Medication Can Be Expensive….And Addicting.
Do you suffer from acute or chronic pain that makes it hard for you to get things done every day that you need to do? Have you found yourself panicking when you run out of your prescription medication because otherwise, you have no way to manage your discomfort levels?
Many people struggling with pain make the mistake of leaning on prescription medications for relief, but drugs only mask the symptoms. They don’t target or correct the source of the pain. Thankfully, there is something that has been proven to work: physical therapy.
Physical therapy is a totally natural, effective, and safe treatment that works to relieve pain and restore mobility. You don’t have to say no to the things you love for fear you’ll injure yourself. If you’re struggling with acute or chronic pain, be sure to give our office a call today and learn how physical therapy can get you back on the path to a pain-free, drug-free lifestyle.
Over The Counter Meds Won’t Take The Pain Away Forever
A common option many people choose when suffering with pain symptoms is taking painkillers. It seems like a good solution in the short-term, but it really isn’t. These pills only bring relief in the short term and do nothing for reversing or fixing the true issues you’re having with your pain.
Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin all come with various side effects. For instance, consistently taking aspirin and acetaminophen can cause internal bleeding, and in some cases even kidney damage. Ibuprofen can cause stomach and kidney issues as well.
…And Neither Will Opioids
Prescription opioids such as oxycodone, morphine, and codeine aren’t better options. According to the National Institute of Health, “Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they can be misused (taken in a different way or in a larger quantity than prescribed, or taken without a doctor’s prescription). Regular use—even as prescribed by a doctor—can lead to dependence and, when misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to addiction, overdose incidents, and deaths.”
In addition, the side effects of opioids aren’t much better than those of over-the-counter medications. Respiratory issues, depression, anxiety, and nausea are just a handful of side effects one might experience when taking them. Relying on pain medication not only masks your pain and symptoms, but can also create new problems for you.
Here’s How Physical Therapy Can Help Instead
Exercising isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to do. Sometimes the mere thought of exercising stresses us out! Being active can be something you dread if all you want to do is lie around and watch TV all day, but in reality, getting daily exercise is one of the most effective ways to treat chronic pain.
By adopting a healthy physical therapy routine, you will quickly realize how great exercise can be for all kinds of chronic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
Physical therapy is a natural, non-invasive treatment option for a variety of root causes of chronic pain, including:
- Neuropathic pain
- Disc degeneration disease
- Disc herniation
- Chronic headaches
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
Your physical therapist will be able to offer you a variation of treatment options to ease your pain. Massage therapy, manual therapy, movement therapy, cold laser therapy, and microcurrent stimulation are just a few. The manipulation of joints and bones is a common method that physical therapists often utilize, and all of these treatments aim to help reduce pain and inflammation, and speed up the healing process.
What Does A Physical Therapist Do?
Seeking treatment from a physical therapist can drastically reduce your recovery time after an injury. This is because physical therapists treat a person’s entire body by finding the true source of the pain. A physical therapist can perform an examination to decide where the pain is coming from, and from there, create a customized treatment plan designed to target and eliminate the pain source.
Different Kinds of Treatment For Different Conditions
Physical therapy includes both passive and active treatment. Passive physical therapy treatment may include massage therapy, ultrasound, heat therapy, electric stimulation and cold therapy. Active treatment might consist of exercises, motions, stretching and aquatic therapy. Your treatment plan will be catered to you and your specific needs. You can go into your initial consultation with a physical therapist feeling confident that they will be able to find the root of your pain, and get you set up for recovery.
Make An Appointment Today
If you’re in pain, there is an effective solution other than pain meds or surgery. Call our office today to learn how our physical therapists can help you live a pain-free lifestyle. All of our physical therapies are seasoned and certified. Our goal is to get you back in the game, on the road to recovery and to help you live life to its fullest.
