Choosing Physical Therapy Over Surgery: The Benefits of Natural Pain Treatment

If you’re burdened by nagging, chronic pain, you might be willing to do just about anything to get your symptoms under control and return to your preferred way of life, even if it means surgical intervention. Chronic pain is no joke — but neither is having an operation!

Chronic neck, hip, knee, and back pain are some of the most uncomfortable conditions to live with and can get in the way of you comfortably living your life. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should leap into a major procedure without looking at all of your options first.

Comprehensive Orthopedic Physical Therapy in Somerset, NJ strongly urges our patients to try natural, holistic methods of pain relief first. We’ve put together some of the best ways our physical therapists at our clinic may choose to treat your pain, as well as some of the main benefits of PT. Call us today to learn more, and schedule an appointment to get started on your journey towards true relief — without surgical interventions!

How do physical therapists provide pain relief?

They can teach you targeted stretches and exercises you can do on your own.

Tight, rigid muscles can directly cause pain or make existing pain feel even worse. Stretching muscles will cause them to limber up, alleviate your pain and improve your movement. Loose muscles are less likely to sustain new injuries as well.

• They can help you to build up your strength.

In cases of back pain, your discomfort may be caused by structural changes such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis. The stronger you can make your back muscles, the more effectively those muscles can compensate for these changes. With a stronger back, you can maintain a straighter posture with less pain. Common exercises to strengthen the back include bridges, lying lateral leg raises, and partial curls. No matter where in your body your pain lies, a physical therapist has an exercise for it!

• Heat and cold therapy

Heat and cold have their own distinct healing and pain-relieving properties. A physical therapist may administer either technique or both techniques together (in sessions of 15 to 20 minutes each). Heat boosts the circulation, helping inflammatory substances to exit the tissues and relaxing painful muscles.

Cold therapy can prove especially useful as an immediate treatment for acute injuries or when dealing with a severe muscle strain. The cold reduces inflammation and swelling while also numbing the nerves.

Why should I choose physical therapy over surgery?

Sometimes, surgery truly is unavoidable, especially in cases of emergencies and life or death situations! However, when it comes to injuries, accidents, or chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, physical therapy is often the best first route to take.

Physical therapy is a safe, natural, effective method of pain management and relief that can help patients of all ages and backgrounds. It has been proven through various research studies to be effective for alleviating chronic joint pain, muscle aches, and movement restrictions, and may even help you cut down on your medication (with your doctor’s supervision, of course!)

The CDC and other professional organizations officially recognize physical therapy as a safe alternative to pain-relieving medications like opioids. Physical therapy offers long-term pain relief, unlike prescription medications, and there is no threat of fatal overdose with an exercise plan, either.

Physical therapists are skilled movement specialists who can create a customized physical therapy plan in which these various techniques complement each other for maximum effectiveness. Some of the most common physical therapy techniques used during treatment are:

1. Hands-on therapy
2. Soft tissue mobilization
3. Targeted stretches and exercises
4. Ultrasound therapy
5. Electrical stimulation
6. Hot and cold therapy
7. Vibration therapy
8. Graston technique
9. Cupping
10. Dry needling
11. Kinesio taping
12. Myofascial release
13. Spinal manipulation

At your first appointment, they will assess your condition, ask you about your medical history, and figure out where your physical limitations are if you have any, for example, you may not be able to lift heavy items. They’ll want to know this!

From there, they’ll create a customized treatment plan just for you, totally geared towards your needs and capabilities. As time progresses, your treatment plan will be adjusted, but your end goals will always be at the top of your therapist’s mind. Over time, you’ll begin to see progress through your increased strength, flexibility, mobility, stamina, range of motion, and more!