Pain is an unwelcome sensation that we usually associate with injury or tissue injury but can also be current without tissue damage. Pain can be acute or chronic. But if you are looking for a non-invasive treatment, then Physical Therapy for chronic pain relief will be a good option. Chronic pain is any discomfort or unpleasant sensation lasting more than three months – or beyond an expected average healing time. Those with chronic pain often believe they have an ongoing disease or their body has not healed when this may not be the case.
Chronic pain does not warn you of potential injury or danger; instead, the pain centers in the brain may be causing you damage even though there are no new reasons for pain occurring in the body. Anyone can feel chronic pain at any age.
Signs and Symptoms
Study finds the following symptoms may be associated with a chronic pain syndrome:
- Fearfulness
- Body stiffness
- Deconditioning
- Decreased circulation
- Weight gain
- Increased use of medication
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation. They will:
- Ask detailed questions about your history and current health and use of medication.
- Ask about your signs: their location, intensity, how and when the pain ensues, and other questions to form a precise picture of your situation.
- Ask you to fill out pain and function questionnaires to understand how the pain affects your daily life.
- Perform tests and movements with you. The tests help to determine posture, flexibility, muscle strength, joint mobility, and training issues. Specific tests rule out any severe health problem, such as pressure on a nerve or an underlying disease.
- Monitor how you use your body for home, work, and social/leisure activities. This information helps your therapist prescribe a program to boost your quality of life and get you moving your best.
Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are often not helpful for diagnosing the cause of chronic pain. However, if your physical therapist suspects any underlying severe condition might cause your pain, they will refer you to your physician for evaluation. Your physical therapist will operate with your physician to provide the best diagnosis and treatment for your chronic pain relief.
Physical Therapy for chronic pain
PT Treatments
When you attend physical Therapy for chronic pain relief, you may encounter different treatments that may be used to reduce pain, enhance your mobility, and allow you to function fully. Common medicines utilized by physical therapists for chronic pain patients include:
- Exercise: Exercise should be your primary PT tool in treating chronic pain because it can support your body and enhance strength and mobility. Think of exercise as a feedback loop. Your brain moves your body, so exercise is output from your brain. When you can push with little or no pain, you strengthen your brain so the movement will not hurt. This positive feedback permits you to move more with less pain. So, while you are getting more powerful and improving mobility, you are also training your sensitive nervous system to trust that the movement is safe.
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound is a profound healing modality you may experience while in PT. It is applied to your skin, and as your body’s tissues are heated, it is believed to enhance circulation and blood flow. It is necessary to note that ultrasound has not been proven to be an adequate treatment for chronic pain. Still, you may experience this treatment during your PT sessions.
- TENS and Electrical Stimulation: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a therapeutic modality that utilizes electricity to reduce pain signals from the body to the brain.
- Massage: Some physical therapists use massage techniques to reduce pain by enhancing muscular blood flow and relieving tightness.
- Dry Needling: Dry needling is a unique treatment some physical therapists employ to reduce painful muscle knots and trigger points. This treatment involves using tiny needles (such as acupuncture needles) to pierce muscle tissue and knots, relieving the pain in these spots.
- Heat or Ice: PTs often use modalities like heat and ice to help decrease pain and inflammation. These treatments have not been proven effective with patients with chronic pain, but they are often used as adjunct treatments during your PT sessions.
- Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE): New research indicates that teaching patients about their pain and why it is happening can positively affect their rehab. Your physical therapist may teach you why you have pain, how your pain might behave, and how to take control of your pain.
Each of these treatments is designed to attain a specific goal. You must discuss with your physical therapist the purpose of the treatment so you know what to anticipate.
Conclusion
Physical Therapy for chronic pain emerges as a pivotal and highly effective approach to the comprehensive management of chronic pain. Its tailored exercise regimens, manual techniques, and patient education target the root causes of pain and enhance overall functionality and quality of life.
Through a holistic approach, Physical Therapy addresses the multidimensional aspects of chronic pain, promoting long-term relief and minimizing dependency on pharmacological interventions.
Tags: physical therapy for chronic pain, chronic pain relief in Michigan
