Services
Chronic Pain
How is chronic pain different from other types of pain?
We’ve all had sprained ankles and pulled back muscles. And while those incidents are never pleasant, the pain rarely lasts more than a few weeks. Chronic pain, however, can go on for months or even years, especially when you can’t find the proper diagnosis or treatment.
Apart from the longer timeframe, chronic pain differs from the other main category of pain — acute pain — in that it doesn’t always have a cause you can pinpoint. In fact, while acute pain normally comes from a sudden illness or injury, chronic pain might stem from a Headache Neck Pain wrenched back that happened so long ago that you don’t remember. Alternatively, your pain may have its origins in non-injury conditions, such as a degenerating disk, aging joints, or a pinched nerve.
Most importantly, chronic pain differs from acute pain in that it sometimes can’t be measured or even found through traditional testing like X-rays.
Of course, sometimes inflammation can be detected with these diagnostic tools, but a physical therapist is often best able to determine the location and extent of the damage.
When you need help dealing with – and often eradicating – chronic pain, contact us at Sterling, VA center for a consultation. Our highly-trained team of physical therapists is here to help.
What are some common forms of chronic pain?
As you might imagine, many chronic pain-causing conditions don’t go away on their own. Among the types which may be helped by physical therapy for chronic pain are:
Sciatica- Frozen shoulder
- Arthritis
- Foot pain
- Headaches
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Pelvic joint pain
- Tennis elbow
- Peripheral Neuropathy
How can physical therapy help my chronic pain?
The type of chronic pain you have and its underlying cause will determine what sort of treatment your Physical Therapist will recommend. This might involve working as part of a medical team for diabetes-related issues or when chronic neck pain physical therapy is attempted in hopes of avoiding surgery.
Among the techniques a physical therapist will employ to help relieve discomfort, as well as improve range of motion, are manual therapy, in which your therapist will stretch and apply gentle pressure to target problem joints and muscles. In addition, teaching you posture and movement techniques to reduce pain is often a key part of Physical Therapy For Chronic Back Pain, as are exercises for improving strength and flexibility.
If you are interested in chronic pain physical therapy treatment, please get in touch with the experts at MAC Physical Therapy. You can schedule an appointment with any of our committed physical therapists, and they will be more than pleased to meet with you and help you get started on the path to long-term pain relief.
