For approximately the last 30 years, people across the country have tirelessly raised fund to increase awareness about the most prevalent type of cancer: breast cancer. Unfortunately, in the case of lymphedema, a common condition associated with localized fluid retention and tissue swelling, knowledge and prevention tactics have remained low despite its alarmingly high statistics.
Many people are unaware that lymphedema is the most debilitating postoperative complication in breast, ovarian, cervical, prostate, and other various cancers. It can be caused by the surgical procedures used to remove lymph nodes or form radiation therapy, both of which disrupt lymph drainage. It can also be caused by a trauma or infection in the lymph nodes. Lymphedema can also be genetically inherited. Affected patients suffer from extreme swelling and sometimes significant pain, typically affecting the arms and legs. Worldwide data estimates that 180-250 million people suffer from lymphedema.
Even though these numbers are overwhelmingly high, lymphedema education in the U.S. is still lacking. In fact, some of our lymphedema patients have told us stories of having to do their own research on the condition before they even received treatment for their cancer. So in addition to navigating the emotionally and physically painful experience of battling cancer, they are forced to seek out help for a post-operative condition that many in the medical field haven’t warned them about. That is why our team here at Rue & Primavera wants to inform people. Additionally, we offer free consultations to women who have had lymph glands removed due to breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer.
Every October, people around the globe draw attention to breast cancer prevention, and we encourage you to help us spread awareness about lymphedema this month. Wendy Rue, PT is a certified lymphedema therapist, CLT, and she offers free consultations to breast cancer survivors. If you have any questions or want to schedule a free consultation, don’t hesitate to give our office a call!
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
Vertigo affects millions of people in the United States. Those who suffer from it experience disturbing, nauseating sensations that make even simple acts like getting out of bed extremely uncomfortable. Worse still, vertigo throws off your body’s natural sense of balance, increasing your risk of falling while performing basic activities. How can you tell if you or a loved one suffers from this common condition, and more importantly, what can you do to fight it?
What Causes Vertigo?
The most common form of vertigo is caused by damage or decay in the inner ear. Specifically, bits of calcium can break off within the closed circuit of the vestibular system, the part of the ear that helps control balance and eye movements. Trauma can cause this breakage to occur, but so can aging. As the head moves, these loose bits of calcium roll around, stimulating the nerves our bodies use for balance. These false signals confuse the brain, producing a host of unpleasant sensations.
What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of vertigo are most apparent while moving, especially when shifting between standing and lying down. If you frequently experience any of the following symptoms after shifting positions, you may have a form of vertigo:
Dizziness
A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving
A loss of balance or unsteadiness
Nausea
Vomiting
Because of the difficulties of living an active life with these sensations, secondary symptoms, like anxiety or depression, are common.
What Can Be Done?
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, or VRT, has been proven to help treat vertigo. This specialized form of physical therapy takes a holistic approach that addresses both the symptoms and the root cause of vertigo. Through a series of exercises, mind and body are trained to compensate for the vestibular damage. At first, this can make the symptoms feel much worse. But through expert training, patients soon develop far greater control and feel improvement on all fronts.
If you or a loved one suffers from vertigo or other vestibular disorders please reach out to us. We can give you an assessment and the tools you need to stop the spinning, headaches, falling, or dizziness.
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
Now that the holiday season is here, it’s likely that you’ll have to lift heavy boxes off high shelves in your garage to find decorations. As you begin to use your shoulders more frequently during this time of the year, you may notice pain or weakness each time you reach overhead. Don’t ignore your pain. It’s possible that you’re suffering from shoulder impingement syndrome.
Shoulder impingement syndrome is a condition that develops when the rotator-cuff tendons in the shoulder are overused or injured. The acromion, the bump at the tip of your shoulder, covers your rotator-cuff and bursa, a fluid-filled sac that provides a cushion between the bony acromion and rotator-cuff tendon. When the bursa is compressed, your tendons are no longer protected. If you do not seek treatment quickly, you will be at risk of rotator-cuff tendinitis.
Individuals with shoulder impingement syndrome may experience restriction in shoulder motion and associated weakness when reaching overhead, behind the body, or out to the side. They may also experience pain in the shoulder, pain or discomfort when attempting to sleep on the affected side, or pain with throwing motions and other dynamic movements. Thankfully, physical therapy can be very successful in treating shoulder impingement syndrome. Once you are diagnosed, your physical therapist will create a specialized treatment plan, which may include pain management, manual therapy, rage-of-motion and strengthening exercises, patient education, and functional training.
Your physical or occupational therapist will use manual techniques like gentle joint movements, soft-tissue massage, and shoulder stretches to get your body moving properly. We also offer laser treatments for this syndrome. Once your discomfort has been reduced, your therapist will teach you exercises to correct and strengthen shoulder movements and weak muscles. Finally, your therapist will prescribe you at-home exercises to continue strengthening your shoulder so you can avoid pain and discomfort throughout the year.
As always, call us at Rue and Primavera if you are experiencing shoulder discomfort this season. (360) 279-8323
Happy Holidays!
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
Life for new moms can get hectic. Between changing diapers, feeding, and everything else on your plate, it can be difficult to take even just a few minutes for yourself. Many mothers neglect physical therapy after giving birth and suffer negative health consequences. The following are reasons why new moms should consider postpartum physical therapy.
Control Incontinence
Many women have difficulty controlling their bowels and bladders after giving birth, but thankfully, there are many ways to help this. Through noninvasive, postpartum physical therapy, your body can recover and regain control.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles that make your pelvis and lower back stable and strong, help control bladder and bowel function, and contribute to sexual performance. After giving birth, it’s very common for these muscles to need some rehabilitation to keep you feeling healthy and strong. Our therapists can work you and teach you exercises to rehabilitate your pelvic floor, and you can undergo other treatments that will help you stay strong and feel good.
Alleviate Lower Back Pain
Pregnancy and lower back pain often go hand in hand. After recovering from childbirth and all of the bending and lifting that comes with motherhood, it’s common for this pain to continue postpartum. Our team works with new mothers to manage and alleviate back pain through strength training, stretching exercises, and other methods of treatment.
Just Feel Good
There’s no bond like that of a mother and child, but as a new mom, it’s also important to take a little time to think about your own health. Our team can work with you to get back into a physical routine, improve your fitness, prevent future pain, and contribute to your overall wellness.
New moms have so much to look forward to, and it’s important that they are able to present their healthiest, best self during this pivotal time in their lives. To learn more about our physical therapy services for women’s health or to schedule and appointment, visit Women’s Health Care today!
Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
Three Common Health Problems Women Over 40 Didn’t Know Physical Therapy Can Help
Men get most of the credit, but everybody knows women make the world go ‘round. Whether you’re putting in extra hours to work towards to your next promotion, running around after three kids in five different directions, or spending your pre-retirement years shaping your office’s you-20-years-ago, it’s hard to make time for yourself. Unfortunately, even Superwoman can’t save the world if she has constant back pain or is always in the bathroom. Physical therapy offers many solutions to keep women happy and healthy. If you’re experiencing any of the following problems or interested in learning more about physical therapy for women’s health, Rue and Primavera can help.
If locating the nearest bathroom is your sixth sense:
Physical Therapy to improve bladder control
Do you plan your commute around bathroom breaks and shudder at the thought of a middle airplane seat? Studies show 68 percent of women ages 42-64 experience urinary incontinence at least once per month. Frequent urges to go to the bathroom, bladder control issues when coughing, sneezing, and laughing, and frequent accidents are all indicators of incontinence and pelvic floor weakness.
We don’t want trips to the bathroom running your life. At Rue and Primavera, we use a system called Biofeedback to reduce symptoms and strengthen your pelvic floor. This process electronically monitors automatic body function to give you better control of your body’s activity. We’ve used this treatment to help hundreds of women improve bladder control and stop planning their days around bathroom breaks.
If you’re sick of taking Tylenol and wishing the pain away:
Physical Therapy to reduce pelvic pain:
Many women experience discomfort around their periods, but frequent and recurrent pain is reason to seek medical attention. Endometriosis, Fibroids, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and urinary problems are some common reasons for pelvic pain in women over 40.
Physical therapy can help alleviate pelvic pain regardless of the cause. Physical therapists can help find the root of your pain, then find the best solution to make it go away.
If achy bones are keeping you from feeling strong and standing tall:
Physical Therapy for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a medical condition characterized by low bone density, bone weakness, and loss of tissue. It’s often caused by hormonal changes and vitamin deficiencies. More than half of Americans over 50 experience osteoporosis and women are significantly more likely to develop the disease than men.
People with osteoporosis are more likely to suffer from broken bones and have difficulty healing, slouching posture, and limited mobility. Physical therapy can offer both preventative and curative solutions for osteoporosis. At Rue and Primavera, we focus on improving bone strength and improving posture to keep you moving and keep your bones strong.
Take action, feel better
We believe in a world with happy, healthy women living their best lives. That’s why one of Rue and Primavera’s primary goals is to offer a variety of solutions to female health problems and improve women’s health on Whidbey Island and beyond. We’d love to start a conversation about how we can start helping you, so let’s get in touch.
