Part 1 of 4: Stopping A Domino Effect
The United States is battling an opioid epidemic. Opioids, or painkillers, were seen as miracle drugs and used for decades in acute and chronic pain management. It was believed these drugs helped people manage pain without the risk of addiction. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Research made it apparent that people were becoming addicted to painkillers, with patients seeking higher doses or stronger drugs. This was largely due to painkillers only masking symptoms of pain without addressing the root issue, allowing the functional conditions of patients to worsen over time. The question soon went from “how do we make the pain tolerable?” to “how can we resolve it?”
The Origins of Pain
Many people approach pain or movement dysfunctions with the idea that time will heal all, prompting people to look for an easy way to lessen the immediate pain while the body heals. This is how painkillers became so popular. You only will be on painkillers for a short time, right, just until you don’t need them anymore? Well, that’s not always how it plays out. It is important to consider, although easy to forget, how the body compensates for movement dysfunctions when dealing with pain.
When something hurts or irritates the body, it compensates by using different muscles or different movement patterns to accomplish whatever it is trying to do. But, relying on these alternative muscles and movements for too long can potentially lead to a domino effect where, in a quest to keep moving, the body overuses itself wearing out joints and muscles unevenly.
The Cycle of Painkiller Dependency
Without realizing it, patients were treating much bigger, underlying functional issues with painkillers and never actually addressing the root cause of their pain, therefore, never actually getting better. Soon, taking painkillers became a daily routine for patients to feel “normal”. But it does not have to be this way. Many people suffering from pain already have the means to improve their quality of life, without relying on opioids.
Physical Therapy for Pain Management
Some might think that physical therapy and occupational therapy is reserved for people recovering from an accident or surgery, but it is so much more than that. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are both popular options for preventative care and strength training/conditioning along with pain management. Many people even choose to make regular visits to a physical or occupational therapist to treat anything from Parkinson’s Disease to improving golf performance.
In the healthcare environment, physical and occupational therapists are the most highly trained clinicians to assist musculoskeletal injuries. They are trained to assess the biomechanical cause and get to the root of your injury. As Tim Spooner, PT, FAFS, puts it, “Physical therapists are human body mechanics. When your car breaks down you take it to the mechanic. When your body breaks down you take it to see a physical therapist.”
Therapists are attentive to their patients’ needs, goals, abilities, and progress. They administer exercise and treatment programs that are designed for each patient to correct body dysfunctions, gradually introducing new techniques, exercises, and intensity as patient conditions improve. Each treatment helps patients work towards higher quality and more fulfilling life; pain-free.
Learn more about Orthopedic Rehabilitation at Spooner. Ready to schedule an appointment? Schedule an appointment or complimentary movement screen with a Spooner physical therapist at one of our locations throughout the valley.