Proper Bending and Lifting Techniques
Is it really almost time to go in our attics to pull down those seasonal boxes? Whether you are
preparing to do this or just have straitening you may want to accomplish before your family
and friends arrive, here are a few tips to help keep you from causing yourself back pain:
- Use your leg muscles to lift/lower your self as opposed to just bending over. Bend at your knees not at your back.
- Pull in your belly button while lifting. This will help hold your pelvis in the proper position which will minimize strain on the spine. (Maintain this while lifting, carrying, and lowering)
- Lift close to your body. Your spine is more stable and strong.
- Know your limit! Carry lighter packages and make more trips.
- When in doubt ( too heavy or awkward) wait for help. The risk are not worth it and jeopardize setting you back with pain and immobility…. no one wants to make time for that!
We would all like to take a moment and wish everyone a safe and healthy beginning to our holiday seasons! By following the tips provided above, you can prevent a number of injuries before they even happen.
If you do encounter one of the issues that comes from improper lifting and bending, please CONTACT US today, or SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT to see one of our expert therapists.
Post War Veterans invited for FREE PTSD Treatment
With July 4th passing last week, I was reminded of all of the veterans that have protected our rights as citizens of the United States. During this month, I will be offering FREE therapy to veterans diagnosed with PTSD. During your sessions we will be working to help issues such as insomnia, cramping, muscle pain, and other possible injuries due to service. If you are interested in your FREE treatment, please CONTACT US today to schedule your appointment.
Summertime Swimming – Be Careful of Injury
As the summertime continues to heat up the temperatures nationwide, many of us are retreating to our pools for our fun in the sun. Many of us swim as we have our entire lives and believe that we are immune to injury while in the pool. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Even though swimming is among the most popular low-impact exercises available, there are a few injuries that can and do occur while swimming. We will be discussing two of the most common in this blog.
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Swimmer’s Shoulder Causes and Symptoms
Swimmer’s Shoulder is caused primarily by overuse or lack of stretching. Swimmer’s Shoulder includes more than one actual injury. The first is in your rotator cuff and its impingement. Impingement is the pressure that the rotator cuff that separates it from the other parts of the shoulder such as your scapula or shoulder blade while the arm is lifted. This creates incredible discomfort and shoulder instability. The second injury is located in the bicep, specifically in the tendon where it becomes inflamed and uncomfortable while also creating discomfort below the arm and inside of the shoulder. Symptoms are burning and pain in the shoulder region wrapping around the arm and seemingly inside the shoulder.
Swimmer’s Shoulder Treatment
At Surgical Alternative, we offer many types of therapy for nerve entrapment, tendon damage, and inflamed tendons. By using our Structural Energetic Therapy along with our deep tissue massage, we can calm the inflamed tendons and nerves allowing you to relax while your body heals itself from this incredibly painful combination of bicep tendinitis and rotator cuff injury. If you believe that you suffer from Swimmer’s Shoulder, please contact us today for your evaluation!
Breaststroker’s Knee
Breaststroker’s Knee Causes and Symptoms
Breaststoker’s Knee is caused again by the overuse of tendons and ligaments in the motion of a breaststroker. By using the motion involved in the breaststroke, or even treading water for that matter put great stress on your knees and hips due to the tension of kicking in the water. Over time this can evolve into more serious pelvic injuries and even knee and hip replacements. Symptoms for Breaststroker’s knee and other lower body injuries are apparent in pain in those areas.
Breaststroker’s Knee Treatement
Surgical Alternative can also use our deep tissue massage to relieve some of the inflamed areas and over time, we can allow your body to heal naturally. With the use of our Structural Energetic Therapy we can also work with you to improve function and mobility of chronically injured joints! If you believe that you would benefit from pain relief, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation!
Top Ten Treated Conditions by Surgical Alternative (Part 2 of 2)
In this section we will be discussing the top 5 conditions treated by Surgical Alternative. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of these conditions, please CONTACT US for more information, or you can SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT through our website, surgicalalternative.com.
Here are the top 5:
5.) TMJ Dysfunction
Known as Temporamandibular Joint Dysfunction, this painful ailment usually has symptoms such as tenderness, or pain in the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This is the joint that allows you to chew, talk and yawn amongst other things. TMJ disorders can be caused by many different things such as grinding your teeth, an accident involving your jaw, or even arthritis. If you have any pain in your jaw area and would like to find out more, you can CLICK HERE, or you can CONTACT US today for your evaluation!
4.) Sciatica Pain
Your sciatica nerve is a large nerve extending down your lower back, and down to the backs of your legs. When damage or wear occurs, discomfort and chronic pain are common symptoms to the damage of this nerve. Some symptoms of sciatica damage may include burning or tingling down your leg, weakness or numbness, constant pain, or even shooting pains that incapacitate you and not allow you to get up from a sitting position. While usually only affecting one side of the body, sciatica some patients show symptoms on both sides of their bodies. If you have sciatica pain and would like to relieve yourself from the discomfort, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation, or you can READ MORE ABOUT sciatica pain here.
3.) Bulging/Herniated Disks
Also called a ruptured or slipped disk, this refers to when the soft tissue between your vertebrae called disks encounters a problem. When you have a herniated disk, it can irritate nearby nerve passages resulting in pain, numbness, and even weakness in an arm or a leg. Some people do not experience symptoms of a herniated disk, making it a very hard injury to diagnose. If you are experiencing back pain and believe you may have a herniated disk, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation or READ MORE HERE about your condition.
2.) Migraine Headaches
Though the exact cause of migraine headaches cannot be established, no one can deny the severity of these “showstoppers”. Migraines tend to be quickly onset with severe pain and debilitating symptoms including numbness, tingling, temporary blindness, and other sensory warnings. In some cases, medication is prescribed with hopes of treatment, but in many of those situations the medication does little or no good at all. If you suffer from migraine headaches, please CONTACT US today for an evaluation, or you can READ MORE ABOUT these headaches here.
The number one condition that we treat at surgical alternative institute is an elusive yet simple condition causing a spectrum of further symptoms that affect your entire body. Some people get this condition by being in high speed accidents, while others can get this condition by just sleeping. Some patients live with chronic pain and others come and go.
THE NUMBER ONE TREATED CONDITION OF SURGICAL ALTERNATIVE IS………
1.) Neck Pain
Neck pain can be caused by a host of issues ranging from trauma (car accidents, etc.) to just poor posture. There are some degenerative diseases that will cause the neck pain, but it can also be just a simple muscle strain. In some cases, the pain can work its way down to the shoulders and even the middle and lower back over time. With proper treatment, most neck pain can be resolved in little time with little or no effort by the patient. If you suffer from neck pain and would like relief, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation orREAD MORE HERE about your condition.
Why Use Surgical Alternative – Testimonials and Reviews (Part 1)
In the past months, we have not only grown as an institution, but also have touched many of the lives here in the tampa florida area by our methods of set bodywork, deep tissue massage, and other services. Once a patient is affected by our services, they in many cases become advocates for those services. In the next few weeks, we will be releasing testimonials from many of our existing clients so that new or upcoming patients can gain a grasp on what to expect when visiting our offices.
The first Testimonial is Adam Hayes in New Tampa, Florida. Adam writes:
Surgical Altnernative – Top 10 treated conditions (Part 1)
Over the past few years, I have seen many different injuries treated in Surgical Alternative’s Institute of Alternative Therapy, but many of them have been returning ailments. We have taken a few minutes to create our top ten treated injuries from Surgical Alternative. If you have any further questions, please CONTACT US TODAY for your evaluation and treatment.
Without further adieu, we present our top ten treated injuries by surgical alternative for with alternative therapy, deep tissue massage, energetic therapy, and other methods.
10.) Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects the central nervous system causing extreme pain and discomfort and many areas of the body independently and simultaneously. Symptoms may include but are not limited to debilitating fatigue, insomnia, and joint stiffness. Other symptoms include numbness/tingling and trouble swallowing. For more information on fibromyalgia, please continue here, or CONTACT Surgical Alternative today for your evaluation.
9.) Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff in your shoulder is made up of tendons, ligaments and muscle that work in unison to create the range of motion for your arm and upper back. By injuring any of the pieces of the rotator cuff, you are not only causing inflammation and irritation, but you may also be doing further damage by not attending to your injury. For more information of rotator cuff injuries and what surgical alternative can do to help, please continue here, or CONTACT US TODAY for your evaluation.
8.) Plantar Fasciitis
This is the most common cause of heel pain. It is caused when your plantar fascia ligament becomes irritated, weakens, swells or strains. Since it is the tissue that supports your arch, some people call it “fallen arches”. Plantar Fasciitis causes moderate to severe foot pain and should be attended to as soon as possible. If you would like to learn more about your condition, please continue here or CONTACT US today for your evaluation.
7.) Hiatal Hernias / Hiatus Hernia
A hernia is simply described as part of your internal body moving somewhere it does not belong. Your Hiatus is an opening in your diaphragm and acts as a muscular wall between your chest cavity and your abdomen. When your abdomen and stomach bulge up through the opening in your hiatus, this is called a hiatal hernia, or hiatus hernia. There are two types of hiatal hernias : paraesophageal and sliding. Though extremely uncomfortable, surgical alternative can treat these hernias and make your life more comfortable and manageable. If you have a hiatal hernia and would like to learn more, please click here, or CONTACT us today for your evaluation and treatment.
6.) Tight Muscles / Stiffened Joints
We all get older and we all get LESS mobile each day. Even with an active lifestyle and proper stretching, we cannot always be that “21 year old” that we all remember was invincible. We have many clients that have been unable to do some of the things that they love due to aging muscles and joints. Many include hunters, golfers, fisherman/fisherwomen, and other active oriented people. With our treatment most of them are able to return to what they love. Whether its casting a rod, climbing into a tree stand, or any other activity, we can help you return to the things in life that you have worked so hard to enjoy. If you would like to learn more about joint stiffness or muscle tightness, please click here, or CONTACT us for your evaluation.
Surgical Alternative specializes in alternative therapy for many conditions and ailments. If you would like to learn more about our services, or symptoms that we treat, please CONTACT US, or VISIT OUR WEBSITE to begin feeling better soon.
Peyton Manning : Was Another Neck Surgery the Right Decision?
If you are at all a sports fan which many of us are, you have undoubtedly heard about the “Peyton Manning” effect and all of the fanfare that surrounds it. In the past weeks, he has been cleared to return to regular play, been involved in one of the most prolific free agency releases of all time, and pushed out an up and coming star in Tim Tebow to New York into a seemingly backup position. All of these events stem from the neck surgery that kept Manning out all of last season while his beloved colts were battered by opponents all over the league. I am here to talk about that surgery, its effects, and its risks.
The reward for the surgery is quite simple: use of your neck for the remaining years of your life while maintaining a relative range of motion. My first question lies here. I am sure that Peyton Manning could afford only the best treatment, so why were so many surgeries needed? (3 separate surgeries) The answer lies in the root of the problem, a pinched nerve. Years of wear and tear taking hits from 285 pound monsters had taken its toll. By undergoing two unsuccessful surgeries, not only was he living in pain, but also causing further damage by not allowing for full recovery.
The risks are not as simple as the reward. Peyton Manning underwent what is called a single level anterior fusion, which involves removing an entire disk in your spine, and replacing it with a bone graft. The surgery is performed through an incision in the front of the neck, while a surgeon carefully works around every muscle to get to the disk. There also runs a great risk by going under with anesthesia and creating a dependency on the pain medications after the surgery itself.
We would like to offer our surgical alternative to this surgery. By using our proprietary brand of therapy, we can ease your pinched nerves removing the need for surgery, down time, pain, and risks that come along with them.
If you have any questions regarding pinched nerves, or any other pain that you would like to overcome, please CONTACT US today or go to www.surgicalalternative.com for more information.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery : Is it really necessary?
The over 27 bones in your hand and wrist that enable almost miraculous dexterity for one of the most
used parts of our body. Naturally over years of misuse and abuse, there is a risk that:
-Ligaments may loosen
-Meniscus may deteriorate causing bones to rub against one another
-Nerves may begin to become highly sensitive
These factors are causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and are often felt for day, weeks, or even
chronically over years. When chronically diagnosed, many patients opt for surgery to either repair,
or release pressure on the nerves of the wrist. Though this particular surgery is quite common in the
circumstances, it runs the LOWEST SUCCESS RATE of any non-fatal injury. I would like to take a few
moments to discuss the RISKS and the surgical alternative to carpal tunnel surgery.
RISKS:
- The Surgery Itself – while under carpal tunnel release surgery, you will be administered twilight
- anesthesia. The drugs in this concoction cause amnesia while the patient is knocked out.
- Risks with the anesthesia can be found here. (http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/anesthesia-risks-and-complications)
- Cost of Surgery – The cost of the surgeries run anywhere from $5,000 USD all the way up to
- $10,000 USD
- Success Rate of Surgery – there is a full recovery rate hovering around 60%, making your odds
- fair at best for success.
- Damage during surgery – Not only is it common for people recovering to experience loss of
- grip, but it is also common for this loss of grip to be permanent! This damage is caused by the
- severing of the carpal ligament in the wrist to relieve the tension.
- Surgery is NOT A PERMANENT FIX!
By using our Alternative methods for Surgery, we can work with you to relieve the stress and pressure
from the carpal ligament without surgery. If you are considering carpal tunnel release surgery, please
CONTACT US today to discuss the surgical alternative. By allowing our therapists to naturally fix your
body, you will enjoy the following advantages:
- No anesthesia or surgery to worry about
- Cost effective – Our therapy is much more cost effective and full of impact
- Success Rate – Since we are doing this naturally, the success rate is 100% with time
- No Downtime – we will continue to work with you to relieve your stress, but there will be no
- downtime due to surgery.
If you have any interest in learning more about the natural surgical alternative to carpal tunnel
surgery, please CONTACT US today for more information.
Back Surgery – Risk vs. Reward
Back pain is an ailment that affects over 80% of the American population some point, leaving many of us with a very difficult choice. In most cases, back surgery is considered only after all other options have been exhausted by all involved medical staff. I would also like to note that even if you have back surgery, it is not guaranteed to provide improvement. Later in this blog, I will provide you with a Surgical Alternative treatment to naturally recover from your injury, rather than risk health and possibly life to escape your pain.
Many of the risks that are involved with back surgery are based around the surgery itself, while many of the risks are regarding post surgery and how your body recovers. I will separate the risks into these two segments.
Back Surgery Risks
Reaction to anesthesia or other drugs – Each time a patient is administered anesthesia, there is a small risk of long term complications and in rare cases even death. Another risk factor includes the actual drugs administered to the patient after the surgery. High dosage pain killers are typically prescribed in most back surgeries while the patient recovers from the surgery in an average of 15 months. The highest risk in my opinion would be the dependency of the drugs that are prescribed post surgery.
Blood Related Risks – Since the surgery is an “open body” surgery, there is a constant risk of Bleeding, Infection, Blood Clots, and many other complications.
Further Vital Organ Damage – WebMD.com lists Heart Attacks, and Strokes as a “general risk” of back surgery for many back surgeries like spinal fusion.
Nerve Damage – Since most back surgeries are spine related, there are a series of risks involved, as your spine is the nerve channel for the rest of your body. These issues are listed, but not limited to:
Muscle Weakness/Spasms
Sexual Dysfunction
Loss of Bowel or Bladder Control
Paralysis
At Surgical Alternative, we offer surgical alternatives to back surgery, and other bodily ailments through our innovative techniques and expertise. If you have back pain, or are looking for an alternative to back surgery, please CONTACT US or SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT online today.
Massage as Medicine
If any of you have read my blogs or know, you know that I prescribe to the thought of massage as alternative medicine. A lot of the time when you mention massage people assume relaxation but the truth is most perform more types of therapeutic massage. Many of the passionate one in our industry including myself have been trying to get better recognition for the many benefits that we provide our clients. The Wall Street Journal just released an article that is finally starting to shine light on the many benefits of massage. Massage therapy boosts immune functions, reduces stress and anxiety, improves asthma symptoms in children and as with our type of therapy increases grip strength in carpal tunnel patients while also being able to cure most non-surgically.
Most in our field got involved because they want to help others and believe that there are better methods of treatments than drugs, shots and surgery. My clients are walking testimonials for the benefits of massage. The bigger issues that we face is that most insurance companies only cover a portion of the cost or don’t cover it at all. It’s not a bad as you may think since massage isn’t like a doctors visit, most cost between $60-$100 an hour.
As the article reads, Don’t Call It Pampering: Massage Wants to be Medicine. I am appreciative of all our efforts that are made that bring to light, how we can help! Like other medical professionals, we have to take continuing education to maintain our licenses ensuring that we are constantly learning new methods to benefit our clients. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Tips to Relax at Work from Surgical Alternative
Everyone’s job can be stressful whether you work outside or in an office all day. Here is a couple tips to make your day a little easier and less stressful.
Get Up and Walk Around
Getting away from your tasks to get up and walking around can be beneficial. A little exercise can increase your blood flow and help stimulate the brain not mentioning just some time to clear you head.
Take Deep Breaths
When you feel stress or anxiety coming on take some deep breaths. Deep breath helps to oxygenate the blood while also allowing you to relax.
Listen to Music or Whatever Relaxes You
In our office like many others we have soft background music playing. Music can be very comforting and soothing for many. For some it maybe talk radio or evening playing games. Listening to news I heard a study talking about how playing Angry Bird at work has made people more productive. No sure about that but I understand the premise. It is relaxing.
Laugh
Laughter is something we did all the time as a child, having two of my own I understand. As we have gotten older our hectic lives get in the way of some good old belly laughing. Laughter has been proven to have many health benefits and above all it’s free.
Take time for yourself
This is one of the hardest lessons I have had to learn. As an entrepreneur and mother of two, I feel like I have to be superwomen. Unfortunately, as I have learned, there is no such thing. Getting away from your daily life and doing something that you enjoy can get you back to a sense of normalcy. Everyone needs time for themselves; we were all individuals before we were mom, dad, business owners, coaches etc. and still require time to recharge our batteries.
Small things can make a big difference and putting yourself first sometimes will help you become more relaxed and better able to deal with the stresses of daily life.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, give us a call or schedule an appointment, we have many services that can help you get back to feeling like you old self.
Emotional Energetic Release Therapy- It really helps
After people visit Surgical Alternative for the first time they discover we are definitely not like everyone else. We strive to handles all aspects of the body and mind that is why we now have a chiropractor and other types of alternative therapy at Surgical Alternative. One of our best kept secrets is the benefits of emotional release therapy.
Stress and trauma is stored throughout the body and emotional stress can have dramatic influences over the body. I have seen where emotional stress or fatigue can start to the body to tighten the muscle causing the body to curl like laying in the fetal position. Many have experienced tightness in the chest or shoulder caused by stress and if not released can build up and cause other symptoms that effect the body.
Ok So What Is IT?
The process begins with deep, rhythmic breathing to build a charge of energy in the client’s body. When the charge has built it will move stuck emotional energy out from behind the chronically tightened musculature to be expressed. The safe setting provided by our therapists’ comforts and supports the client’s release of emotional energy. Throughout the process the therapist has the client continue breathing until the charge dissipates, and any emotional energy that has been mobilized can release.
What Clients Say?
For many, the first time is the most dramatic mainly because of the apprehension of what is about to happen. The experience varies for everyone depending on what the body releases. Afterwards most feel very relaxed but drained. If you have never experienced an emotional release is can be tiring. Others have said that it changed the lives, in their attitude and the way they approach life, much more positively. You don’t have to worry; similar techniques are used when meditating. If you are stressed or emotional stuck, please give us a call or schedule an appointment today.
Scar Tissue from Breast Implants cause Capsular Contracture- We can help!
Through the use a combination of deep tissue massage and other advanced therapy techniques we were able to help. I was contacted by a woman whom recently underwent a breast lift with implants. Soon After her surgery she noticed that the breast were hardening. She contacted her doctor and they told that her breast maybe forming scar tissue around the implants making what is called a capsular contracture. To her displeasure her implants became oddly positioned. She told me she’d undergone a revision surgery to release the encapsulation of both her breast. After a matter of weeks, this woman realized that the surgery had taken for one of the two breast. One breast began to have a natural fall to it while the other stayed rounded at the top, extremely firm, and pulled her arm when she moved the arm to shoulder height or above. This person just happened to be friends with me but did not think of me when it came to this specific situation. She was just venting to a girlfriend. I told her of the other women with varying breast situations and how I was able to get them satisfying results.
With her surgeons full knowledge but skepticism, she postponed her surgery by a month in the hopes of us releasing the tissues by her next appt to schedule her second revision surgery for the remaining encapsulated breast. We made an aggressive schedule for bodywork 2 x week for that entire month. The bodywork was done in a manor to release the pulling to the arm, soften the overall breast, and address the top the breast first. In this week’s sessions I’ve been thinning out the thickened scar tissue along the incisions along the bottom of the breast, the anchor cut area. At this weeks appointment the woman let me know that her doctor was very happy with her preliminary results. The one remaining encapsulated breast was dropping and had softened. He asked her to have me focus along the incision area and felt that if this area could have a decrease in thickness that the breast would most likely continue to drop and she could quite possibly not need yet another surgery.
Check back to find out how this story turns out! If you are suffering with scar tissue limiting your range of motion or your ability to be pain free from old sports injuries, carpal tunnel surgery, a shoulder condition, or anything else, contact us or schedule an appointment to see how we can help your condition!
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits
Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue, focusing on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is can be a great benefit for those individuals who experience consistent pain, athletes involved in heavy physical activity, and clients who have sustained physical injury. Deep tissue massage is often misused to explain a deep pressure massage which is a separate category of massage therapy, used to treat particular muscular-skeletal disorders.
The following are a couple benefits of deep tissue massage:
- Deep tissue massage Benefits – Can increase blood flow by losing the muscles are the vessels allowing improved circulation
- Deep tissue massage Benefits – Can provide stress relief by loosing of tight muscles
- Deep tissue massage Benefits – Can reduce Chronic Pain
- Deep tissue massage Benefits – Can also lower your blood pressure
The main thing to know about deep tissue massage is that if done improperly can result in damage to the muscles or can result in a more serious injury. That is why all of our therapist are highly trained in advanced deep tissue massage techniques to ensure proper use
Through the use of advanced deep tissue massage techniques we provide effective non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel, hiatal hernias, bulging discs, sciatica (sciatic pain), plantar fasciitis and much more. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. If you are in pain or just need a decompression session, please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Who Should Come See Surgical Alternative
Peggy Boyd, founder of Surgical Alternative Tampa discusses the use of our cranial structural and advanced deep tissue massage techniques to provide effective non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel, hiatal hernias, bulging discs, sciatica (sciatic pain), plantar fasciitis and much more.
How Surgical Alternative Can Help You!!!
I started Surgical Alternative to provide the best most effective and personalized alternative therapy treatments for those in pain. Here are a couple way we can help you return to a pain free life.
- We can restore and improve your functionality
- We can restore and improve your pain free R.O.M
- We can restore and improve your independence
- We can help you get back to doing the things you love
- We can permanently get rid of aches and pains you thought you had to live with for the rest of your life
- We can help you function at a more efficient level
- We can get rid of scar tissue from old injuries
- We can give you hope when other therapies have only managed pain or had limited benefit
- We also Restore balance in imbalanced pelvics/hips
- We help correct longer leg length balances
- We rehabilitate soft tissue structurally from MVA
Through the use of our cranial structural and advanced deep tissue massage techniques we provide effective non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel, hiatal hernias, bulging discs, sciatica (sciatic pain), plantar fasciitis and much more. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. If you are in pain or just need a decompression session, please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Improper Running- How much pain can it cause?
In one of our previous blogs, we discussed collapse arches and how shoes can play a major part in causing the injury. Another big culprit is running. I’m not trying to say that running is bad; it has been a big part of my life and many others as well. Injuries from running can vary and can be caused by many different reasons. They can range anywhere from not having the proper footwear to improper stretching to not knowing how to run properly. When we run the force and impact exerted on the body is great. Improper running can cause the body to be out of balance leading to tight and pulled muscles or in some cases permanent damage. We have all seen people running down the street that look as if their body was in some type of convulsion, arms and legs flailing everywhere. As a therapist that has been working with athletes, muscles and structural balancing for over 15 years, I know the importance of proper techniques and how the body reacts when things are imbalanced. As our body ages, the trauma and injuries we incurred throughout the years tends to come back with a vengeance. I guess that’s why a lot of our clients are in the 35+ age group. In our bodywork sessions, we use cranial structural rebalancing which involved releasing the restrictions through pressure point in the cranium allowing the body to return to normal. We then use several advanced techniques including deep tissue massage to loosen the muscles around the restriction allowing the skeletal structure to remain in balance. Think of it like this, if you have two teams playing tug-o-war that are constantly pulling on each other, it is almost impossible to keep the rope in the same place. Well, that is also what your muscles are doing to your skeletal structural. No matter how many times you realign your skeletal structural if your muscles around the restrictions are pulling everything back out of alignments then the pain will continue. Running can be a fun and enjoyable way to exercise, just make sure you do it properly. In our upcoming blogs we will be discussing the treatments and successes we have had with professional and amateur athletes such as golf and tennis players.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 15 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Herniated and Bulging Discs Treatments-Non-Surgical
Many are confused by exactly what are bulging discs and viable non-surgical treatment options. The more general term is called a herniated disc.
Herniated or bulged discs will be an extruded disc, where the disc will actually tear through the tough outer shell and will push into the spinal space. It can cause compression to the nerves in the spinal-cord causing you to feel significant pain, weakness, or numbness.
Many people ask me how I got this or where did this come from. The answer is that there are many factors that can contribute to herniated discs or bulging discs.
One of the big contributing factors is obesity; the heavier you are the more likely you are to putting stress on your spine. Increasing you chance of experiencing a bulging or herniated discs. Lifestyle can also be a big factor, if you have a lax lifestyle that doesn’t involve any type of exercise or other strenuous activities over the years your muscle will weaken making it easier to have bulging or herniated discs. Other causes can be a simple injury such as a blow to the back, a car accident or some other trauma to the body can easily cause a herniated disc as well. Another big factor is aging; as we begin to age our spinal structure begins to weaken causing the chances of you incurring bulging discs or herniated discs to increase significantly.
Depending on where the injury on your spine may have occurred your symptoms can will be different. A herniated or bulging disc in your neck can cause significant pain in your arms, chest, neck, and hands. If the injury occurs in your lower back you may feel pain in your legs and lower region. Because the spine controls some many areas of the body you can feel pain or discomfort in many areas of the body.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been providing effective treatment options for bulging discs and herniated discs for over 14 years now, using non-surgical methods. We are passionate about what we do and spreading the message so that we can reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Nerve Entrapment Treatments
If you research treatment for nerve entrapments you will come across different options. Those may include local injection of an anesthetic, oral medications or therapy and for more severe cases surgery.
A nerve entrapment or pinched nerve can feel like someone is stabbing you in the back with a knife or a constant shooting pain and can happen all over the body. I have even worked on nerve entrapments in the feet that have cause people to be unable to walk. I have clients who have gone through various treatments before I have seen them sometimes. Many times I am the last option, after injections or other medications that temporarily resolved the pain. I even have clients that have had their nerve ending burned off to try and alleviate the pain. Unfortunately that didn’t work either. Nerve entrapments and other muscular issue can be effectively resolved through our therapy sessions. Our bodywork sessions use a combination of many techniques including advanced deep tissue massage and cranial structural rebalancing. Our cranial techniques are designed to release the pattern your body is in and we then follow-up with deep tissue massage to loosen the muscles around the nerves allowing them to return to a normal position, therefore alleviating your pain. Explore your options and make the best decision for you. Just remember, these aren’t new issues. People have been suffering from these conditions since the dawn of man and way before we had prescribed drugs or surgery to resolve these issues. The body has an amazing ability to fix itself and sometimes just needs a little bit of help that we provide.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We are passionate about what we do and spreading the message so that we can reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Hiatal Hernia Treatments
I often get asked, “Can you do anything for Hiatal Hernias?” The short answer is yes. To understand how our advanced deep tissue massage and bodywork sessions fix hiatal hernias, we must first examine the causes and what exactly a hiatal hernia is. A hiatal hernia is the protrusion (or herniation) of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm. There are many different causes for hiatal hernias ranging from heavy lifting or bending over, obesity, stress, heredity or even straining with constipation. In many cases people don’t even realize they have one. Some of the symptoms include acid reflux or severe abdominal pain.
So how do we fix it? Some of the most severe cases sometimes require surgery but most can be fix without it. Using our advanced bodywork techniques, we are able to go into the area of the protrusion and begin working the tight muscles around the bulge to allow the muscles to loosen and return to normal. By loosening the tight muscles that cause the hiatal hernias, we allow the protrusion to return back to its normal alignment alleviating the pain.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Collapsed Arches- What cause them? Shoes!
If you have ever had a collapse arch then you know the pain that can cause. In a lot of cases it pulls on the other muscles in the foot causing it to feel like you got a sprained ankle. One of the main reasons this happens is due to improper footwear. Improper shoes can cause all types of problem with your body, from lower back pain or even a pinched sciatic nerve. If you are like a lot of my clients, you work in the corporate world where you have to wear heels or dress shoes that in most cases provide little support. Many seek insoles and other types of shoes inserts to help resolve the issue. There is a reason there are so many types of shoes, because everyone’s feet are different. One of my clients had been having the same problem for a month or so. He would come in and I would perform our bodywork session that involves advanced deep tissue massage and cranial structural techniques that rebalance and realign the body. He felt great after he left and within days his body would revert back to the same painful problem. After further consulting, we had determined that the shoes he was wearing was causing his body to go back out of alignment every time he wore them for a long period of time. I am happy to say once he got a new pair of shoes that we tested to make sure his body was supported and stabile the pain went aware. In short, proper footwear can make a big difference in your posture and the way you feel, just be sure to change them periodically once the arch support has worn out. Prevention and proper education can save you a lot of pain and discomfort, that why we at Surgical Alternative take the time to understand the underlying problem so that we can properly address the issues.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Plantar Fascitis Treatments
Effective plantar fascitis treatments! Didn’t enjoy holiday shopping because your feet just won’t let you? Is your foot pain robbing the joy out what should be an enjoyable time? Whether or not you find shopping this time of year enjoyable you should be able to shop pain free. It’s no fun trying to concentrate on the best gift for those on your list or other daily tasks when every step you take is painful! The worst part is that all the shopping is most likely contributing to the irritation. It has been reported by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons that plantar fasciitis occurs in two million Americans a year and 10% of the population over a lifetime. The pain is usually felt on the underside of the heel and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. Another symptom is that the sufferer has difficulty bending the foot so that the toes are brought toward the shin (decreased dorsiflexion of the ankle). Things that will put you at a higher risk are new or increased activity, sudden weight gain or obesity, very high arches, and tight calves . A symptom commonly recognized among sufferers of plantar fasciitis is increased probability of knee pains, especially among runners. Through our cranial/structural and deep tissues techniques we are able to provide effective plantar fascitis treatments! We not only address the area that is in pain but more importantly we focus on the area’s that are the source of the pain.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, Plantar Fascitis and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Sciatica (sciatic nerve)- An incapacitating pain
Everyone who has had a sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve knows the pain that can be caused. It sometimes start with an ache in your lower back that gradually seem to increase down your leg and farther it goes the more severe the pain becomes. What causes them? Sciatica issues can be caused overtime or from something more immediate. For instance, some of our clients conditions are caused from older trauma, i.e. sports injuries or accidents that we never really treated or fully recovered from. Others can be caused from not being properly supported while sleeping or improper repetitive movements. Regardless how it may have occurred not doing anything to find a cure for your sciatica is not an option.Cures for pinched sciatic nerves can vary. Most people when they are in pain, seek medical advice without looking for other options often resulting in taking some type of prescription drug to provide temporary relief. Many issues that cause pain including sciatica issue are caused by the muscles. As muscles receive trauma they tighten causing them to pull your skeletal structure out of balance. Through our advanced bodywork and cranial session, we look to release those impediments and restore that body back to a rebalanced and homeostasis state. In our years of practice we have had great results rehabilitating the conditions that cause pinched sciatic nerves.
We feel very fortunate and excited to do what we love to do, help others. We have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, degenerative disk disease and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Where’s Your Head At? Part 2
In the last post I discussed how our lives tend to lead us to position our head in front of our body, which overtime can cause neck strains, herniated discs, nerve entrapment, and other related conditions. If we have been injured in an accident, this pathway to pain can accelerate rapidly.
With our approach here at Surgical Alternative with SET Bodywork, we know how to address the key areas causing pain, even if they are not the places where our clients are feeling their pain. It wasn’t until I learned this specialized therapeutic approach to structural bodywork in SET that I realized how much the front of the neck plays a key role in back and shoulder pain.
The muscles in the front of your neck and chest are often very tight when you are experiencing neck pain, but not every massage therapist knows to release them, or how to do this effectively. Now that I practice SET Bodywork, I have seen dramatic changes in my clients. Often after just one session.
As one client who was experiencing chronic pain in her neck noted, “I never had that much of a shift from just one session before.” That was last Spring. I haven’t seen her since because she still feels great. What are you waiting for?
We feel very fortunate and excited to do what we love to do, help others. We have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, degenerative disk disease and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
