Joint Pain Archives - Washington Physical Therapy

Ready to Relieve Pain the Natural Way? Say Goodbye to Drugs with PT

Kick Pain Management Drugs to the Curb Today!

The world we live in today is heavily medicated. Go to any grocery store or pharmacy and you'll find countless over-the-counter drugs. Doctors also consistently prescribe more extreme pain relievers, including opioids that have been widely abused over the years. Drug abuse is everywhere, and it is an ongoing battle that patients are constantly fighting.

If you've ever experienced an injury, you know it can turn your everyday life upside down. If it's a car accident, a sports-related injury, a workplace injury, or even an unintentional fall, the pain from a sudden injury can make you feel helpless. To fight this, many people resort to pain-relieving medications, such as opioids. However, what many people don't know is how much more damage these drugs do to their body than they realize.

If you're struggling with chronic pain but don't want to pump your body full of addictive drugs, you'll be delighted to discover a better, safer alternative: physical therapy. Physical therapy is a natural and effective approach to chronic pain that can make you feel better in the long-term. Let's look at how this kind of natural treatment will boost your quality of life!

You can choose the natural path to pain relief!

Your physical therapist is going to show you what to do but they don't have to do all the work! In order for physical therapy to be effective for you, you have to make an effort.

Our physical therapists here will take the time to teach you about your pain and the value of maintaining your stretches and workouts at home for long-term relief.

However, at the end of the day, you make the decision to completely partake in your journey to get rid of pain!

How can a physical therapist help relieve my pain?

Because everybody is different, and the pain levels of everyone are different, physical therapy procedures must be as well! Depending on your particular condition, your physical therapy pain treatment strategy may be different from anyone else's.

Your doctor might decide to use massage therapy, heat, ice, ultrasound, or other therapies to relieve your pain and speed up the healing process if you are dealing with pain from a recent injury.

If you are able to get up and exercise comfortably, a physical therapist will recommend simple stretching, walking, swimming, or cycling to assist with the mobilization process.

These kinds of physical therapy are excellent for helping to restore mobility to soft tissues, allowing them to function more freely and comfortably. They are also excellent at keeping arthritic joints mobile and lubricated.

Strengthening exercises can repair and rehabilitate weakened muscles to avoid causing pain. Physical therapy often includes certain exercises to help strengthen your posture, balance, and gait.

Why YOU should choose physical therapy

If you keep up with the news on a daily basis, you’ve most likely heard about the dangers of opioids. These narcotics, which include both illegal drugs and prescription medication, are the cause for at least 115 overdose deaths in America every single day.

The APTA states that clinicians “[…] should consider opioid therapy only if expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient." Opioids are extremely powerful and can interact with other drugs in a dangerous way. They also lead to abuse and addiction as well.

Steroids are another dangerous class of prescription medication, and pose many risks and dangers to your health. Epidural steroid injections are used to relieve pain, but can cause arthritis in the hips, cataracts, stomach ulcers, elevated blood sugar, and nerve damage stemming from the injection itself.

Even ordinary NSAIDs such as ibuprofen are capable of causing liver problems and bleeding in the stomach, which is worrisome, because many people who don’t even have chronic injuries use these daily.

Physical therapy can prevent you from having to deal with all of these unpleasant side effects. Some cases of severe discomfort might still require you to take medication, but physical therapy helps plenty of patients decrease -- or even eliminate -- their dependence on pain medication.

Our physical therapists will use a combination of treatment techniques to help get your pain condition under control, no matter if it’s from an acute injury, or a wound from a recent surgery.

Physical therapy is a good option for you especially if you’re looking for ongoing chronic pain management that doesn’t include constant drug usage, or if you’re already on other essential medications and you’re worried about how they will interact with your pain meds.

Ready to get started?

It should be clear now that opioids and over-the-counter medications are not the only choice for pain relief.

There are a variety of treatment services available to you via physical therapy. Our therapists are here, waiting for your call!

Contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation today to learn more about our natural options and get back to a drug-free, pain-free lifestyle.

Source:

https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2018/10/01/moving-away-from-opioid-reliance

You Don’t Have to Live in Pain – Discover Relief with Physical Therapy

Finally Find the Relief You’ve Been Looking For

Have you suffered from sports injuries or a traffic accident recently? If you have, chances are you're still struggling with the consequences. It's time for a shift if you are dealing with acute or chronic pain and have yet to find relief. To learn more about how our certified physical therapists will get you on the road to a pain-free life, contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation today.

How can physical therapy help me avoid injuries?

The nervous system can still send signals of pain even after the injury has completely healed. A physical therapist can also inform you about sensory re-education for chronic pain, in addition to offering pain relief for you. Sensory re-education reduces sensitivity and desensitizes the nervous system to the affected region.

In order to avoid re-injuring the same position in your body in the future or getting a new injury, your physical therapist will also teach you new ways to move in your daily life. For example, if you regularly lift heavy objects, you're likely to strain your muscles without noticing them until much later. Physical therapists will teach you the best ways to bend and lift without damaging yourself.

Do you have any of these conditions?

According to the APTA, “Studies have established the efficacy of physical therapy in treating and reducing pain as well as preventing chronic pain.”

Here are a few common disorders that, with the help of a licensed physical therapist, can be eased or even removed.

Arthritis: Arthritis is typically mistaken for a disease that one only encounters as they age, but no matter how old someone is, it can affect everyone! Therapeutic exercise services can alleviate pain and enhance the physical function of individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis.
Rehabilitation done before and after surgery: "Pre-hab," or rehabilitation prior to surgery, has become more popular. It has been found to enhance patient outcomes and mechanisms of recovery. Studies also show that beginning physical therapy about a month before a planned procedure can also greatly accelerate the recovery period. During the healing time following a procedure, seeing a physical therapist is often a must to ensure proper alignment of muscles and joints when you learn to move around again.
Lower back pain & sciatica: Sciatica is a condition in which pain radiates down the legs, thighs, and buttocks. It is also normal for some parts of the leg to feel a numbness, burning, or tingling sensation. Exercises and stretches of physical therapy can help ease the pressure put on the sciatic nerve and in turn, minimize general discomfort felt in areas of the back.

What will a PT treatment plan look like?

Certain modalities can also be used in physical therapy to obtain pain relief.

A few are as follows:

Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound technology can send sound waves deep into inflamed tissues and joints, prevent pain signals from getting to the brain, and is useful for musculoskeletal problems.
Electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation is often used in some physical therapy treatment programs, where currents are sent to soothe affected areas and relieve discomfort.
Direct manipulation. Direct joint manipulation may be performed to enhance functioning and maintain proper alignment.
Massage therapy. Massage therapy is a manual procedure used to improve mobility in confined or limited areas. This is achieved by rhythmic stretching and applying deep pressure to fibrous muscle tissue. Massage therapies are effective in breaking up scar tissue and adhesions caused by inflammation or injury. It also helps increase blood flow and circulation to affected muscles and soft tissues.
Hot and cold therapy. Heat and ice packs may be used to reduce inflammation and pain in the affected areas. In physical therapy, this is a very prevalent treatment tool which can be used to complement other forms of pain relief.

How will physical therapy benefit me?

Physical therapy is aimed at minimizing and removing pain while enhancing mobility and function.

According to WebMD, "Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.”

Typical physical therapy includes numerous targeted workouts and pain relief stretches. You are presented with these exercises to strengthen the function of your core muscles. To help restore balance and range of motion, some physical therapists use bikes, exercise balls, weights, or other devices.

It may also be part of the recovery plan to use your own bodyweight for pushups and lunges. All exercises are intended to alleviate discomfort, target trouble areas, and relax muscles.

Ready to get started on your PT plan?

It's time to put your foot down if you are dealing with pain that affects your everyday life. Enough is enough. You don't have to deal with soreness, aches, and inflammation day in and day out that stops you from enjoying the things you love!

A licensed physical therapist will analyze your condition, determine any underlying health conditions that you may have, identify the cause of your pain, and clearly develop a personalized care plan for your needs.

To learn more about our pain management and relief options, contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation today; our physical therapists are ready to help. Schedule an appointment with us today to find relief!

Relieve Your Achy Joints with These 3 Tips!

Physical Therapy Can Help You Live Your Life Comfortably

If you are living with chronic pain in your joints, you are not alone. In fact, 20% of the United States population experiences chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

At our physical therapy clinic, we work with people every day who are dealing with the physical and mental effects of chronic pain caused by conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia.

So, if your joints are achy and stiff, we invite you to consider working with a physical therapist in the New Year.

The top 3 benefits of physical therapy for joint pain relief

You don't deserve to spend every day in pain, and with physical therapy you may not have to!

Here are three reasons to work with a physical therapist for your achy joints:

1. A natural, holistic treatment method

Did you know that the CDC and other professional organizations officially recognize physical therapy as a safe alternative to pain-relieving medications like opioids?

Physical therapy has been proven research studies to be effective for alleviating chronic joint pain and may even help you cut down on your medication (with your doctor's supervision, of course).

For example, non-invasive modalities like electrical stimulation, diathermy, or ultrasound used by physical therapists can alleviate spasms and naturally block pain signals.

This kind of short-term pain relief is valuable because it helps you participate in rehabilitation exercises and get better sleep, which we know is important for overall health and stress relief. But physical therapy can also help you achieve longer-term pain relief.

2. Physical therapy can provide you long-term relief

Beyond alleviating your joint pain and stiffness, a physical therapist also uses a variety of individually tailored techniques and services that can address the root causes of your joint issues.

In the long-term, this can help you avoid or minimize daily pain, slow disease progression, and even prevent your joint problem from getting worse.

Examples include:

Neuromuscular education techniques to improve your balance and reduce the risk of falls, which may otherwise exacerbate your pain
Prescription and fitting of custom orthoses, braces, and other devices to support, compensate for, and/or alleviate pressure on your affected joints
Therapeutic exercises and stretches to correct strength or mobility imbalances, promote tissue healing, and improve overall joint function and stability
Manual techniques like joint mobilizations and massage to improve joint alignment, reduce swelling and stiffness, and break up painful adhesions

3. A physical therapist is there every step of the way

When you work with a physical therapist, he or she becomes a partner in your healing and health.

By teaching you exercises, mindfulness techniques, lifestyle modifications, breathing techniques, and safer ways to function in your daily life, your therapist can empower you to prevent recurring issues and optimize your overall health.

With less pain, greater strength, and improved function, you gain more independence and support your caregivers, too.

Could the cause of your joint pain be arthritis?

Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability across the United States? According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 50 million people live with arthritis.

While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any joint, it most commonly affects the neck, back, hands, hips and knees.

There are two main types of arthritis that are the most common culprits when it comes to joint pain: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Here is a closer look at these types of arthritis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's healing systems attack the joints. This causes inflammation of the joints, which can be extremely painful. Rheumatoid arthritis usually begins in the hands, wrists or feet, but it can spread to the hips, knees or shoulders -- getting progressively worse -- if you aren't proactive in combating it. If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely prescribe pharmaceutical treatments to stave off the symptoms. However, physical therapy can be a tremendous help as well.
Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis by far. It typically develops later in life and can be caused by poor body mechanics, overuse of the joint or an injury. The cartilage in joints serves as a natural barrier that lubricates and distributes force during physical activity. When that cartilage breaks down and no longer provides a cushion between adjoining bones, the result is osteoarthritis. The hands, hips, knees and spine are the most common body parts impacted by osteoarthritis.

Certain ailments like gout, bursitis, lupus or tendinitis can also contribute to joint pain.

The source of your joint pain may cause the specific course of physical therapy that is recommended for you to vary.

Relieve your joint pains today!

Is it time to see what physical therapy can do for your chronic pain?

Contact our physical therapy clinic today to schedule an appointment and get on the road to a life freer from pain.

Chronic Joint Pain Doesn’t Have to Control Your Life – Find Relief with Physical Therapy

Did You Know An Estimated 54.4 Million U.S. Adults Are Diagnosed With Arthritis?

54.4 million adults living in the United States are diagnosed with arthritis - that equates to about 1 in 4 Americans. Of those, about 27% report experiencing severe joint pain.

If you are one of these adults living day to day with severe joint pain, we can help. Contact Washington Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation today to learn more about how physical therapy can help relieve and manage your chronic joint pain.

Why physical therapy is better than surgery for chronic joint pain relief

According to Harvard Health Publishing,

“Trying physical therapy before opting for surgery may be the better choice. You may be able to spare yourself the expense, pain, and recovery time of surgery, says physical therapist Karen Weber, clinical supervisor at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Outpatient Centers in Braintree and Quincy, Mass.

There is growing evidence supporting that idea. In the past few years, studies have indicated that physical therapy is just as effective as surgery for relieving pain and restoring function for people with arthritis in their knees or backs.”

Why physical therapy is ideal for arthritis pain

Physical therapy focuses on improving mobility for those with arthritis. It also restores the use of affected joints, reduces pain and strengthens muscles to support the joints. A physical therapist will create an individualized treatment plan to improve flexibility, coordination and strength for maximum physical function.

Specifically, a physical therapist will use exercise and manual therapy to treat arthritis. Strengthening exercises and weight-bearing exercises are implemented to improve joint lubrication. This helps reduce the pain associated with arthritis.

A physical therapist will develop a treatment plan that targets all areas of the body affecting the pain. For example, if you suffer from knee pain, the exercise regimen will include proper knee mechanics and the lower back, ankle and hip. Physical therapists also use various manual therapy techniques like joint and soft tissue mobilization to treat the symptoms of arthritis.

Joint mobilization entails the moving of a joint through working with a natural level of resistance. This technique helps stretch and strengthen the tissue surrounding bone and reduces pain and increases range of motion.

Other passive modalities that a physical therapist may use to treat pain from arthritis include ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), cryotherapy or heat. TENS utilizes electrodes to trick the pain from feeling pain.

Ultrasound utilizes heat to help the deep tissues of joints. It helps reduce inflammation and pain. Cryotherapy reduces inflammation and swelling. All around, physical therapy is a holistic treatment for arthritis.

So, what are the different types of arthritis?

There are many types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most common type. The cushioning surface on the bones wears away, and bone rubs against bone.

The joints can lose strength, and joint pain is often chronic. With inflammatory arthritis, the immune system goes awry. It attacks the joints with inflammation. This can cause joint erosion and joint pain.

Infectious arthritis occurs when a virus or bacteria enters the joint. Even though antibiotics may end the infection, arthritis can become chronic. Metabolic arthritis is due to too much uric acid in the body. It can build up and cause chronic joint pain.

Passive and active therapies

Once our physical therapist has isolated the underlying cause of your chronic joint pain, we can prescribe techniques to help you start feeling - and moving - more like your old self.

Physical therapy for joint pain may start with passive exercises, in which we move the afflicted joint for you to increase its pain-free range of motion.

Exercises that reduce the amount of weight on the joints can also be extremely helpful. For instance, we may recommend swimming or water walking as a means of exercising the hips and knees without also forcing them to bear your full weight.

Other types of exercises can also help you overcome your joint pain while improving joint function. Strengthening exercises help by reinforcing the muscles and connective tissues that serve the joint. Corrective exercises and neuromuscular re-education can help you maintain a straighter, more symmetrical posture.

Last but not least, physical therapy offers a variety of helpful modalities beyond exercise. We may treat your joint pain with heat, ice, and manual therapies such as massage, just to name a few.

Schedule a consultation with one of our physical therapists today

If you’re suffering from arthritis, it’s wise to consider physical therapy.

Not only is it non-invasive, you may be able to throw away those pain meds. The goal of physical therapy is to help you live an active, pain-free life.

Contact us today to get started!

Sources:

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