David Coletta's Personal Bout with Acute Neck Pain: Lessons Learned Part 3

By David Coletta, MPT, CMPT
david@excelptmt.com

My Personal Bout with Acute Neck Pain: Lessons Learned ~ Part 3 of 3

Lessons Learned

I believe that there was a silver lining or a purpose to why I experienced this cervical radiculopathy.  As health care practitioners, we sometimes lose perspective on the severity of what our patients are dealing with.  The terrible pain, decrease in function, and loss of sleep will be hard to forget.  I gained valuable familiarity with the use of a Saunders Cervical Traction Unit and other treatments that are best for an acute and sub-acute radiculopathy.  I also became more personally familiar with the use of different medications to treat this condition.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson learned was an appreciation for how important good physical therapy and excellent physician specialty care are.  I would not be where I am today without the tremendous care from Megan and Effie (my physical therapists), Dr. Slocum, and the doctors at Bridger Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.  Hands on manual therapy, exercises, diagnostic imaging, and epidural steroid injection were all very helpful to me.

This ordeal has helped me to be a better physical therapist when treating the neck.  I value the experience over any class or formal education in my past.

Click Here to read David’s Bout with Acute Neck Pain: The Onset ~ Part 1 of 3

Click Here to read David’s Bout with Acute Neck Pain: Recovery ~ Part 2 of 3

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