Experiencing pain is bad enough, but when it never goes away, it can become a major source of stress and frustration. Chronic pain can be caused by a number of different conditions, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or an injury that never fully heals. Living with constant pain can take a toll on your physical and emotional well-being and make it difficult to perform even the simplest daily tasks. Fortunately, there are ways to manage chronic pain so that you can regain control of your life and start living again. In this article, we will discuss what physical therapy can do to help.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is any pain that lasts longer than three months or which persists even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed. It can range from mild to severe and can affect any part of the body. Some common chronic pain conditions are osteoarthritis, lower back pain, neck pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and post-surgical pain.

Traditional management of chronic pain often involves the use of medications. This approach can be very successful in the short term but often has side effects that limit its use. In addition, people often become dependent on these medications and may experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop taking them.

Physical therapy is a great alternative to drug-based pain management because it is non-invasive and has no side effects. In addition, physical therapy can be tailored to the individual, making it more effective in the long run.

Physical therapy can help with chronic pain in many ways. It can help to improve function and reduce the amount of pain that you are in. Physical therapy can also help to increase your range of motion and flexibility. In addition, physical therapy can help to strengthen the muscles around your joints, which can help to reduce the amount of pain that you are in.

Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain Management

1. Identifies the cause of the pain:

A physical therapist is trained to understand how various parts of your body work together and can identify the underlying cause of your pain. Physical therapists typically use a combination of manual therapy and exercise to treat patients, but they may also prescribe other modalities such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation.

2. Creates a tailored rehabilitation program for you:

Once the cause of your pain is identified, a physical therapist will create a customized rehabilitation program designed to target your specific problem areas. This may include strengthening and stretching exercises as well as manual therapy techniques.

3. Teaches you how to manage your pain:

Physical therapists can also teach you how to manage your pain on a daily basis. This may include educating you on proper body mechanics, teaching you stretching and strengthening exercises to do at home, and providing you with tools to help manage flare-ups.

4. Can help you to avoid or delay surgery:

In some cases, physical therapy may be able to help you avoid or delay surgery. This is because surgery is often the last resort for treating chronic pain. If all other conservative treatments have failed, then surgery may be necessary. However, if physical therapy is successful in reducing your pain levels, then surgery can be delayed or avoided altogether.

5. Helps you stay active:

One of the best things about physical therapy is that it can help you to stay active, even when you’re in pain. Exercise is an important part of rehabilitation, and staying active can help to improve your strength and flexibility while also reducing the amount of pain that you’re in.

Physical therapy is an excellent way to manage chronic pain, and it should be considered by anyone who is struggling with this condition. If you’re not sure where to start, then talk to your doctor or another medical professional about getting a referral for physical therapy.