You might be feeling it right now. That soreness in your neck. The aching in your back. The tightness in your shoulders. You may ignore these aches and pains to avoid time-consuming and costly medical appointments and procedures. However, you know all too well, that ignoring your pain is not solving the problem. So, you go to the doctor, are given pain medication, and are told to schedule a visit with a specialist if the pain doesn’t get better. There must be a better option; there is, and it’s called physical therapy!
Your physical therapist is always your partner in helping you overcome pain or injury and putting you on the road to health and wellness! Ask your doctor for a referral to physical therapy to treat your musculoskeletal pain and injuries.
Ask for Physical Therapy First
Musculoskeletal issues involving the neck, shoulders, and back are common. In fact, approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide suffer from musculoskeletal injuries. But treatment for these issues often comes with significant downsides, such as:
- Long wait times for physician appointments, insurance referrals, and diagnostic testing, all of which prolong your pain as you wait
- Dependency on pain medications and opioids to manage pain while waiting for specialist appointments and diagnostic testing
- Additional costs of diagnostic imaging such as x-rays or MRIs
- Expensive and invasive surgical procedures involving lengthy recovery times
Are you looking for other healthcare options that reduce unnecessary procedures? Ask your medical provider for a referral to Bay State Physical Therapy! Choosing physical therapy before seeking more extensive medical care can help relieve pain and restore mobility while saving you valuable time, money, and hassle.
Here is How PT Can Help
What your care will include, how quickly it will progress, and when it will be complete depends on each patient. No two patients or injuries are the same; therefore, you can expect your care plan to be unique to your circumstances, preferences, and goals. Here’s how together we will do that!
Care Plan Designed Just for You
After a thorough evaluation of your medical history, injury, symptoms, and daily activities, your physical therapist will begin educating you. They will let you know the root cause of your pain and determine the appropriate steps for treatment. With your feedback, they will create a customized physical therapy care plan outlining each step of your rehabilitation process. You will know what they will do and what your role is in your rehabilitation. As partners in your health, you and your physical therapist are teammates, putting you on the road to health and wellness.
Exercise and Mobility
Movement is at the core of physical therapy, and your physical therapist will include exercises and mobility activities to treat persistent pain. When we say “movement is medicine” what we mean is that exercise is proven to decrease inflammation, increase mobility, mobilize nervous tissue, and reduce overall pain. Taking a comprehensive look at your current health, pain levels, and ability, your physical therapist will be able to prescribe the best stretches and exercises that specifically target and mitigate your pain for short-term and long-term relief. And, because your care is designed around the activities you like, services such as aquatic physical therapy may be offered to you based on your interests.
Hands-on Care
Staying current on industry innovations and best practices, physical therapists can use hands-on care, such as manual therapy and joint mobilization techniques, dry needling, and other strategies to ease pain, reduce swelling, and encourage healthy movement.
Discharge Plan Complete
The final piece of your care is your discharge plan. All the hard work you’ve put into your rehabilitation has brought you to your discharge. Like any exercise program, when you stop your home exercise plan, you risk a decrease in strength and function. So, as your physical therapist tells you, keep up those exercises to maintain the best outcomes for your injury!
Your physical therapy care plan is a roadmap from your first appointment to your discharge appointment, giving you the tools to achieve your rehab goals and maintain your condition in the weeks and months ahead.
What If I Need Other Medical Services?
It can be challenging to understand whether your pain or injury requires the expertise of a specialist. We can help with that, too. As a musculoskeletal expert, your physical therapist has the advanced training needed to screen your pain. With your health as the #1 priority, they will help explain what their findings reveal and will do so in a way that you understand entirely.
They’ll refer you to a trusted specialist if your condition requires further medical attention. But their work doesn’t stop there. They’ll continue coordinating with your specialist to keep up to date on your situation. Based on your progress, they will be ready for you if or when further rehabilitation is needed later in your care, working with your entire healthcare team to ensure you get the best outcomes possible.
Find a Partner in Health with Your Physical Therapist
When you ask for physical therapy early, you can experience pain relief, gain an understanding of your unique injury diagnosis, and find a partner in health for the years ahead. With physical therapy, you’ll experience a true partnership. A licensed medical professional that works with you to create a customized recovery plan for long-lasting relief.
To get started, call your nearest Bay State Physical Therapy location to schedule or completing the form below to request an evaluation.
