Physical Therapy Can Eliminate the Need for Medication
Have you ever suffered from such bad and long lasting pain that you just reach for your medicine cabinet and take whatever will relieve your pain the fastest? Truth is, that pain medications such as Tylenol and Aleve usually only offer temporary pain relief, meaning, it is not going to stop the pain or cure what’s causing it. Fortunately, there are many alternative approaches available through pain management specialists who can provide you with better pain management strategies. When it comes to pain management, medication isn’t the only solution.
In many cases, physical therapy has been shown to be as effective as surgery in treating a wide range of conditions, from rotator cuff tears to degenerative disk disease and knee osteoarthritis. Physical therapists are evidence-based health care professionals who offer cost-effective treatment that can improve mobility and relieve pain. They will try to reduce the need for surgery and prescription drugs, and allow patients to participate in a recovery plan designed for their specific needs.
Avoid Surgery and Prescription Drugs
While surgery and prescription drugs can be the best course of treatment for certain diagnoses, there is increasing evidence demonstrating that conservative treatments like physical therapy can be equally effective and much less expensive. Prescription pain medication will often only mask the pain, and can have unfortunate side effects such as constipation, and the potential for addiction. In some cases, surgery may be the only way to fix the injury, but the best protocol is often to try a non-invasive approach first. The one thing that surgery cannot do is strengthen your muscles and increase flexibility, and physical therapy is often prescribed after many orthopedic surgeries.
Most importantly, unlike medication, physical therapy can help treat the underlying source of your pain, whether it’s arthritis or another condition, and will help to reduce chronic pain over time. Physical therapy may include stretching, aerobic exercise, yoga and pilates, and even water therapy – such as working muscles in a pool or whirlpool to reduce impact and stress. Physical therapy also includes regular exercise, and working with our trained physical therapists will teach you the right way to exercise to alleviate and avoid pain, rather than increasing it.
Benefits of physical therapy:
The main goal of physical therapy is to restore your function and mobility, and eliminate or minimize your pain so you can get back to your active lifestyle. People everywhere are experiencing the transformative effect physical therapy can have on their daily lives. In fact, they are experts in the way the body moves, and they help people of all ages and abilities reduce pain, improve or restore mobility, and stay active and fit throughout life.
A customized physical therapy program can help individuals return to their prior level of functioning, and encourage activities and lifestyle changes that can help prevent further injury and improve overall health and well-being. Primary care doctors often refer patients for physical therapy at the first sign of a problem, since it is considered a traditional approach to managing problems.
If you are experiencing chronic pain or reduced mobility and would like to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy, call Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence at (719) 623-1050 to request an appointment.
