Pain is a universal experience that we’ve all felt at one time or another.
Although pain is often associated as being negative, experiencing pain is an important function of the body.
It’s a protective mechanism.
Pain is a warning signal the body uses to tell us to avoid certain things that cause us harm, which is why it’s so important.
But sometimes, your pain doesn’t stop.
That’s when it’s considered chronic.
Here at Capitol Physical Therapy, we can help with treatment solutions for your pain issues.
A physical therapist is a great option to consider for relieving your pain and improving your overall flexibility, mobility, and strength.
Now, let’s find the answers to your most frequently asked questions about pain.
What Actually Is Pain?
Pain is a subjective experience with two main aspects.
The first is a localized sensation found on a part of your body.
The second is the unpleasant quality of varying intensity that often affects you emotionally too.
The typical response to pain is behavior aimed at stopping or relieving the sensation because it’s uncomfortable.
You touch something hot, and instantly pull back.
But how does this happen?
Well, your body is filled with many different pain receptors.
These pain receptors are nerve endings which only respond to damaging stimuli.
They transport the message of pain to your spinal cord, and then your brain, via your nerves.
Scientifically speaking, this is how the body physically interprets pain.
What Does Chronic Pain Mean?
Chronic pain refers to a pain that doesn’t change or go away.
This means that even with time, you don’t experience relief and still find yourself in pain.
It’s also common for chronic pain not to show up on tests or medical investigations.
Sometimes there’s no measurable cause, but that doesn’t mean what you’re feeling isn’t real.
How Do I Know If I Have Chronic Pain Vs. Acute Pain?
Acute pain is your body’s typical response to an injury.
It arises quickly, is often intense, and is the result of an injury like a burn or cut.
You can point to a specific event that caused it.
But it fades as your injury heals.
Once your injury is gone, so is the pain.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain that lasts for more than 3 months.
It’s pain that persists even though the injury that perhaps started it has long resolved.
There is often no clear cause of chronic pain.
How Common Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain affects more than one in five American adults.
You’re more likely to be affected by it if you also have diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), or asthma.
Chronic pain is most common in your upper back, lower back, shoulders, arms, legs, and neck.
Often, we don’t know what causes chronic pain
When we do, it’s most commonly a result of a sports injury or an accident, like a car accident or a slip & fall injury.
RELATED: Sports Medicine Physical Therapy
Aging also increases your chances of developing chronic pain.
What Is A Pain Diary?
A pain diary is a place where you record all the information you can think of about your pain.
You might record:
- When and how it began
- Where you feel it
- The duration of your pain
- The strength of how it feels
- Anything that improves and relieves it
- Anything that worsens it
- Potential causes
The goal of a pain diary is to help you understand your pain so that you can learn to control it more easily.
It’s also a helpful tool to present to a physical therapist who’s helping to treat your pain, so they can better understand it.
Do I Need To Be On Pain Medication to Manage Chronic Pain?
You don’t necessarily need to be on pain medication in order to manage your chronic pain.
In fact, pain medication should be taken in moderation and with the firm warning of how addicting it can be.
Opioid drugs, most commonly prescribed as pain medication, have caused a major health crisis in the Unites States.
It’s important to be aware of the risks when considering pain medication.
The good news is that there are other options to help manage your chronic pain depending the cause.
For example, physical therapy for chronic pain can go a long way toward helping you manage your pain.
For more information, take a look at our previous article on this topic: Physical Therapy Vs. Opioids For Chronic Pain Relief.
When Should I Seek Out Chronic Pain Treatment?
Pain is considered to be chronic after three months.
After that point, it’s a good idea to seek treatment for it.
Ignoring consistent, chronic pain can cause it to worsen over time.
It may also make treatment more difficult when you finally do to get help.
Does Chronic Pain Mean You Should Exercise Less?
It might be natural to think that if you have chronic pain, you should take it easy and exercise less.
You might be worried about making your pain worse by continuing to exercise.
But the opposite is actually true.
Keeping your body healthy, strong, mobile, and flexible is a key part of treating chronic pain.
It’s a good idea to see a physical therapist who can provide safe movements that won’t cause additional pain or inflammation.
Strategic exercise is a great tool to help you manage your chronic pain.
This is especially important considering some people have sedentary lifestyles that result in muscle and strength loss.
This can worsen your pain as you age.
Who Can Treat Chronic Pain?
There are a number of healthcare professionals who can treat chronic pain.
There are pain medicine specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, and of course, physical therapists.
Often, a pain clinic will work with a team of experts matched to your case.
A good treatment plan also includes education and take home strategies so that your treatment can continue at home, outside of sessions.
However, you often need a prescription from your doctor to see a pain specialist.
Rest assured that physical therapy is a good option to consider that doesn’t require a prescription.
They can also provide a wide range of take home strategies for you to continue treatment at home.
What Are The Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Chronic Pain?
Physical therapy is a great option to consider for managing chronic pain.
Let’s take a look at why.
1. Physical Therapy Is Individualized
Your physical therapist will create an individualized plan designed to treat your chronic pain.
They will evaluate you and then create a tailored treatment plan tailored just for you.
This plan will address your unique needs and help to relieve your chronic pain.
2. Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Physical Health
Physical therapy can do more than just help your chronic pain.
It will also improve your physical health because of the focus on building your strength through movement.
By doing the exercises assigned to you by your therapist, you will see good results for your symptoms that also improve your level of fitness.
You’re also more likely to move more when you’re pain free, which is another way that physical therapy helps with your physical health.
3. Physical Therapy Is Considered A Safe Treatment Option
Generally speaking, physical therapy is a very safe treatment option.
Your physical therapist is a highly trained and experienced professional.
Their whole purpose is to help you move better, safely.
4. Physical Therapy Is A Drug Free Treatment Option
Prescription painkillers, like opioids, may be necessary in certain situations, but that’s not always the case.
After all, opioids are often highly addictive.
They may also come with uncomfortable and undesirable side effects.
However, there is no pain medication required for physical therapy.
5. Physical Therapy Helps Address The Root Cause Of Your Chronic Pain
Physical therapy is a solution focused treatment that can be very effective.
The goal of your therapy is to address the root cause of your chronic pain and provide relief while improving your physical health.
You may also see improvements with your balance, fitness, flexibility, and strength.
All of these benefits come with treatment designed to help you move better.
Book Your Appointment With Capitol Physical Therapy Today
Chronic pain can be challenging to live with.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
At Capitol Physical Therapy, we’re here to help.
Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy today, for treatment solutions to your chronic pain.
1331 H St NW #200,
Washington, DC 20005
- https://g.page/capitolptdc
9560 Pennsylvania Ave. # 202,
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
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Capitol Physical Therapy offers orthopedic and other pain related solutions, with our versitile team of physical therapists in Washington, DC and Upper Marlboro, MD