A lot of people rely on pain medications when they suffer from long-lasting or sudden, intense pain. This is a problem because many pain medications do nothing but mask the pain, leaving the root of the problem untreated. Additionally, pain medications can have negative side effects or even be addictive.
So, what do you do?
We recommend scheduling an appointment with a physical therapist for help with your aches and pains. Not only can they treat the root of the problem, but they can also help reduce your dependency on pain medication.
Using meds for pain: It’s really just masking the problem
Taking painkillers to rid yourself of pain may seem like a good solution, but it’s really not. Over-the-counter meds like aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen can have side effects. For example, taking a lot of aspirin can cause your stomach to bleed and can also cause kidney damage. Acetaminophen can result in kidney damage. Ibuprofen can cause both kidney and stomach problems. Prescription opioids like codeine, oxycodone and morphine can lead to addiction.
Other possible side effects of pain meds include respiratory depression, constipation, anxiety and nausea. Not only does taking meds for pain just mask the problem, it may cause another one.
The natural treatment of physical therapy
Sometimes even the thought of exercising may make you sweat, but in reality, exercise is one of the absolute best treatments out there for chronic pain. By participating in a physical therapy routine, you will see just how effective exercise can be for all types of chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.
Physical therapy is a natural treatment for a variety of root causes of chronic pain, including:
- Chronic headaches
- Stiff and sore muscles
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Neuropathic pain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Disc herniation
A physical therapist has a wide variety of treatment options to offer for pain. Movement therapy, manual therapy and posture guidance are just a few of the methods that physical therapists have in their toolbox. All these treatment modalities help reduce pain, reduce inflammation, accelerate healing and improve daily function.
From diagnosis to treatment: The role of a physical therapist
Consulting with a physical therapist can reduce your recovery time. That’s because a physical therapist will treat your entire body by identifying the root cause of pain. A physical therapist can perform an assessment to determine where your pain is coming from. Then, they will develop an individualized treatment plan that is designed to target the root cause of pain.
Physical therapy entails both active and passive treatment. Active physical therapy treatment may include exercises, motions, stretching and aquatic therapy. Passive therapy treatment may include joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization. You can feel confident that a physical therapist will develop a treatment plan that is just for you and your needs.
Visit SOL for help with your aches and pains
If you’re in pain, there is an effective solution other than pain meds or surgery. Our physical therapists at SOL are ready to work closely with you to identify your recovery needs and develop a personalized routine for helping you reach them. Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.
