Don’t Turn to Opioids, Physical Therapy Can Help Manage Your Pain

You Can Find Effective and Safe Pain Relief with Physical Therapy

Prescription opioids are potent pain relievers that can manage pain for hours at a time. Unfortunately, they can also introduce significant new problems into your life, ranging from the danger of an overdose to the risk of addiction.

If you’ve been relying on opioids to get through the day, and you are looking to find a safer, healthier, and less terrifying alternative, physical therapy could be the answer!

Physical therapy can assist you in managing your pain without the use of drugs, giving you the opportunity to wean yourself off opioids. Contact us today to learn more!

Why shouldn’t I take opioids?

The opioid epidemic is a very real and dangerous issue. It is estimated that approximately 2 million Americans have an opioid use disorder, such as addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 130 people die from opioid overdoses every day here in the U.S. Since 1999, the number of opioid-related deaths has multiplied sixfold.

So, why are opioids so dangerous? These drugs alleviate pain by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. They can also cause drowsiness, as well as a high that could potentially create an unhealthy psychological dependence on the opioid.

With enough use, the brain and body can become accustomed to a specific opioid dosage, resulting in a tolerance to the drug. As a result, you end up needing increasingly higher doses not just to achieve the same level of pain relief, but also to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Eventually, the dosage you require could lead to damaging effects.

The unfortunate truth is that opioid drugs temporarily block pain signals but do nothing to address the underlying health issue that is causing you pain. They may even be doing more damage to your body while you aren’t feeling pain, which exacerbates your pain problem.

How physical therapy can help relieve your aches and pains

Physical therapy can help you get a handle on your pain so that you don’t need opioids anymore.

Of course, you should only discontinue high doses of opioids under professional medical supervision (to prevent a potentially dangerous withdrawal).

In the meantime, however, our physical therapist can work with you on treating the biomechanical problems that caused your pain in the first place.

Here are just a few of the physical therapy modalities that can help you conquer your pain:

  • Exercises can increase your pain-free range of motion, strengthen the muscles that support your body, and increase blood flow to reduce inflammation.
  • Massage therapy can control painful muscle spasms, help the tissues expel inflammatory substances, and direct more blood and oxygen to an injury.
  • Laser therapy can ease pain caused by injuries, arthritis, muscular strain, tendinitis, or neuropathy.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses electrical energy to block pain signals to nerves.

What you should expect about PT treatments

Instead of emptying your pockets on frequent drug refills that don’t even address the source of your discomfort, ask your doctor whether physical therapy might help you wean yourself off of opioids or other medications. (You may need medical supervision to reduce heavy opioid use safely.)

An experienced physical therapist can examine the reasons for your pain and then devise a targeted, personalized pain management plan. Here are just a few of the ways physical therapy can replace all those bottles of pills:

  • If you suffer from crippling arthritis pain, physical therapy exercises and massage therapy can help you control joint pain and stiffness.
  • Severe neck or back pain can be managed through a combination of strength training, stretching exercises, and chiropractic adjustment.
  • Chronic headache/migraine pain can be reduced through a combination of massage, cervical spinal adjustment, and lifestyle or dietary changes to help you avoid known headache or migraine triggers.
  • Cold laser therapy can ease neuropathy symptoms and promote nerve healing.
  • Chronic muscle spasms respond well to cold laser therapy, massage therapy, and heat/cold therapy.
  • Chronic nerve pain can be controlled with a technique called transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation (TENS), which uses electrical impulses to intercept pain messages.

Relieve your aches and pains with physical therapy today

Physical therapy is a clear and appealing alternative to the risks of chronic opioid use and abuse.

If you’re ready to kick your daily opioid habit, start by contacting our office and requesting a safe, effective pain management plan from our physical therapist!

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