PAINMEDICATION IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION! 5 Important Reasons To Choose PT FIRST Over Opioids According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sales of prescriptionopioidshavequadrupled in theUnitedStates,even though “there hasnotbeenanoverallchange in theamountofpain thatAmericans report.”
You should choose physical therapy FIRST when: 1. The risks of opioid use outweigh the rewards.
Potentialsideeffectsofopioids includedepression,overdose,andaddiction, pluswithdrawalsymptomswhenstoppingopioiduse.Becauseof theserisks, “experts agreed that opioids should not be considered first-line or routine therapy for chronic pain,” the CDC guidelines state. 2. You want to do more than mask the pain. Opioids reduce thesensationofpainby interruptingpainsignals to thebrain. Opioids make it so you can’t feel the pain, but, they do not treat the source of your pain. Physical therapists treat pain by finding the source and restoring movement and function. 3. Pain or function problems are related to low back pain, hip or knee osteoarthritis, or fibromyalgia. TheCDCcites “high-qualityevidence”supportingexerciseaspartofaphysical therapy treatment plan for those familiar conditions. 4. Opioids are prescribed for pain. Even in situations when opioids are prescribed, the CDC recommends that patientsshould receive “the lowesteffectivedosage,”andopioids “shouldbe combined” with nonopioid therapies, such as physical therapy.
5. Pain lasts 90 days. At this point, the pain is considered “chronic,” and the risks for continued opioid use increase. An estimated 116 million Americans have chronic pain each year. The CDC guidelines note that nonopioid therapies are “preferred” for chronic pain and that clinicians should consider opioid therapy only if expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient.
“PhysicalTherapy vsOpioids:When toChoosePhysicalTherapy forPainManagement.”AmericanPhysicalTherapyAssociation.N.p.,15June2016.Web.10Feb.2017.
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Welcome to Willow Physical Therapy We are here to help you enjoy your life, pain-free! To make a convenient appointment, simply call us today at 907-456-5990 or click “Request an Appointment” button on our website. Our practice is dedicated to helping our patients identify the cause of their pain and creating a custom treatment program that will allow them to return to normal activities pain-free. WE LOVE SERVING OUR PATIENTS
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