Avoid the Dangers of Opioids With Physical Therapy
Does the idea of relying on opiods for pain-relief for the rest of your life fill you with concern? Are you searching for a natural alternative to pain-killing drugs? Many chronic pain patients who are unable to find relief from NSAIDs or steroids believe they have no choice but to resort to more potent opioid drugs.
Unfortunately, opioids can cause serious problems, ranging from mind-altering intoxication to addiction and the risk of a fatal overdose. As a result, you should consider physical therapy’s natural pain-relieving power as a safer, more beneficial alternative.
Physical therapy can help you manage your pain without the use of drugs, giving you the opportunity to wean yourself off opioids. If you’re curious about the natural benefits of physical therapy, contact Atta Rehab today to learn more and schedule an appointment.
3 methods of natural pain relief
Here are 3 methods of pain relief you can find in physical therapy, all without the use of opioids.
1. Your inflammation will improve.
Many types of chronic pain are inflammatory in nature or have an inflammatory origin. Inflammation is a natural response of your immune system to disease or injury. Certain white blood cells and proteins initiate inflammatory processes while fighting to protect tissues.
However, your body has a mechanism in place to prevent the production of these substances. It’s known as sympatho adrenergic activation, and it can be triggered by physical therapy exercises. According to research, a moderate exercise routine can activate the sympathetic nervous system, causing the inflammatory processes that cause pain and swelling to be suppressed.
Physical therapy can also assist your body in ridding itself of accumulated inflammatory substances by increasing circulation. Massage, heat, cold, and laser therapy are all methods of increasing blood flow to inflamed tissues. This allows the tissues to expel toxins that are causing or exacerbating the inflammation.
2. Your range of motion will increase.
If you have crippling osteoarthritis in your knees or hips, you may be surprised to hear a physical therapist advise you to start walking. Walking, however, can help reduce chronic joint pain and allow arthritic joints to move more freely. If you are not yet ready to walk, you may benefit from swimming or other aquatic exercises in which your body is supported by the water.
Heat therapy, laser therapy, and massage therapy are also known to improve pain and mobility in inflamed joints. Strengthening exercises can help relieve pressure on the bones and cartilage of your joints by allowing the surrounding muscles and connective tissues to bear the load of movement.
3. The stress on your muscles and nerves will be reduced.
Chronic pain conditions are almost unavoidable when your body cannot maintain its natural balance, support, and symmetry. This is because your spinal column requires adequate support from major muscle groups to maintain proper posture and musculoskeletal alignment.
Weakened, tight, or damaged muscles aren’t up to the task, so they tire quickly and develop chronic strain. Postural imbalances can then lead to various painful issues, ranging from herniated discs to pinched nerves.
Physical therapy can help to alleviate these issues. Our physical therapist may recommend exercises to strengthen your back and neck muscles, providing much-needed support to your spine and relieving strain on those tissues.
Improved posture can help relieve neurological pain by relieving pressure on nerves. We may even recommend treatments such as chiropractic adjustments to correct spinal imbalances, thereby reducing your body of painful stress.
Why you should choose PT over opioids
It is critical to understand the distinction between opioids and over-the-counter medications. There aren’t many significant health risks when people use over-the-counter medications to relieve pain. Advil, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen are generally safe to use in moderation if you are looking for immediate relief after sustaining a mild injury.
However, if you are in severe pain as a result of a more serious injury, prescription-strength medications may be prescribed to you. Opioids are the most commonly prescribed pain relievers in the United States. Despite how common these drugs are, they can be exceedingly dangerous. For example:
- Opioids are a highly addictive substance and are the most commonly abused prescription medication.
- Opioids are a highly dangerous class of substances. Heroin is among the opioid category, as well as prescription pain relievers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and more.
- More than 2 million people in the United States become addicted to pain medication every year, many of the medications being opioids.
- About a quarter of heroin addicts began their addiction through prescription opioid dependency.
These facts are disturbing, but they should not be ignored. They paint a bleak picture of prescription pain medication use in the United States, which experts believe has reached epidemic proportions.
You don’t have to have a history of addiction to become addicted to opioids; in fact, many people who become addicted have never had a history of drug dependency. Physical therapy, fortunately, can help provide the same pain relief in a much safer, healthier, and natural way.
Ready to find a natural mode of pain relief? Contact our clinic today!
Opioids and other painkilling drugs have their place in medicine, but they should not be your sole means of combating chronic pain.
Contact us today to discover how a physical therapy program could provide you with a natural solution to your pain! Physical therapy is effective, long-lasting, and shields you from the dangers of opioids. So what are you waiting for? Contact our clinic today to schedule an appointment and start fighting your chronic pain.
