Different complications can be resolved with physical therapy. Also, we have to mention that increased physical activities are one of the best ways of preventing some more serious issues. For example, back pain and neck pain are quite common today because a lot of people got used to sitting in their offices, and then spending their time at home while laying on a sofa and watching TV.
Some complications can be the result of medical conditions like arthritis, but you can also lower a chance to face it at older age if you are physically active. Also, some injuries will require physical therapy after the surgery. If you are living in constant pain because of any of these reasons, Physical Therapy and Pain Management is the best solution.
Depending on how serious your condition is, you should be prepared that the therapy can be challenging. However, keep in mind that there are many benefits of it for people with acute and chronic pain. It will help you to become more flexible, heal some parts of your body, improve your posture, get rid of the pain, and more.
The reality is that, at some points, treatment can be painful, but it is important to stay on the right track and keep in mind that there are only short-term effects. Here are some of the best ways to deal with the pain after physical therapy.
1. Communication is Essential
First of all, it is crucial to hire a specialized and experienced person to get you through the process of recovery after some injury. The reason for that is that you might need a particular and individual program created specifically for your condition, level of injuries, type of pain, and more. Therefore, the therapist will be aware of some level of pain is normal for such therapy.
For example, if you are recovering from a broken leg or muscle injury, the first few weeks after you start the recovery will be painful, but it will get easier over time. The expert will guide you through the process in a way where he will find your limits so you don’t feel any pain. The common mistake is that people are trying to increase their limits by standing the pain even though it is never recommended.
There is no reason to be brave in this situation. Instead of that, speak to your trainer and let him know if you are feeling pain during some exercise. he will let you know if that is normal or not. Besides that, you must speak about the pain if you are still feeling it after the session, when you go home, walk, or lay in bed. There is always a chance that another type of exercise should be involved, and hiding your pain can only make things worse.
2. Deal With Inflammation
If you are experiencing pain after a session that must be included in the program of recovery, and your therapist said that it is something that you will need to handle, the best way to make it easier for you is to use the ice. Keep in mind that inflammation is quite common and that you will face it more often during the recovery.
Therefore, you can use a bad of ice and hold it on the spot that hurt, and keep it there for 15 or 20 minutes. It will cool the area, relax the nerves and muscles, and it is completely safe.
In that matter, you can use it as many times as you want. Besides that, water can be quite helpful as well. Keep your body hydrated, and it will be much easier to withstand the pain and avoid inflammation.
Also, there is a new and very popular form of treatment, which is water therapy. Since the water protects the body from inflammation, many experts included new sessions in the recovery programs. Therefore, you will be exercising in a pool. The benefits of this are lower blood pressure, improved strength, much faster results, and more.
3. Avoid Painkillers
A lot of people would think that the best way to deal with pain is to use the medicine. There are also sorts of drugs that you can take and quickly get rid of the pain. However, it is never recommended during the treatment process to take any drugs on your own. You will get a list of recommended supplements and medication that is safe.
On the other hand, taking some pills before the session might make it easier for you to handle the exercises. However, keep in mind that it can lead to some serious issues because your body won’t be able to show that you are passing over the limits, and causing more harm. Since you are not feeling the pain in the right way, the therapist might decide to push you to new limits and even cause new injuries that way.
The Bottom Line
The most important thing to know about physical therapy is that it should never be painful unless in some serious cases. Therefore, the first thing to do is to tell your therapist that you are in pain during some exercise. After that, it will be much easier for that person to make the session more suitable for your condition. On the other hand, some level of discomfort is expected and one should be aware of that.
When you finish with the session and go home, but the bad feeling remains for a longer time, you should speak to a doctor and your therapist so they can find the right conclusion and method to either change the exercises or lower their intensity.
Also, keep in mind that the pain you feel during recovery is only short-term and that it is something inevitable. Trying to deal with it with medication without consulting before that can be a serious mistake. Instead of that, having a hot shower, drinking a lot of water, and using ice bags are much safer solutions.