Relying On Pain Medication For Relief? A Skilled PT Could Help
It’s no secret that pain has an adverse effect on one’s quality of life. Many people make the mistake of relying on medication to alleviate their symptoms, yet pharmaceuticals just mask problems rather than cure them.
Physical therapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment that is both safe and effective. Please contact our office if you are suffering from acute or chronic pain and would like to discover how our physical therapists can help you live a pain-free life without the use of potentially dangerous medicines.
Painkillers are not the best form of relief
Taking pain-management drugs as a way to rid yourself of pain may seem like a good solution in the short-term, but it has many disadvantages in the long-term. Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen can lead to undesirable side effects. For example, taking excessive amounts of aspirin can cause your stomach to bleed and can lead to kidney damage. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can also both cause both kidney and stomach problems.
However, prescription opioids like codeine, oxycodone, and morphine are perhaps the worst. These are habit-forming drugs that can lead to addiction. They are also responsible for an additional number of side effects, including respiratory depression, constipation, anxiety, and nausea. Several people also overdose on opioids each year, either due to addiction or a gradually increased intake in order to relieve pain. Not only does taking meds for pain just mask the problem, it just may cause you another one.
Why is physical therapy the best natural pain relief method?
Due to the agony they are experiencing, even the thought of exercising can make many people grimace. PT exercises, on the other hand, are one of the most effective therapies for chronic pain. You will learn how helpful exercise can be for all types of chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain by participating in a physical therapy routine. The following are just a handful of the many conditions that can be treated with physical therapy:
- Osteoarthritis.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Chronic headaches.
- Neuropathic pain.
- Disc herniation.
- Disc degeneration disease.
A physical therapist can provide a wide range of pain treatment alternatives. Manipulation of the joints and bones, movement therapy, massage treatment, microcurrent stimulation, and cold laser therapy are just a few of the frequent methods and modalities used by physical therapists. All of these treatments aid in the relief of pain, the reduction of inflammation, the speeding up of healing, and the improvement of everyday function.
What should I expect with physical therapy?
Working with a physical therapist can help you get back on your feet faster. This is due to the fact that a physical therapist will treat your complete body after determining the source of your pain. A physical therapist will do an examination to establish the source of your pain and develop a tailored treatment plan to address the specific cause of your discomfort.
At your initial appointment, you will undergo a comprehensive exam process, which includes a full medical history. Selected tests are done to identify movement-related disorders. For a specific diagnosis, all of the collected exam data is carefully reviewed.
Both active and passive treatments are used in physical therapy. Massage therapy, ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation are some of the pain-relieving methods and modalities used in passive therapy. Regaining function, enhancing range of motion, and developing strength and flexibility are all goals of active physical therapy. Treatments may include targeted motions, exercises, stretches or aquatic therapy.
Everyone’s treatment plan is different, but you can feel confident that a physical therapist will develop one that is meant just for you and your needs!
If you’re in pain, there is an effective solution that doesn’t include harmful, possibly addictive medication or expensive surgery with long recovery times. All of our physical therapists are seasoned and certified, happy to discuss how our services can benefit you. Our goal is to help you recover and get you back to your optimum levels of function. Contact our office today, and we’ll get you started on a path to help you live your life to the fullest.