. Use a small pillow under your neck. Try sleeping on your back with your thighs elevated on pillows, which will flatten your spinal muscles.

Resources

• Neck Pain
• Loosen Stiff Neck

When to See a Physical Therapist

Short term pain that goes away when iced or with rest can usually be handled at home. Chronic pain or surgery that requires post operative care needs a physical therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our physical therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain.

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be due to inflammation of the joint itself or due to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, surrounding the shoulder joint. If you are experiencing a shoulder joint related issue, it be may be difficult to move your shoulder which activity such as weight lifting or exercise could potentially make it worse. The shoulder is very complex and has the potential to have a variety of problems to occur which can cause pain and discomfort.

Common Shoulder Problems

There are several reasons you could be experiencing shoulder pain, but one of the most common is problems with the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is made up of four tendons which are connected to the shoulder bone. The primary function of the rotator cuff is range of motion. If a person is having difficulty lifting their arm above their head because it is painful, the rotator cuff could be damaged or swollen.

Here are some common shoulder problems we often see:

Physical Therapy Solutions

"The therapist was thorough in explaining what was trying to be accomplished with the difficult exercises/stretches. Also appreciated having the same therapist throughout the treatment period. She listened when I felt an exercise/stretch created more pain and she made adjustment to treatment(s) accordingly. I would not go to any other rehab facility. My experiences have always been positive."

A physical therapist can provide the right diagnosis for common shoulder pain. Physical therapy is very successful at helping patients recover from surgery and helping non-surgical patients improve their mobility and reduce pain. In many cases, physical therapy can also help you recover without surgery.

A STARS physical therapist will perform treatments to decrease pain and swelling, instruct patients in exercises to increase range of motion and strength, while educating them on ways to perform functional tasks to continue activities of daily living.

Resources

• When your shoulder goes snap, crackle, pop
• Replacing your shoulder in reverse

When to See a Physical Therapist

Short term pain that goes away when iced or with rest can usually be handled at home. Chronic pain or surgery that requires post operative care needs a physical therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our physical therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain. Physical therapy is about correcting the cause of your pain.

Wrist and Hand Pain

Hand and wrist pain can be caused from a variety of factors including overuse, carpal tunnel or arthritis. Inflammation in the joints can cause stiffness and swelling in the hand, wrist, and fingers. Treatment will vary depending on the cause but a Hand Therapist will definitely be a conservative treatment to your hand and wrist pain.

Common Hand/Wrist Problems

Physical Therapy Solutions

Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS) offers hand therapy services for the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries and disorders. The complex anatomy of the hand and wrist often requires intricate surgical procedures. Our certified hand therapists (CHT) have specialized training and advanced skills in post-operative therapy programs for hand, wrist, elbow, arm, and shoulder injuries.

A STARS hand therapist will perform treatments to decrease pain and swelling, instruct patients in exercises to increase range of motion and strength and to perform functional tasks.

Resources

• Keep the tingle out of your arm
• Hand Therapy

When to See a Hand Therapist

Short term pain that goes away when iced or with rest can usually be handled at home. Chronic pain or surgery that requires post operative care needs a hand therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our hand therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain.

Back Pain

Back pain is a very common complaint and most have felt some form of back pain, (Upper, lower, or mid-back pain) at some point in their lives. Low back pain can be sustained by various accidents such as: automobile accidents, sport-related injuries, muscle strains due to over-lifting or improper lifting techniques and weak abdominal strength. Sudden movement can cause muscles or ligaments to stretch or develop microscopic tears.

You may also be experiencing the following below:

• Difficulty moving that can be severe enough to prevent walking or standing
• Pain that does not radiate down the leg or pain that also moves around to the groin,   buttock or upper thigh, but rarely travels below the knee;
• Pain that tends to be achy and dull
• Muscle spasms, which can be severe
• Local soreness upon touch

Common Back Pain Problems

PHYSICAL THERAPY AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE SOLUTIONS TO YOUR BACK PAIN

Treatments may include:

• Manual therapy, including spine manipulation, to improve the mobility of joints and soft tissues
• Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises
• Education about how you can take better care of your back
• Training for proper lifting, bending, and sitting
• Assistance in creating a safe and effective physical activity program to improve your overall health
• Use of ice or heat treatments or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain

Our Chiropractors, Brian Pfaff and Kevin Gough are an important component of the integrative approach to rehabilitation at Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS). They provide thorough conservative treatment for neck and back pain. Using a variety of manual techniques, therapeutic exercises and modalities, our chiropractors provide comprehensive spine care to help restore motion and function, and relieve the pain.

Resouces

• Can Tens Relieve Low-back Pain?
• Neck Pain

When to see a Physical Therapist

The therapist was thorough in explaining what was trying to be accomplished with the difficult exercises/stretches. Also appreciated having the same therapist throughout the treatment period. She listened when I felt an exercise/stretch created more pain and she made adjustment to treatment(s) accordingly. I would not go to any other rehab facility. My experiences have always been positive."

After an episode of low back pain has lasted between two and six weeks, or if there are frequent recurrences of low back pain, physical therapy is often recommended. Some spine specialists consider physical therapy sooner, particularly if the pain is severe. A physical therapist can help you improve or restore mobility and reduce low back pain—in many cases, without expensive surgery or the side effects of medications. Physical therapy for back conditions focuses on the structures that support the spine and its joints including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Not all back pain is the same; your treatment should be tailored for your specific symptoms and condition. A physical therapist will conduct an examination and identify the factors that have contributed to your specific back problem and design an individualized treatment plan for you.

Hip Pain

Hip pain can be caused by a sudden fall, overuse, and age due to cartilage wearing down and becoming damaged. The hip is designed to withstand a fair amount of wear and tear but it is certainly not indestructible. Depending on the cause of your hip pain you may feel pain in your thigh, groin, buttocks, in/outside of the hip.

Common Hip Problems

A physical therapist can provide the right diagnosis for hip pain. Physical therapy is very successful at helping patients recover from surgery and helping non-surgical patients improve their mobility and reduce pain. In many cases, physical therapy can also help you recover without surgery. Here are some common hip problems we often see:

Physical Therapy Solutions

A STARS physical therapist will perform treatments to decrease pain and swelling, instruct patients in exercises to increase range of motion and strength, and teach proper walking patterns and other functional tasks. Treatment often includes stretching and mobilizing the hip joint, strengthening the muscles of the hip and teaching you exercises that you can perform at home which compliments your physical therapy treatments

Resources

• New Hip? Keep Up the Workouts
• It is Hip to Keep Moving
• Get Hip to the Source of Groin Pain
• Arthroscopic Surgery
• The Pain of Pinching Hip

When to See a Physical Therapist

No matter your hip problem, a STARS therapist will guide you in the right direction to get back to a pain free life! Chronic pain or surgery that requires post operative care needs a physical therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our physical therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain. Physical therapy is about correcting the cause of your pain.

Knee pain

Knee pain can be caused by a sudden injury, overuse, or by an underlying condition, such as arthritis. Treatment will vary depending on the cause. Symptoms of a severe knee injury can include pain, swelling, and stiffness that does not go away with ice and rest.

Common Knee Problems

A physical therapist can provide the right diagnosis for common knee pain. Physical therapy is very successful at helping patients recover from surgery and helping non-surgical patients improve their mobility and reduce pain. In many cases, physical therapy can also help you recover without surgery.

Here are some common knee problems we often see:

Physical Therapy Solutions

A STARS physical therapist will perform treatments to decrease pain and swelling, instruct patients in exercises to increase range of motion and strength, and teach proper walking patterns and other functional tasks. It sounds simple, but many knee injuries are the result of walking, running or lifestyle that was done incorrectly and where the body now needs to be retaught.

Resources

• 8 Common Exercises for the Knee You Can Do Now
• Sparing Your ACL with Knee Replacement

When to See a Physical Therapist

Short term pain that goes away when iced or with rest can usually be handled at home. Chronic pain or surgery that requires post operative care needs a physical therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our physical therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain.

Physical therapy is about correcting the cause of your pain. For example, if you are a cyclist experiencing knee pain your seat may be too high or low. This will help eliminate your knee pain and prevent future problems. A physical therapist could also design a training program to help you reach your cycling goals without injuring yourself.

Leg Pain

Leg pain can be the result of conditions that affect the muscles, ligaments, bones, and tendons of the leg. You may experience leg pain while running, laying down, or infrequently periodically with no known cause. Typically, leg pain is a result of tissue inflammation caused by an injury or disease. Overuse from running a marathon before your body is ready to compete at that level, or weakness/throbbing from the Sciatic nerve (disc disease of the spine) can all cause pain in the leg. Treatment will vary depending on the cause.

Common Leg Problems

A physical therapist can provide the right diagnosis for common leg pain. Physical therapy is very successful at helping patients recover from surgery and helping non-surgical patients improve their mobility and reduce pain. In many cases, physical therapy can also help you recover without surgery. Here are some common knee problems we often see:

Physical Therapy Solutions

A STARS physical therapist will perform treatments to decrease pain and swelling, instruct patients in exercises to increase range of motion and strength, and teach proper walking patterns and other functional tasks depending on the type of injury.

When to See a Physical Therapist

Short term pain that goes away when iced or with rest can usually be handled at home. Chronic pain or surgery that requires post-operative care needs a physical therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our physical therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain.

Foot and Ankle Pain

The foot and ankle region is subject to constant stresses and hazards, from the effects of ill-fitting shoes to traumatic sports injuries. The results can be painful. Foot and ankle problems can have a significant impact on our general health and well-being. Every person has a gait that is unique to them. We often hear terms like supination and pronation which occur naturally with by walking normally. Most often, injuries are caused due to an abnormal amount of supination and pronation. Injuries such as stress fractures, painful arches, and tendonitis can develop.

Common Foot and Ankle Problems

Physical Therapy Solutions

After an injury or surgery, you will benefit from Physical Therapy! An exercise conditioning program will help you return to daily activities and enjoy a more active, healthy lifestyle. Following a well-structured conditioning program will also help you return to sports and other recreational activities. To ensure that the program is safe and effective for you, it should be performed under your doctor's supervision. Our physical therapist will help you identify a treatment plan that will get you back to your rehabilitation goals, safely and effectively. Below are KEY components of Physical Therapy to get you back on your feet!

Strength: Strengthening the muscles that support your lower leg, foot, and ankle will help keep your ankle joint stable. Keeping these muscles strong can relieve foot and ankle pain and prevent further injury.

Flexibility: Stretching the muscles that you strengthen is important for restoring range of motion and preventing injury. Gently stretching after strengthening exercises can help reduce muscle soreness and keep your muscles long and flexible.

Resources

• Foot and Ankle therapy
• Taking an arch look at foot pain

WHEN TO SEE A FOOT AND ANKLE SPECIALIST

"Kent, my Physical Therapist got me running again! I was finally able to eliminate the pain from my stress fracture and just signed up for my next half marathon!" K.B.

Short term pain that goes away when iced or with rest can usually be handled at home. Chronic pain or surgery that requires post-operative care needs a physical therapist to provide the right solution to get you pain free. Our physical therapists could help make recommendations and modifications to demonstrate proper form to decrease pain.