17 Jan Physical Therapy and Pain Management: A Drug-Free Approach to Healing
Are you struggling with chronic pain? You’re not alone. Approximately 21% of Americans have experienced chronic pain in the last year. Of those, 1 in 5 will be prescribed pain medications.
For those seeking relief, exploring options like physical therapy near Troy can be a great alternative to medications.
Commonly prescribed Pain medications include NSAIDS, Opioids, Anticonvulsants, and corticosteroids. Most of these drugs have side effects that can range from stomach aches to addiction and death. On top of this, most drugs only treat the symptoms without addressing the root cause of the problem. This means many patients do not recover completely.
Understanding Pain and Its Causes
Pain is a complex phenomenon. Our initial understanding of pain was that it was always directly linked to an injury. Modern pain science has proved this otherwise.
One good example of how pain is often not directly linked to an injury is that of a herniated disc. A herniation is a bulge in the disc in the spine and is a well-known cause of back pain. In one interesting study, herniated discs were found in 52% of the asymptomatic population.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that some people are more susceptible to pain or that some are ‘making it up’. A common observation is that patients with painful hernias are usually much stiffer than people with hernias and no pain. When a person has less flexibility around the hip, more movement will occur around the hernia – aggravating it and preventing it from healing independently.
Today’s pain theory is that pain is the body’s alert system, signaling that we must change something to improve. If we fall and break our arm, we feel pain. However, once our broken arm is in a cast, the body has the position it needs to recover. The injury is still there, but the pain stops once the body has what it needs to recover.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare discipline that helps with physical pain and conditions. Physical therapy can help you with many physical conditions, for example, sprains, tendinitis, aches and pains, and neurological conditions.
Treatment usually consists of corrective exercises, including detailed strengthing and stretching exercises. PT also uses manual therapy, massage, ultrasound, dry needling, and more.
Rather than masking pain, physical therapy works to correct the root cause of the problem. This is done through improving strength, flexibility, posture, and movement patterns. PT also works to reduce inflammation with ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
How Physical Therapy Manages Pain
1. Addressing the Source of Pain
The first thing your therapist will do when you arrive is take a detailed medical history and conduct an examination. This might include examining muscle imbalances, joint dysfunction, or poor posture. For example, chronic back pain could stem from weak core muscles or improper lifting mechanics.
Your therapist will devise a tailored exercise plan to address the imbalance.
3. Non-Invasive Techniques
In addition to assessment and exercises, your therapist will use non-invasive techniques to help alleviate the pain. Treatments can include heat or cold, improving circulation to an area, or reducing inflammation.
Electrical devices can stimulate healing and reduce inflammation.
Massage, manipulation, and mobilizations can all help to improve circulation. These therapies can relieve pain without medications’ risks and side effects.
4. Re-educating Movement Patterns
Faulty movement patterns often contribute to chronic pain. When we sit in an office, we often teach our bodies to move in sub-optimal ways. Your therapist will be able to assess how you move and correct it. Not only will this reduce pain, but it’ll also help you move and feel better.
5. Building Strength and Resilience
Weakness in specific muscle groups can exacerbate pain. For example, when our core muscles (our abs, back, and glute muscles) weaken, there is less structure to support the spine. Without a strong muscular support system, more stress on the ligaments and joints within the spine increases the risk of injury or pain.
6. Education and Empowerment
A critical aspect of Physical Therapy is patient education. Your therapist should be able to come up with a diagnosis and explain the problem. This can help you avoid aggravating activities and help you know what’s best to aid your recovery.
Benefits of a Drug-Free Approach
There are many benefits to choosing therapy over drugs:
- Fewer Side Effects: Almost all treatments a therapist gives are natural and have few side effects.
- Lasting Pain Relief: By targeting the problem’s root cause, you’ll get results that last even once you stop.
- Improved Mobility: PT will help improve your strength and flexibility, making you more mobile
- Fun: Therapy is often fun and includes treatments like massage.
- Prevention of Future Issues: Often, many injuries are caused by the same problems with movement patterns. Correcting the incorrect movement pattern can prevent future injuries.
Who Can Benefit from Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is suitable for a wide range of conditions, including:
- Chronic pain syndromes such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or migraines
- Post-surgical rehabilitation for joints, spine, or muscles
- Sports injuries, including sprains, strains, or overuse injuries
- Neurological conditions like stroke or Parkinson’s disease
- Workplace or ergonomic injuries
- Paediatric and geriatric mobility challenges
Final thoughts
Physical therapy is a safe, effective treatment for chronic pain. Not only does PT treat the symptoms, but it can also help treat the root cause of your problems without the need for addictive or potentially harmful medications.
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Last Updated on January 17, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD