Living with chronic pain can be debilitating. Luckily, with the right chronic pain treatment plan, patients can feel empowered and begin the road to a more comfortable life.
At Bethesda Physiocare, we have helped numerous patients with chronic pain who have lost hope in recovery. Rather than improving, many patients are further spiraling into pain, decreased function, and frustration. Often time, these patients have seen many physical therapists and healthcare providers with limited success. This includes patients with complex pain from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, Orofacial Pain, and Chronic Pelvic Pain. If you’re experiencing chronic pain, take control by contacting us online or calling (301) 656-5613 today!
The Impact of Living with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain, a condition in which a patient experiences pain for three months or longer even after the initial cause has healed, creates a negative snowball effect leading to a decline in a patient’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. This includes interference in daily activities, sleep patterns, work productivity, and social interactions. All of which can contribute to feelings of frustration, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. For some patients it can seem like a never ending cycle of pain and injury that they are unable to get out of. We specialize in helping those patients find a plan to get out of their chronic pain cycle.
How Physical Therapy Helps Patients Feel Empowered
A large focus of physical therapy is to promote improvements in their capacity and tolerance to activity, which in turn encourages healthier thought patterns, limiting those negative feelings mentioned previously. While physical therapy can’t always cure chronic pain, it will give patients the tools and resources they need to live a healthy, fulfilling life with less pain.
Pain Management Techniques
Physical therapy plays a vital role in chronic pain treatment by providing effective pain management techniques. Skilled physical therapists employ a variety of strategies, such as manual therapy, dry needling, functional training, and more. These techniques can help patients gain better control over their pain, improving morale and overall well-being. This, in turn, may allow for more engagement with exercise and strength training. Many of our patients don’t see success with traditional physical therapy until their pain is addressed. Our clinic addresses the underlying issues that may be preventing patients form making progress with strength and range of motion exercises.
Increased Mobility and Function
Chronic pain often restricts an individual’s range of motion and physical abilities. Physical therapy focuses on restoring and improving mobility, strength, and flexibility through targeted exercises and therapeutic interventions. By gradually increasing mobility and function, physical therapy enables individuals to regain control and confidence over their bodies.
Education and Self-Management
One of the most important steps to chronic pain treatment, and any physical therapy treatment, is education. Without understanding how the body works and functions, patients can’t identify potential triggers or how a certain movement or activity can impact them. The power of education and self-management gives patients the tools and resources they need to better themselves. A Bethesda physical therapist will educate patients on the neuroscience behind pain and how it can be used for recovery. We do this through patient-friendly educational materials as well as interactive externally-focused exergaming and virtual reality.
Chronic Pain Treatments
While every case is different, some common methods you can find in chronic pain treatment involve the following:
- Exercise Therapy: A customized exercise program can be designed to address specific pain areas and improve strength, flexibility, and endurance.
- Manual Therapy: A form of therapy used to manipulate soft tissues and joints to reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore regular function.
- Dry Needling: This technique utilizes thin needles inserted into or near trigger points to stimulate muscles, resulting in pain relief and improved range of motion.
- Functional Training: Works to restore strength and proper function of the musculoskeletal system with the goal of making it easier to perform everyday activities within patients.
Less Pain, More Empowerment With Bethesda’s Chronic Pain Treatments
If you’re living with chronic pain in the Bethesda region, work with one of our expert physical therapists to find the right chronic pain treatment plan for you. Contact us online or call (301) 656-5613 to learn more today!
