Physical Therapy May Be the Solution You’ve Been Looking For
Options Beyond Pain Medication
true. Physical therapy works with a patient’s range of motion and limitations to heal and restore their body’s proper function. The PT’s goal is to relieve your pain, not create it. Patients include older people experiencing age-related wear and tear, athletes, and individuals hurt in accidents. Physical therapists specialize in restoring mobility and relieving pain as well as detecting and diagnosing problems before they become worse. Pain that lasts less than 90 days is considered acute; anything over that is chronic. When a condition becomes chronic, it’s recommended that you speak to a physical therapist about the pain you’re experiencing instead of continuing pain medication. The CDC guidelines note that non-opioid therapies are “preferred” for chronic pain and state, “Clinicians should consider opioid therapy only if expected benifits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient.” When to Talk to a Physical Therapist
If you go to your doctor with pain, chances are they’ll prescribe you pain medication. While pain medication can help in certain situations, such as acute pain, cancer treatment, and end-of-life care, in others, it’s not always the only solution. Relying too heavily on medication for chronic pain can lead to bigger problems. To manage long-lasting pain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, highly recommends seeing a physical therapist.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
When you suffer from chronic pain and take pain medications to cope, you’re not solving the problem. The pills only mask the pain, but the issue remains. A physical therapist works to resolve the problems causing the pain and manage pain by strengthening the affected part of the body. Instead of relying on prescription drugs, a physical therapist helps relieve pain through education, hands-on care, and movement.
Myths About Physical Therapy
Suffering from pain doesn’t have to be part of your life, and there are other solutions than relying on medication.
You may have heard that physical therapy is painful or that a center will only accept someone who has been injured, but that’s not
SUCCESS STORIES
“I came in for shoulder impingement and rotator cuff tendinitis. Before PT, I could barely move my arm and had limited range of motion. Julian and his staff were great and got me playing tennis again in 3–4
“My shoulder has been deteriorating for years. It got to the point where I was in pain 24 hours a day. I could not function — could not sleep. I had surgery on June 26 with four
different procedures. I was not allowed to move at all for six weeks after surgery. I did not think I would ever be normal. However, with the help of the Focus team, I am happy to say I am a new woman. I have NO pain — can do pushups, play golf, and all the things I haven’t done for years. Thank you, Julian and all the rest of the team. I am forever grateful!” –Carol Chafee
weeks. Everyone was very knowledgeable and friendly. Thanks so much for getting me back on track. I feel better and stronger than before my injury.” –Doreen Brinkman
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