Is Chronic Pain Holding You Back? Physical Therapy Can Help You Live Life Comfortably
Do you suffer from a chronic pain or illness or disease that makes it difficult for you to live a normal life? You are not alone in your search for relief if this is the case.
Distress does not usually vanish on its own. Pain can continue for days, weeks, or even months depending on the underlying cause.
Pain that lasts three months or longer is considered chronic, and it can get in the way of your everyday routine. Don’t hesitate to contact our physical therapy clinic in Ahwatukee, Biltmore or Tempe, AZ if you’ve been suffering from discomfort that you can’t seem to get rid of. We might have the solution you’ve been seeking for at Orthopedic Sports Therapy!
Our cutting-edge care strategies at Orthopedic Sports Therapy will provide you with fast relief. We’ll devise a treatment plan to address your chronic pain in the most effective way possible, without the use of unnecessary drugs.
What is chronic pain?
It is discomfort that lasts for three to six months or more. When a person has constant pain for that long, it changes how the brain perceives pain, making them more sensitive, even “hypersensitive”. That is called a change in the “neurophysiological environment”, since the nerves themselves actually change structure. A person experiencing chronic pain feels pain even with activities that would normally not hurt. They are (unconsciously) on high alert all the time, their fight or flight system ready for threats. Chronic pain can occur for a variety of causes, and the most effective way to address it is to seek medical help.
By contrast, Acute pain is characterized as pain that disappears within a few hours, days, or weeks, on its own. For example, a slight ankle sprain is termed acute because it started suddenly and the pain normally goes away within a few days.
Chronic pain harms your quality of life by limiting your mobility, increasing your reliance on prescription drugs, and often causes anxiety and depression. It is a very challenging condition to live with. All of this, however, can be reduced or avoided with the help of physical therapy.
What is causing my chronic pain?
An injury that doesn’t heal, diabetes, anxiety, and depression are all factors that might lead your neurological system to be on high alert all of the time, causing chronic pain.
Back pain, joint pain, nerve pain, and headaches are only a few of the symptoms of chronic pain. Changes in the neurophysiological environment is part of the issue for many chronic pain problems.
Chronic pain may happen because the following causes:
Surgical Procedures
If you have a surgery but have difficulty recovering as expected, that can result in extended pain or even chronic pain.
Changes in how you move can cause additional pain after surgery if the movement is not corrected. If that poor movement and pain continue for a prolonged period after surgery, it may result in chronic pain. Physical therapy offers post-surgical rehabilitation services that can help speed up recovery time, relieve pain, and reduce the risk of chronic pain in the future.
Disease
Certain diseases such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, shingles, neuropathy as a result of diabetes, can increase your risk of chronic pain.
These kinds of diseases may cause pain that can be alleviated or even eliminated in some cases through physical therapy treatments at Orthopedic Sports Therapy in Ahwatukee, Biltmore and Tempe, AZ.
Overuse Injuries
Overuse injuries are prevalent and can affect any area of the body that is used frequently in daily activities.
The way you stand, walk, work, and exercise, for example, will have an impact on your body. Overuse incidents occur when joints, tendons or other body structures are over-stressed and used in a painful way.
This can cause persistent pain by damaging your joints and muscles. For example, if you do heavy lifting at work several times a day using ineffective body mechanics, you may get persistent back discomfort.
Physical therapy can help you learn how to move your body correctly in your daily life to prevent overuse of injuries.
Workplace Injuries
Any accident or injury, whether in the auto, the job, or even your own house, can result in chronic pain.
According to OSHA statistics from 2016, roughly 2.9 out of every 100 workers are injured at work.
In addition, according to a survey published in the Pain journal, 21% of people engaged in car accidents develop widespread chronic pain in the weeks following the event.
Chronic pain does not go away on its own, but it can with the help of an Orthopedic Sports Therapy physical therapist!
How can a physical therapist help my chronic pain?
Physical treatment can mean the difference between living in pain and regaining control of your life!
Our physical therapists will evaluate the appropriate course of treatment for you if your condition affects your capacity to function. Pain management and treating the underlying source of the problem, rather than masking symptoms with medicines, is one of the fundamental purposes of physical therapy.
At Orthopedic Sports Therapy, we employ thorough physical examinations to evaluate weak and vulnerable portions of the body, including posture, range of motion and gait or balance irregularities. All of these tests help our therapists figure out what’s causing your chronic pain in the first place.
Following the exam, a physical therapist will devise a rehab plan tailored to your individual needs. To ensure the most effective treatment, your treatment plan will include both in-clinic and at-home therapy.
To help restore soft tissue and joint mobility, advanced, relaxing manual therapy approaches will be used. Your physical therapist will also recommend pain-relieving techniques and gentle strength-building activities.
With our dedicated and caring team, there is no reason to be afraid of physical therapy! So, what’s holding you back from pursuing recovery when you have so much to gain?
Do you want to find out more about therapy for this pain?
Are you ready to reclaim your life? If so, make an appointment with Orthopedic Sports Therapy right away.
Our physical therapists in Ahwatukee, Biltmore and Tempe, AZ are highly trained movement professionals, capable of identifying physical issues and addressing the underlying physiological causes of these issues.
We can assist you in overcoming chronic pain so that you can resume living your life comfortably!