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Tired of Relying on Medication for Pain Relief? Physical Therapy Can Help

Are you taking pain medication to manage your pain? If so, this blog just might make you want to kick them once and for all. Pain medications just may not be a good choice. It seems like every time you turn on the news, there is another story about the opioid epidemic gripping the country.

The medical industry is in somewhat of a panic, and with good reason. In 2016 alone, 116 people died each day from opioid-related drug overdoses. Some 11.5 million Americans misused prescription painkillers in some way, costing an estimated $504 million in economic costs. That’s a lot of pain, a lot of money, and a lot of unnecessary death.

This epidemic has even affected employment rates in our country; some researchers even feel that many people who would otherwise be able to work are sidelined because they would fail a drug test! As mind-blowing as these numbers are, to a person who uses prescription pain medication for pain relief, opioids may seem like the only option. However, that isn’t the case. Physical therapy is another option that can alleviate your pain, and possibly help you kick your reliance on drugs altogether.

Give us a call today to learn how physical therapy can help you ditch those pain meds.

What is pain defined as?

Everyone has felt or will feel pain at some point in their lives. It is a natural part of being alive, and it’s your body’s response to harmful stimuli. Pain is a nerve signal from the brain that something hurts. When you have pain, the body naturally creates opioids to manage it.

However, if your pain is severe or chronic, your brain can’t produce enough opioids to keep up with the demand. This is why people end up taking medication to supplement natural opioid production. Prescription meds mimic the body’s natural chemicals to relieve pain but do not assist the body in healing. You can consider prescription pain medication as a band-aid of sorts for whatever it is you’re dealing with, because all it does is mask your condition. It does not alleviate or rid you of your problem.

Reasons for experiencing pain

Pain can be due to injury, trauma, or disease. You may end up with back pain due to lifting a heavy object, participating in a sport, a car accident or a disease like arthritis. The symptoms of pain can range from mild and moderate to severe. Pain can occur when you’re doing nothing or are physically active, and it certainly does not discriminate based on age!

You may find yourself resting a lot, not participating in your regular activities or fearful of the pain. You may even have to call in sick at work. Without a doubt, pain has many negative consequences, and it can run your life…but only if you allow it to!

How can physical therapy provide pain relief?

Physical therapy is a safe, holistic, and effective way to alleviate pain. Not only does it relieve a person’s pain symptoms, but it also addresses the root cause of pain. This is the way to solve a pain problem!

A physical therapist performs a comprehensive evaluation, specific tests and reviews your medical history. Through advanced diagnostic procedures, this healthcare professional will find the source of your pain and implement a treatment plan that is geared for mobility and long-term health. Even better, physical therapy is a drug-free alternative to pain meds.

A physical therapist utilizes both passive and active treatments to address pain. Passive treatments may include manual therapy, hot and cold therapy, ultrasound, electric stimulation, water therapy, and soft tissue mobilization. All of these passive treatments increase blood flow, reduce pain and enhance the body’s healing process.

Active treatments include specific exercises and stretching. You’ll engage in specific exercises during sessions and at home. Stretching helps flexibility, movement, and range of motion. With active treatments, you’ll be building muscle tissue to better support your body.

There really is no limit to the benefits of physical therapy, but by the end of your treatment, you can expect to experience a greater range of motion, improved flexibility, reduction or elimination of pain levels, and a better sense of wellbeing from knowing that you’re in control of your pain, not the other way around!

Natural relief is waiting for you…

If you’re suffering from acute or chronic pain, be sure to contact us today to make an appointment. This is your first step to leading a pain-free life without pain meds. We’ve helped many other people with pain and can help you, too. Natural relief is waiting for you, so what are you waiting for?

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