PHYSICAL WELLNESS
Lower Back Pain and Sciatica: Where to Start
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ower back pain and sciatica can be a life-changing event. There can be a lot of reasons JOE KOLOC, MSPT, MBA for back pain but some popular ones that we hear about are things like stenosis, degenerative disc disease, alignment issues or good old-fashioned back strain. It makes sense that these injuries happen for different reasons Arthritis in your joints generally causes stenosis. You might be getting immobile and not keeping the discs moving and healthy or you might have bent over and lifted something incorrectly, injuring the disc and straining a muscle. The point here is that a specific injury requires a specific treatment. Knowing WHAT the right treatment is can be REALLY confusing. Do you go see a doctor, a chiropractor, massage or physical therapist? Do you just put ice or heat on it and take some Tylenol? What happens if it doesn’t get better? An important point here: It makes a difference if this is an old injury that you’ve had before or if it’s a first-time injury. If you are having numbness or you notice bowel or bladder changes, you should seek medical help immediately at an urgent care or ER. Less severe injuries can still be serious, but it’s likely that you can recover with conservative care. You should always start off with RICE for a new injury. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression (Ace Wrap) and Elevation. This can work for any minor injury with swelling and pain, especially the Elevation part. After about the first day, you should do some gentle stretches like a knee-tochest stretch for your back and start walking. If you have a history of back surgery or injuries, you want to limit how much time you wait before seeing a professional if you don’t feel better after a day or two. This professional should do a thorough examination of your back. This might include tests for the nerve function, mobility, strength, and palpation of the injury. The treatment should address as many of the clinical findings as possible to offer a fuller recovery. The goals with conservative care are to make sure you heal naturally without surgery, injections or a lot of painkillers if possible. Staying active, healthy and using good body mechanics and sitting postures are critical. To learn more about our Free Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop, go to https://bit.ly/2QfoJVi or text or call 863-322-0831. This column is sponsored by Core Rehabilitation, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFHN or of its advertisers. Bio: Joe Koloc is a lifelong resident of Lake Wales who has degrees in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Webber International University. He opened Core Rehabilitation in 2013 and has 25 years of clinical experience as a specialist in shoulder and back pain.
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PCMA LETTER
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
Big Boys Do Cry by MARY JOYE, LMHC
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en’s mental health statistics are of great concern, and culture may be the culprit. Many boys are shamed if they express emotion, and they learn to repress sadness and enthusiastic joy that produces tears. The first thing a newborn baby boy or girl does is cry. but toddlers often hear, “Big boys don’t cry.” Lacking an outlet for expression, children can develop into repressed or emotionally unavailable men. The strong, silent types may not be as resilient as they appear. An estimated 75% of the suicides in the United States are men. One factor is they choose more lethal methods than women and are stealthier about it. Few suspect a man is thinking about ending his life because of his conditioned ability to hide emotions. If you know a man who seems detached or withdrawn, the most important thing is to socialize with him, even if they are resistant. Let them know you care, and it will reduce dangerous isolation, especially after major negative life events. We lose 22 combat veterans a day to suicide. Divorced men in the U.S. take their lives at a rate of 10 per day. Though no marriage is perfect, it buffers men from loneliness, as does having children and close extended family. Men who have never married have a 70% higher death rate and varied research concurs women’s nurturing instincts assure their husbands get yearly checkups and eat healthier diets. It is significant to note that men see their occupations as a large component of their identities. If they lose their careers, they silently but miserably suffer feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Men in rural areas are more at risk because of isolation. The loss of manufacturing and agriculture
jobs that have literally been farmed out has caused a rise in men’s mental health issues. This is exacerbated by men who choose to self-medicate and numb their feelings with substances. Addiction for men is at a rate of 3 to 1 to women and another factor for potential early demise. It is imperative that we teach young men to show their feelings without shaming them or stigmatizing seeking mental health help. This is a long-overlooked social issue as men seek treatment far less than women. They are encultured to be the fixers and providers, and admitting they need help in any area of their life can cause them to feel emasculated. How many jokes have we heard about men not stopping to ask for directions? It’s funny but indicative of a serious underlying cause. It’s time to direct attention to the men in our lives, or if you’re a man, to yourself. William Shatner, age 90, who portrayed the virile Captain Kirk, was on 60 Minutes Australia. He lamented about his fear of dying alone, and his willingness to share how to cope with it was enlightening. • Be with friends and family. • Do something for someone else. • Get connected with friends through work and common interests such as sports. Shatner remembered a Valentine’s Day in his childhood when no one sent him a card but himself. He fought back tears as he related a story of decades past but looked like he was beamed back by Scotty to that time. His adult fear was directly influenced by his childhood, and if Captain Kirk can cry, so can you. It takes more bravery to show emotions than to hide them and it is essential to men’s well-being. Big boys do cry and laugh, too!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mary Joye, LMHC, PA, is a licensed mental health counselor with offices in Lakeland and Winter Haven. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit winterhavencounseling.com.
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