Physical Therapy: A Natural Alternative to Prescription Medication Addiction
Drug abuse is everywhere, and it is an ongoing battle that patients are constantly fighting. You go to any grocery store or pharmacy, and you’ll find countless over-the-counter drugs. Doctors are consistently prescribing more extreme pain relievers, including opioids that have been widely abused over the years. The world we live in today is heavily medicated, no matter which direction you’re looking at it from. And it’s a real problem.
If you’ve ever had an injury, you know how quickly it can flip your life upside down. The pain from a sudden injury might make you feel helpless, whether it’s from a car accident, a sports-related injury, a job injury, or even an unintended fall. Many patients turn to pain-relieving drugs like opioids to combat this. Many people are unaware, however, of how much more harm these drugs bring to their bodies 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 – whether it’s massage therapy, chiropractic care, or physiotherapy.
Physical therapy is a natural, safe approach to chronic pain that could make you feel better in both the short and the long term. Let’s look at how this kind of natural treatment will boost your quality of life, and afterward, be sure to call us to set up an appointment at Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehabilitation.
How can a physical therapist help me take control of 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 pain treatment strategy may be different from anyone else’s.
Your therapist might decide to use therapeutic modalities – like electric stimulation or acupuncture – or hands-on treatment – like soft tissue or joint mobilization – to relieve your pain in the short term.
Rehab-focused exercises will help to restore your mobility, repair or desensitize soft tissue and joints, help you feel competent in performing your daily tasks, improve your body awareness, and get you moving better.
A physical therapist will help you transition to a general strength and conditioning program specifically designed for your needs and likes. If you don’t like weights, they will teach you body-weight exercises. If you don’t like yoga, they’ll give you some simple mobility exercises. If you don’t like running, they get you to a walking, swimming, or cycling program instead. Improving your overall health goes a long way to improve chronic, medication-dependent pain.
Finally, if there is something – a sport, hobby, or other activity – that you love to do, your therapist will make sure to gradually build your capacity to resume it.
What you may not know about the dangers of opioids
If you keep up with the news on a daily basis, you’ve most likely heard about the dangers opioid medications pose. The nation is currently facing an opioid crisis.
Steroids are another risky class of prescription medication that comes with a slew of hazards and dangers. Epidural steroid injections are used to treat pain. However, the injection can induce cataracts, stomach ulcers, high blood sugar, and nerve damage.
Even prolonged NSAID use, such as ibuprofen, is 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.
All of these unpleasant side effects can be avoided with the help of physical therapy.
Don’t get us wrong, there are cases where these medications can be of benefit in the short term for severe pain, but they should be prescribed in addition to a prescribed physical therapy regimen. Physical therapy has helped many individuals reduce, or even eliminate, their reliance on pain medication.
Physical therapy – massage, chiropractic, or physiotherapy – could be a suitable option for you if you’re searching for long-term chronic pain treatment that doesn’t include taking pills all of the time, or if you’re already taking other medications and are concerned about how they’ll interact with your pain medications.
Choosing the natural path to feel better: physical therapy
Our physical therapists will spend time with you to explain your discomfort and the importance of continuing your plan of care at home for long-term recovery. However, you make the option to participate in your pain-relieving path entirely! Your physical therapist will show you how to perform exercises, but they are not required to make all of the efforts! You must put in an effort for it to be productive for you.
Let us help you take the reins
It should be clear now that opioids and over-the-counter medications are not the only choices 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 Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab today to learn more about our natural options and get back to a drug-free, pain-free lifestyle.