When you’re in pain, knowing what might be causing the issue or how to address it is often a challenge.
One of the best ways to guarantee your pain treatment is effective is by making sure you are as informed as possible. To ensure you’re on the fast track to relief, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I need imaging?
In most cases, x-rays, MRIs, and CAT scans don’t solve the problem, but imaging provides information that guides your MD or PT in formulating a plan to resolve the issue. Imaging doesn’t always tell us exactly why you have pain, but it may rule out why you do not have pain.
For example, if a patient is experiencing prolonged knee pain, they may be having trouble with stairs and getting up from a chair. If an x-ray shows a normal knee with no issues, the MD will order an MRI, which shows no signs of arthritis, cartilage issues or even swelling. After taking these steps, you can further examine the soft tissue and functional aspects of knee/foot/hip to determine if they are affecting the outer knee. Imaging rules out any internal structural issues, so you’re able to consider the whole picture.
2. Will surgery help me?
For some, surgery is the right decision. If you experience a traumatic accident in which a bone is displaced and needs to be reset, surgery is a necessary step to make sure you heal correctly.
Other issues, such as orthopedic injuries from meniscal tears or back injuries, benefit from physical therapy first. Often the initial swelling from the trauma of the injury is causing pain and develops compensations which can be corrected. Your physical therapist will be able to assess these issues as a whole and identify any red flags.
3. What about pain medication?
As it has been well documented in the media, there is an epidemic of opioid addiction in the US. In fact, in 2016 the American Physical Therapy Association launched a campaign called #ChoosePT to promote using physical therapy over drugs to help control pain.
If your healthcare provider only offers pain medication to address your concerns and does not look at the underlying problem, they may not be the right doctor for you. Pain medication is not without its uses, but due to its highly addictive nature, it should be applied with caution.
4. How can Physical Therapy help?
PT may help with pain treatment, depending on your specific diagnosis.
Take arthritis, for example. While your therapist can’t change the fact that the cartilage is worn, they will work to address any secondary issues causing you pain. They might consider the knee joint, as weak muscles add more compression on the joint which can irritate arthritis. Also, tight muscles or compensations developed may also cause issues. Addressing these secondary issues helps the overall symptoms, treating the pain.
If your diagnosis directly correlates to the pain, Physical Therapy can alleviate both the pain and the issue.
5. Is SetPT right for me?
At SetPT, one of our goals is to keep our patients active. We understand the physical and mental aspects of an injury, so the ability to exercise when you are injured really makes a difference.
We strive to have our patients live life their way, whether it is running a marathon or juggling three kids while working. Our SetPT therapists want to get our patients back to what they love as quickly as possible.
SET stands for Service, Expertise and Time. We work to create an environment that is warm and nurturing for each person while providing excellent quality of care in a one-on-one setting.
Reach out to your local SetPT today if you have further questions or would like to schedule an appointment!
