It is no secret that the United States is a country with very high levels of medication. With countless over-the-counter drugs available for pain management, it can seem simple to turn to drugs for pain relief. It is also a common practice for physicians to prescribe pain relievers, such as opioids, that have resulted in a country-wide opioid overdose epidemic.
While the effects of these drugs can be frightening, there is a safer solution available: physical therapy. Physical therapy is a healthy, safe, and effective way to relieve your pain the natural way. If you are looking for pain relief without the risk of side effects, contact one of our 6 convenient Carlson ProCare locations in Connecticut today to schedule a consultation!
What Does Physical Therapy Do?
After a comprehensive evaluation, our dedicated physical therapists work with you to create individualized treatment plans based on your specific needs. Your treatment plan will vary based on the nature of your condition; for example, if you are suffering from a recent acute injury, we may use manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, kinesiology taping, and other techniques to ease your pain and jump-start the healing process. If you’re suffering from chronic pain, we use a whole body systems approach to relieve your symptoms.
Once you’re safely able to exercise without pain, your physical therapist will prescribe stretches, strengthening, walking, cycling, swimming, or other exercise, in order to help mobilize your body. This is done to help keep you joints lubricated and prevent your soft tissues from getting stiff. Strengthening exercises can rehabilitate damaged muscles so they can perform without pain, and they can also help you maintain a straighter posture in order to ease pain from spinal nerve compression.
Physical therapy methods and modalities have been proven to work. In fact, an 11-year study of chronic pain sufferers demonstrated that regular exercise resulted in decreased pain. Effective physical therapy isn’t just the work of the physical therapist—it also depends on the efforts of the patient. We will take the time to educate you about the nature of your pain and the importance of following your exercise routine. All of this will give you the resources you need to live a pain-free life and prevent future injuries from occurring.
The Safest Pain Relief Strategy
We’ve all seen it broadcasted over the media: the serious dangers of opioid medications. These narcotics, which include both prescription medicines and illicit drugs, take the lives of approximately 115 American every day via overdose. Opioids are not only tremendously powerful, but they also have the potential for dangerous interactions with other drugs and they are commonly known for their addictive nature.
Steroids, which are another class of prescription painkillers, also pose serious risks and dangers. Epidural steroid injections are used to relieve pain, but they can also lead to undesirable conditions, such as cataracts, arthritis in the hips, elevated blood sugar, stomach ulcers, and nerve damage. Even ordinary NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can cause stomach bleeding and liver problems. Additionally, pain management drugs only allow for temporary pain relief – meaning you’ll have to take larger amounts for longer periods of time, if you don’t get sufficient treatment for your condition.
With physical therapy treatments, you can sweep all of those risks, worries, and unpleasant side effects aside. While some cases of severe pain might still require some pharmaceutical intervention, physical therapy can help many patients greatly reduce their reliance on pain medications, and in many cases, the need for these drugs may be eliminated altogether.
Our highly-skilled physical therapists use a combination of techniques to treat a wide range of painful problems, from acute injuries and post-operative wounds to chronic pain syndromes and conditions. Whatever the case may be, you can find relief through physical therapy.
Schedule an Appointment for Relief!
Pain-management drugs are not the only solution when it comes to relief. Try physical therapy for a safer and natural approach, which will provide you with the relief you need! Schedule your appointment today by contacting Carlson ProCare in Bethel, Meriden, New London, New Milford, Wallington, and Willimantic, and get started on your journey toward long-lasting and low-risk relief!
References
American Physical Therapy Association. (2021.) Safe Pain Management Advocacy. <https://www.apta.org/advocacy/issues/opioid-epidemic-safe-pain-management>.
American Physical Therapy Association. (2021.) Avoid Addictive Opioids. Choose Physical Therapy for Safe Pain Management. #ChoosePT . <https://www.choosept.com/choose-physical-therapy-over-opioids-for-pain-management-choosept>.
Bishop, Shawn. (2012.) Repeat Cortisone Injections Not Uncommon in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Condition. March 23, 2012. <https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/repeat-cortisone-injections-not-uncommon-in-patients-with-chronic-inflammatory-condition/>.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021.) Understanding the Epidemic. March 17, 2021.<https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html>.
Hayhurst, Chris. (2018.) Moving Away from Opioid Reliance. October 1, 2018. <http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/2018/10/Feature/Opioid/>.
Marcum, Zachary A., Joseph T. Hanlon. (2010.) Recognizing the Risks of Chronic Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use in Older Adults. Ann Longterm Care. 2010; 18(9): 24–27. PMCID: PMC3158445. NIHMSID: NIHMS315767. PMID: 21857795. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3158445/>.
