Spine & Rehab Specialists  Physical Therapy El Paso
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    • Harry Koster, PT, OCS, Cert. MDT
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​READ BELOW FOR INTERESTING INFORMATION, TIPS & TRICKS
​ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY

You're Not Alone in Physical Therapy

10/14/2020

15 Comments

 

     Just like any other Tuesday morning I wake up, a little later than usual, knowing I don’t have to go into work until 2pm. Pulling the covers away I swing my legs over, proceed to stand, and then it happens. I’m stuck. My name is Joe Hernandez, I am a Physical Therapist, and I have neck pain. 
The irony. Someone who has worked on dozens of necks at this point and can’t even move his own. Pain sears where my neck attaches to the rest of my body. Lights are brighter than usual; I can barely open my eyes as the pressure building behind them makes me feel as if they are about to pop out. What do I do? I quickly begin the exercise I generally prescribe in these instances. Ow. Okay. Ow.

     Wait, that really hurts. Ow. This is what they’ve been feeling? 

     Eventually I manage to get my head turning again but not all the way. I attempt to get through the day as my head feels so heavy, I can barely hold it up, and then it happened. My arm starts to go numb. I was getting worse. I was becoming afraid. 
That knife in the back of the shoulder blade I’ve heard patients describe so many times has now found its way in mine. I continue with my exercises. They weren’t making it worse, but they weren’t making it better. I needed help. 

     Luckily, I was surrounded by a handful of other therapists. Finding time out of his schedule, my colleague offered me help. “How’s your pain?” he asks. I ponder on the pain scale. What even is the difference between a 6 or a 7? How do I even choose? “Like a 6,” I mutter, wondering if that was the right answer. “And your headache?” Wait…how did he know I had a headache? And so, the treatment begun. 
     
     He did the things I usually do with my neck patients. A massage here, a stretch there. I could feel my trust build as I could finally completely rest my head into his hands. The pressure began to gradually increase, taking me to my threshold of pain, but never going past it. A few minutes later, with my head fully extended off the treatment table, he lifts my head up. “Take it for a spin,” he remarks. My pain was gone. 
     
​     Now, almost completely healed as I write this (yes it came back later that day, don’t worry, it’s normal) I can’t help but reflect on what this experience has given me. I now had a personal understanding of what some of my patients are going through. Neck pain isn’t the only thing I treat, and even my neck pain may not be your neck pain, but the best thing from all of this, I knew I was not alone, and neither are you.  

​     Pain is frightening. Having someone move you is uncomfortable. Questioning if you’d ever get back to doing the things you love is depressing. But there is support, and the people here at Spine and Rehab Specialists can provide it. I know this, because I’ve received it. If you’re struggling with neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, or any type of pain, I’d invite you to reach out to us. If you can’t walk very far, your balance isn’t very good, or you just can’t move the way you used to, I’d invite you to reach out to us. If you simply want your pain to be known, and have someone trustworthy offer you support, please, reach out to us. We may not have experienced what you are going through, but we can absolutely make sure that you don’t have to experience it alone. 

     -​Joseph Hernandez, PT, DPT
15 Comments
Tez link
1/28/2021 06:14:07 pm

Great tip about rating your pain on a scale. I need to get a PT who can reassess my lower back pain. I had a fall recently and something is out of place.

Reply
kate hansen link
2/9/2021 02:20:06 pm

I loved how you mentioned that you can recover properly with physical therapy. My sister recently injured her knee a couple of weeks ago, and she was telling me last night about how she was wondering if trying physical therapy would be beneficial. I'll make sure to pass this information along to her so that she can look into finding a physical therapist to help her.

Reply
Mia Evans link
12/16/2021 07:50:51 pm

It's interesting to know that a piece of simple advice from a therapist, such as spinning the head a bit, can help with alleviating the pain. I guess I should see a fact time physical therapist to get a piece of advice for my lower back pain even at home. I am just too busy at the moment that is why I can't physically go to a clinic or facility for now until the first weeks of January.

Reply
Jeff Carbine link
1/28/2022 06:49:40 am

I found it interesting when you said the pressure progressively increased, bringing me near my pain threshold but never beyond it. I used to think differently about it not until you explained it briefly and it really got my attention. What you said about physical therapy was really interesting to me.

Reply
John Carston link
3/21/2022 05:51:08 pm

I appreciate that you explained that physical therapy can help you build a strong body. My nephew who is an athlete mentioned to me last night that he is hoping to find a treatment that can prevent injury and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell him that it will be much better if we consult a trusted physical therapy treatment as they can answer all our inquiries.

Reply
Genieknows Rehab link
9/11/2022 11:57:04 pm

Rehabilitation is an important aspect of any treatment plan.

There are many types of rehabilitation services available, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

When choosing a rehabilitation facility, make sure to consider the following factors: The type of rehabilitation the patient will be receiving.

This can include physical, occupational, speech-language pathology, psychological, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Reply
John Carston link
11/2/2022 08:17:12 pm

It's interesting when you said that every physical therapy would be different depending on the pain situation. My athletic cousin suffered an ankle injury during his basketball game last month. He asked if I had any idea what would be the best treatment to consider. You did a great job of explaining the important factors of physical therapy. I'll tell him that consulting a trusted physical therapist can help provide more information about the treatment.

Reply
Alica Forlonge link
1/10/2023 07:15:53 pm

I suggest you try having a chiropractic treatment to address your back pain.

Reply
Eli Richardson link
2/2/2023 07:28:29 am

It's very helpful that you talked about your experience with neck pain and how physical therapy helped you get through it. My wife's neck is killing her since last night, and this morning she couldn't lift or turn her head without feeling pain, so I think I'll start looking for a physical therapist to help her. Thank you for the advice on finding professional help and trusting your physical therapist.

Reply
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IRA physical gold link
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Regina Harries link
3/25/2025 12:01:39 am

Having a team like Spine and Rehab Specialists who genuinely want to help, not just physically but emotionally as well, can make all the difference. It's comforting to know that there's a place where people care about more than just the symptoms, but also the support you need throughout your recovery. TThank you for sharing this message of hope and support!

Reply
treatment facility for troubled youth link
4/7/2025 01:35:58 am

A treatment facility for troubled youth offers intensive support for adolescents facing significant emotional, behavioral, or social challenges. These facilities are equipped to handle complex issues like defiance, substance abuse, trauma, or legal trouble. The goal is to create a safe, structured space where young people can stabilize, gain insight, and learn healthy coping skills through therapy, mentorship, and education.

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Reply
Steve Johnson, PTA link
7/19/2025 09:59:36 am

I always ask my patients to rate their pain on a scale of 1-10 and if it is our first session together I will ask them to explain in a little more detail what a 5 means to them in terms of pain and what type of pain specifically. Pain can be scary but it can also be a tool to better understand your bodies needs. Great article!

Reply



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Spine & Rehab Specialists has two convenient Physical Therapy locations!

Location
6358 Edgemere Blvd.
El Paso, Texas 79925
Phone: (915) 562-8525
Fax: (915) 566-3889
​
Office Hours
Mon/Wed - 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Tue/Thu - 7:15 AM to 6:30 PM

Fri - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
(by appointment only)
Location
11855 Physicians Dr.
El Paso, Texas 79936
Phone: (915) 855-6466
Fax: (915) 855-6181
​
Office Hours
Mon/Wed - 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Tue/Thu  - 7:45 AM to 7:00 PM
Fri - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
(by appointment only)

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  • Home
  • About
  • Meet the Team
    • Harry Koster, PT, OCS, Cert. MDT
    • Bonnie Heredia-Koster, ATC, LAT, MA
    • Jose Gutierrez, PT, DPT, Cert. MDT
    • Antonio Durant, PT, DPT, ECS, FMSK®, R-EDX®, Cert. MDT.
    • John C. Moreno, PT, DPT, OCS, Cert. MDT
    • Jordan Hibbert, PT, DPT
    • Raji Soni, PT, DPT, MS, RMSK, R-EDX®, ECS
    • Osvaldo Varela, PT, DPT
    • Mauricio Armendariz, PTA, BS
    • Jovana Gonzalez, PTA, BS
    • Gabriela Hernandez, PTA, BS
  • EMG / NCS
  • Services
    • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging
    • Orthopedic Rehabilitation
    • Sports Medicine
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Vestibular Rehab
    • Concussion Management
    • Aquatic Therapy
    • Workers' Compensation
  • Success Stories
    • Video Success Stories
    • Written Success Stories
  • Equipment
    • Alter G
    • Biodex
    • Repex
    • HydroWorx 500
    • Multi Cervical Unit
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Blog