WHY PT I S BE T T ER THAN RX
It’s important to remember that not every prescription is bad or dangerous, and that you don’t have to “suck it up,” refusing all painkillers. But there are specific conditions under which the CDC recommends trying physical therapy first: • The pain has persisted for three months. After the 90-day mark, pain is considered chronic, meaning that painkiller use would also hit the dangerous 90-day mark. This can certainly lead to addiction. • The source of the problem is in the knees, back or hips, or stems from fibromyalgia. Physical therapy has proven especially effective in these situations.
• The “risk vs. reward” question tilts more heavily toward “risk.” There are certainly diseases which cause intense pain and for which opioids help patients to function, or at least to remain comfortable. But when the condition could be better managed with physical therapy or other treatment, as opposed to addictive pills, the “reward” of taking the painkillers doesn’t merit the risk. Are you wondering whether your pain should be addressed with PT first? We will give you a thorough evaluation for your specific condition. Should our trained staff determine that physical therapy can make a real difference in eradicating your pain, we’ll give you an honest timetable and a safe strategy to avoid prescription painkiller overuse.
PAT I ENT SUCCESS SPOTL I GHT
Following an accidental gunshot wound to her right leg in June of 2017, 19-year-old Kaitlyn Antulov was faced with several options to choose from when it came to the decision about her leg. Two of those options were either possible amputation or knee fusion, which was an option that was highly recommended by her surgeon, Dr. Nicholas Divaris of Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates. Dr. Divaris felt that choosing to move forward with the knee fusion would provide Kaitlyn with the best quality of life for her future. After much consideration, Kaitlyn would choose to move forward with the procedure which took place in December of 2017. After Kaitlyn’s halo was removed in June of 2018 and the procedure to add the plates for fusion to her knee in August, Kaitlyn began her new journey with Professional Care Physical Therapy to learn how to walk again. Kaitlyn’s positive attitude and determination have been a true asset to her rehabilitation, and in less than a year, working alongside her team of ProCare Physical Therapists, we are thrilled with her progress! In a short period of time, Kaitlyn went from a wheelchair and walker to now walking with the aid of a cane in a public setting. She can even
move freely without the use of assistance during her rehabilitation visits in addition to her home. Kaitlyn now 21, is working as a volunteer EMT for Bay Shore-Brightwaters rescue ambulance in addition to taking classes at Suffolk Community College to become a full-time paramedic. The future looks bright for young Kaitlyn and we at Professional Care Physical Therapy are honored that she made the choice to become part of our ProCare family! “Everyone that I have worked with at Professional Care PT has been super friendly and helpful towards my rehabilitation. I never felt pressured to do more than what I was comfortable with and my team of therapists helped me to regain my confidence and stability to walk again.”
-Kaitlyn Antulov
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