Are You Dependent on Opioids For Pain Relief?

Are You Dependent on Opioids For Pain Relief? If you depend on pain medications to make it through the day because of a chronic pain condition, know that you are not alone. You should also know that even though this is a common pain relief solution for many Americans, it is not normal or healthy in the slightest. Our nation is currently experiencing what the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services refers to as an “opioid epidemic.” Thankfully, there is another option for this kind of pain management. Physical therapists can help individuals manage pain, and greater use of physical therapy could make a real impact on the tragic levels of drug abuse in this country—abuse that often begins with a prescription for pain medication. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. If you are ready to find relief without the side effects of opioids, contact our physical therapy clinic today. Why are opioids so dangerous? People often confuse over-the-counter drugs and opioids, but they’re two different things. When people turn to over-the-counter medications for pain relief, there aren’t many significant health risks. For the most part, Advil, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen are safe to use in moderation if you are trying to find immediate relief when recovering from your car accident. Excessive use can negatively affect your organs, but most people don’t need to use these pain relievers very often. When it comes to severe pain caused by a more serious injury you may have sustained, prescription-strength medications may be issued by a doctor. However, with severe pain comes severe medication and side effects as well. Opioids are the most commonly used medication for pain management across the United States. Even though they are common, there are some shocking facts about them that the general public might not even be aware of, such as: 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. Opioids are a highly addictive substance and are the most commonly abused prescription medication. 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 paint a bleak picture regarding the reality of prescription pain medication use across the United States. While disturbing, these statements cannot be ignored. It isn’t necessary to have a history of addiction to become dependent on opioids. In fact, many people who become addicted have never had any issues with drug dependency in the past. Fortunately, physical therapy can help provide the same pain relief in a much safer, healthier, and natural way. How physical therapy can kick an opioid addiction Physical therapy is effective for avoiding unnecessary surgery and for getting rid of a person’s dependence on opioids. This is why physical therapy is often the first point of entry in the healthcare system for pain management. The goal of physical therapy is to improve function and reduce pain. Both active and passive modalities are used in many forms of treatment. A physical therapist will educate you on the source of your pain and give you tips on how to manage your daily activities in order to reduce or eliminate pain. Pain education is an important component of physical therapy intervention! What to expect at a physical therapy appointment Chronic pain can make you curl up in bed and turn to opioids for pain relief. This solves nothing and is likely to only make your problem worse. If you’re tired of living with addiction, understand that you can say “no” to opioids with the help of physical therapy. It’s important to note that physical therapy can be implemented to treat all types of neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain. It can help alleviate pain due to osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathic pain, headaches, and more. A physical therapist utilizes a number of different pain management methods, such as deep tissue massage, manipulation of bones, manual therapy, cold laser therapy, microcurrent stimulation, movement therapy, and exercise. Exercise may involve walking on a treadmill or specific exercises to strengthen the muscles. Deep tissue massage enhances oxygen and nutrients to travel to the affected area. Cold laser therapy is used to lessen pain, reduce inflammation and release endorphins. Microcurrent stimulation emits alpha waves to increase dopamine and serotonin to alleviate pain naturally. Even just 30 minutes of exercise a day will help you to better manage your pain! The exercise plan that a physical therapist will devise for you will be focused on strengthening the muscles, increasing endurance, developing more flexibility in the joints and muscles, and creating stability in the joints. Physical therapy is a multi-pronged approach to lessening pain. With exercise, massage, and manipulation, the body is encouraged to produce natural pain-relieving chemicals and to heal itself. Both tissue and bone will remodel with physical therapy. A physical therapist uses the fundamental sciences of biomechanics, pathology, and kinesiology to formulate a specific exercise treatment plan for patients. They can work closely with you and your doctor to find an effective treatment plan for your pain. Get started today If you’re tired of using pain medication to lessen your discomfort, know that there is another way to handle this part of your life. You don’t want to be part of a negative statistic. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our physical therapists – and say goodbye to opioids today.

Living with Joint Pain? PT Can Help in These 4 Ways

Living with Joint Pain? PT Can Help in These 4 Ways Arthritis is a common joint pain problem that can affect people of all ages. While there is no cure for arthritis, with physical therapy, you can learn how to manage your arthritis pain naturally. For many people with chronic arthritis pain, prescription pain medications may seem like the only way to relieve pain. However, our experienced physical therapist recommends completing a variety of targeted exercises to reduce inflammation, increase mobility, and relieve your arthritis pain. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. Keep reading to learn more! How can physical therapy help relieve painful joints? If you have arthritis pain, our physical therapist recommends completing a few different physical therapy exercises to help ease your pain and other symptoms, such as stiffness. Some of our favorite exercises are: Hand Exercises — Rheumatoid arthritis can often result in limited use of the hands over time. By bending the wrists up and down, slowly curling your fingers, and spreading your fingers wide in a repetitive exercise cycle, you can greatly improve mobility and relieve chronic pain. Water Exercises — This is a great low-impact way to get in your physical therapy exercises and relieve joint pain. Walking — Going for a walk is a great way to improve your joint health, boost your overall mood, and help with aerobic conditioning. Stretching — This simple exercise helps to improve flexibility, increase your range of motion and reduce stiffness caused by arthritis. So, why am I experiencing joint pain? Because there are different types of arthritis, there is no major cause of this type of joint problem. There are, however, certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood that you may develop arthritis in your lifetime. Gender Did you know that women are much more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men? But on the other hand, men are more likely to develop gout. Age The risk of developing certain types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis and gout, increases as we age. Previous Injury If you’ve injured a joint in the past, you have an increased risk of developing arthritis in the same area later in life. Weight When you are carrying excess weight on your body, you are putting increased strain on your joints. People with obesity have a greater chance of developing arthritis, particularly in the knees, hips, and spine. Family History Certain types of arthritis can be genetic issues that run within family lines. If your parents or siblings have a specific type of arthritis, you are much more likely to develop it at some point in your life as well. How else can joint pain develop? Can you believe that it’s possible to develop soft tissue pain from doing absolutely nothing? It’s strange, but true. Take for example, this condition called adhesive capsulitis, otherwise known as “frozen shoulder.” If you’ve had to wear a sling for a while, this is an uncomfortable condition you could end up having that can render your shoulder useless for quite some time. Osteoarthritis is the most common condition that causes pain and stiffness. This condition can affect anyone at any age, but is most commonly found in older patients due to age-related deterioration of cartilage between bones in the joint. Osteoarthritis isn’t the only one to look out for. Rheumatoid arthritis is another painful, damaging joint condition caused by autoimmune problems. Do you have any of these symptoms? For most people with arthritis, joint pain is the most common complaint. But depending on the type of arthritis an individual has, they may experience a variety of different symptoms, including: Chronic pain Impaired range of motion Stiffness Redness Swelling What else should I know about arthritis? Arthritis is characterized by swelling or tenderness in one or more of the body’s joints. Joint pain and stiffness are the most common complaints of those with arthritis, and these symptoms may actually worsen with age. While there are many types of arthritis, the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joint begins to break down, resulting in recurring pain and stiffness. However, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack different joints, starting with the actual lining of the joints and breaking them down over time. Our trained physical therapists are dedicated to helping you achieve a pain-free life. Consult with a licensed PT today Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of physical therapy for arthritis pain? Please contact our Chesterton, IN physical therapy practice to learn more, and be sure to schedule an initial consultation.

Discover Lasting Relief for Your Hip and Knee Pains

Discover Lasting Relief for Your Hip and Knee Pains Are You Living with Hip and Knee Pains? The knee is considered to be a hinge joint while the hip is a ball-and-socket joint. They are both complex joints with a network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage – all working together to keep you moving. With these many moving parts, it’s not surprising that as we age or engage in strenuous activity, we sometimes experience pain. If you suffer from hip or knee pain, it can make it difficult to do even the most basic daily activities. Understanding the causes of hip and knee problems is often the first key to effective treatment. A physical therapist can help you reduce or even eliminate the amount of pain you’re experiencing if you’re struggling with hip or knee pain. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. What can I expect from a PT treatment plan? Physical therapy may offer a non-invasive solution for both hip and knee pain. Your physical therapist is likely to begin with an evaluation. In the case of knee pain, the evaluation would probably focus on the area from the hip to the foot. Evaluation of hip pain is also likely to include a spinal evaluation. For both types of pain, the assessment may include a range of motion and strength measurements. Your physical therapist may also perform gait and mobility tests. An individualized physical therapy program would then be developed to meet your specific needs. Physical therapy can improve your joint function while also easing your pain and stiffness. Our physical therapist can prescribe exercises aimed at addressing your specific condition, such as: Mini-squats Heel-to-buttock-exercises Hip rotations Knee lifts Leg lifts Step exercises Hamstring curls Hip flexion, extension or abductor exercises The American Physical Therapy Association states that early rehabilitation for certain types of knee pain is associated with lower use of opioids and knee surgery. Various types of exercises are often used to reduce pain in the hips. Passive methods, such as icing or heat treatment, could also be used to eliminate pain. Sometimes soft tissues and joints in the hip or spine must be manipulated to restore proper movement and reduce pain. A variety of exercises and stretches are also used to treat pain in the knee. Other treatments that your physical therapist may use include ultrasound or electrical stimulation. What do additional treatments look like? Surgery: Recovery from surgery can be painful and extensive. There’s always the chance of infection and sometimes surgery simply doesn’t produce the intended results. While surgery may be effective in some cases, it’s not without its drawbacks and should be used as a last resort. Pain Medication: Prescription pain meds are sometimes used to treat knee and hip pain. Medication normally doesn’t solve the issue, but only temporarily reduces the pain. Medications, even over-the-counter meds, can be addictive and expensive. So, why am I experiencing hip/knee pain? There may be one or several reasons why you are experiencing hip and knee pain. A physical therapist can examine your movement to help identify things that are contributing to your pain, such as poor posture, unhealthy walking patterns, or unhealthy movement patterns at work. Once they identify these kinds of issues, physical therapists can tell you how to correct them. Some common causes of knee and hip pain are as follows: Knee Pain: Injuries that include torn cartilage or damaged ligaments can cause knee pain. Fractures, tendinitis, and knee bursitis are all common knee injuries. Medical conditions such as arthritis or gout can cause mild to severe knee pain. You may be experiencing stiffness or swelling in one or both knees. It might be difficult to stand, walk, or fully straighten your knee. Sometimes knees will make popping or crunching noises. Hip Pain: Hip pain can be caused by a variety of medical conditions as well as by certain injuries. Inflamed tendons from over-exertion or an athletic injury can cause temporary or chronic hip pain. Tendinitis, dislocation, sprains, and pinched nerves can all contribute to or be the cause of hip pain. Hip pain may also result from repetitive injuries or poor posture. Get started on a treatment plan today! It is important to follow all the instructions of your physical therapist, including any stretches or exercises that can be done at home. Your physical therapist can conduct a thorough examination of your body, pinpoint the areas in your hips and knees where you’re struggling with pain, and create a customized program to treat your particular condition. Physical therapy can help you find lasting relief from pain in the hip or knee! Contact us today in Chesterton, IN to find out for yourself.

Joint Pain Got You Down? Physical Therapy May Help.

Joint Pain Got You Down? Physical Therapy May Help. If you’ve been dealing with chronic joint pain for some time, then you should know you’re not alone. Chronic joint pain is typically associated with arthritis, although there are plenty of other physical ailments that can lead to joint deterioration and pain. While physical therapy is not a cure for arthritis, it can help to alleviate the pain, increase your range of motion in the affected joints and help you get control over the problem so that it doesn’t get worse. If you are not proactive when it comes to joint pain, it likely will worsen over time, especially if you’re relying on prescription medications to provide pain relief. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. If you’ve been suffering from joint pain and now you’re looking for a solution, call us to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist. Is your joint pain a sign of arthritis? Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability across the United States? According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 50 million people live with arthritis. While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any joint, it most commonly affects the neck, back, hands, hips, and knees. It can also affect people of any age. There are two main types of arthritis that are the most common culprits when it comes to joint pain: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here is a closer look at these types of arthritis and how they affect your joints: Rheumatoid Arthritis: If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely prescribe pharmaceutical treatments to decrease your pain and discomfort. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s healing systems attack the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling and inflammation of the joints. Although this condition usually begins in the hands, wrists, or feet, it can spread to the hips, knees, or shoulders, while getting progressively worse, if you aren’t proactive in fighting it. Physical therapy can be a tremendous help to those dealing with this autoimmune disease. Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis typically develops later in life and can be caused by poor body mechanics, overuse of the joint, or an injury. This is the most common type of arthritis by far. The cartilage in joints serves as a natural barrier that lubricates and distributes force during physical activity. When that cartilage breaks down and no longer provides a cushion between adjoining bones, the result is osteoarthritis. The hands, hips, knees, and spine are the most common body parts impacted by osteoarthritis. Certain ailments like gout, bursitis, lupus, or tendinitis can also contribute to joint pain. The source of your joint pain can be determined by a combination of tests that a physical therapist can perform, as well as a thorough examination. What can a physical therapist do for joint pain? Your therapist will need to know about the type of joint pain you are experiencing, the times of day when the pain is worse, and any physical activities that you engage in on a regular basis If you have a job that requires physical labour or sitting at a desk all day, tell them. If your condition has already been diagnosed by a doctor, your physical therapist should be made aware of this as well. Your therapist will likely run you through a series of simple strength tests during your first visit. These will be done to test your range of motion, balance, and posture. This information will be used to help create a customized physical therapy regimen to help you relieve the joint pain while strengthening muscles to help support the joints. Your plan of physical therapy will likely contain a combination of targeted stretches, exercises, manual therapy, and body mechanics. Manual therapy is a specialized type of therapeutic massage that your physical therapist is trained in; manual therapy can help to soften tissues and relieve pain associated with your joint condition. Body mechanics involves teaching you the proper way to move, sit, stand, lift objects, and engage in other daily activities, without causing pain to your joints. The exercises will likely be low-impact to relieve pressure on the joints while strengthening your muscles, such as water aerobics. Common symptoms of joint pain or arthritis For most people with joint pain, general discomfort is the most common complaint. But depending on what the cause of your joint pain is, you may experience a variety of different symptoms, including, but not limited to the following: Chronic pain Impaired range of motion Stiffness Redness Inflammation of the affected area Inability to grasp objects Swelling If you’re noticing any of the above symptoms, there are two things you should not do. First, don’t expect it to go away on its own. Second, don’t rely on prescription medications for temporary relief. Call a physical therapist at our office today to learn more about the causes of joint pain, and find out how you can begin keeping your own at bay. Are you ready to find relief today? You deserve a normal, healthy, active lifestyle. The goal of your physical therapy will be to help you take back control of your life by minimizing joint pain. Call our office today to schedule your first appointment with a physical therapist.

Stress-Related Headaches Can Be Bothersome – Fortunately, PT Can Help

Stress-Related Headaches Can Be Bothersome – Fortunately, PT Can Help Discover Relief for Your Headaches Today! Headaches are a common issue that can plague everyone from pre-teens to retirees. However, when recurrent tension or stress-related headaches make it difficult to get through your day, physical therapy may be needed to provide long-lasting pain relief. Physical therapy can help you overcome stress-related headaches. In fact, as stated by Choose PT,  “There is an effective treatment for almost every type of headache.” Working with a physical therapist can help you identify tension-reducing exercises and help you find long-term relief from headaches without the need to rely on pain medication. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. Our experienced physical therapists have the skills needed to target the root cause of your headaches. Additionally, they can create a tailored treatment plan that is safe and effective. Tired of dealing with irritating and painful headaches? Keep reading to learn how to benefit from physical therapy. Why am I experiencing headaches? The most common type of headache experienced by adolescents and adults in tension headaches—sometimes referred to as stress-related headaches. This type of headache occurs when the muscles of the scalp and neck are tensed and then contracted. Stress is the easy answer to this question, but in reality, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Stress can manifest itself in all kinds of ways; however, finding ways to deal with stress is not always an option. Stress can build from a wide range of activities, and some of those activities may be things that you really enjoy doing, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t weigh on you, creating an added level of pressure that can manifest in painful headaches. If you have tension headaches, you will most likely feel that the pain begins at the back of your neck before it rises to the top of your head and eventually causes pain and discomfort behind your eyes. It’s also common to experience tension headache pain in your cheeks, jaw, and even down your shoulders. Some common causes of a tension headache include: Anxiety and depression Fatigue Arthritis Poor posture Hair pulled back tightly Stress Other common types of headaches that may cause recurrent pain and discomfort include sinus headaches, caffeine headaches, migraine headaches, hormonal headaches, post-traumatic headaches, and cluster headaches. Stress is a common trigger for tension and migraine headaches. Rather than stressing ways you can avoid stress, it may be more helpful to think about strategies that will help ease headaches once you develop—as well as stress-reduction techniques that may prevent stress from reaching your head first. How can a physical therapist help? Physical therapy can help to reduce the pain associated with headaches while working to restore proper function and a full range of motion in the neck and shoulder areas. Typically, there are 2 different types of physical therapy treatments that are ideal for relieving chronic headaches, these include: Active Therapies Range-of-motion exercises Low-impact aerobics Pain relief exercises Muscular releases Strengthening exercises Stretching Passive Therapies Soft tissue mobilization Ultrasound Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS Ultrasound Massage therapy Alternating heat and ice therapy Depending on the severity and cause of your headaches, our physical therapist may suggest a combination of physical therapy treatment methods to provide pain relief. However, because each person responds differently to headache pain, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” treatment plan. Because physical therapy targets the muscles and joints, it is an effective treatment option for those who experience tension headaches or stress-related headaches, and headache pain that radiates down into the jaw, neck, and shoulder areas. Over time, our physical therapist aims to not only reduce your pain but hopefully prevent recurring headaches altogether. The primary goal of physical therapy is to not only provide pain relief but to increase mobility, improve posture, and help strengthen the muscles that control your neck, shoulders, and upper back areas. With all physical therapy treatment plans, our patients will receive helpful educational information that will help them to complete pain relief exercises at home to supplement in-office visits. Consult with a physical therapist today! If you or your loved one have had recurrent headaches, you can find quick and effective pain relief with regular physical therapy. Are you interested in learning more about the many benefits of physical therapy for tension headaches? Call us today or visit our office in Chesterton, IN and be sure to schedule an initial consultation with one of our friendly physical therapists!

Chronic Back Pain: Physical Therapy, Unlocking New Potentials

Physical Therapy Can Help with Chronic Back Pain! Don’t Live in Discomfort Any Longer Discover Relief for Your Aches and Pains Today Chronic back pain is a pain that lasts for three months and is longer. This type of pain can occur for a variety of reasons, including spinal arthritis, aging, disc problems, and myofascial pain syndrome. With spinal arthritis, the slow thinning of the cartilage inside the spine can result in pain. With a herniated or bulging disc, compression may occur around your surrounding nerves, resulting in pain. With spinal stenosis, there is a narrowing of the spine, which can lead to nerve pain. With myofascial pain syndrome, you may experience unknown muscle tenderness and pain. Our innovative care strategies at Chesterton Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. Whatever the cause of your pain, it doesn’t have to be a part of your daily life. What can physical therapy do for my chronic pain? If your back pain is caused by spinal stenosis or a bulging disc, a physical therapist may initiate a targeted movement program to reduce numbness, pain, or weakness. Progressive movement exercises such as McKenzie exercises may be included in your physical therapy program to treat a wide range of causes of back pain. Stabilization exercises to retrain deep muscles may also be included. Your physical therapist will also show you how to use the right spinal and abdominal muscles before starting any exercise to stabilize the spine. Manipulation is another technique for alleviating chronic pain where short and rapid movements are performed over the joint to reduce pain and increase mobility. Physical therapists also use multiple passive modalities to reduce back pain. Heat and cold therapy may be used to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. Ultrasound is another common passive modality used by physical therapists that incorporates deep heating sound waves that penetrate soft tissue. Not only does this method relieve back pain, but it also aids in the healing of the affected area. A physical therapist may order a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit. This unit helps to overcome the painful signals sent to the brain. It can be used both at home and in the long term. Deep tissue massage is another common therapy for chronic back pain. This manual method increases oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas for healing and also helps reduce muscle spasms and stiffness. According to the NCBI, “In chronic low back without serious pathology, recommended primary conservative physical treatment preferences include exercise, yoga, biofeedback, progressive relaxation, massage, manual therapy, physical therapy and interdisciplinary rehabilitation. A recent literature review with meta-analysis in patients with chronic lower back pain found moderate- to high-quality evidence that McKenzie exercises in physical therapy were superior to other rehabilitation interventions in reducing pain and disability.” What else should I know? As stated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “While acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself, chronic pain is different. Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years. There may have been an initial mishap — sprained back, serious infection, or there may be an ongoing cause of pain — arthritis, cancer, ear infection, but some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Many chronic pain conditions affect older adults. Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself), psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system). A person may have two or more co-existing chronic pain conditions. Such conditions can include chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and vulvodynia. It is not known whether these disorders share a common cause.” Chronic pain affects every person differently. In many cases, the pain continues long after the body is healed from the injury or surgery. The good news is that physical therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach to pain relief. Your physical therapist has many tools and techniques at their disposal to help relieve and overcome chronic pain. Chronic pain has a number of symptoms associated with it, apart from the fact that it lasted more than three months. Here are some of the symptoms commonly associated with chronic aches and pain: Decreased activity: Inactivity due to chronic pain can cause your muscles to weaken and shrink. This can have profound physical effects over time, such as impacting your sense of balance. Decreased circulation: Remaining inactive due to chronic pain reduces your circulation, which means your cells are not receiving a healthy amount of blood and oxygen. This can cause tissues to degenerate and leads to feelings of constant fatigue. Avoiding activities: People with chronic pain become fearful of normal activities. The fear of additional pain can cause people to withdraw from normal physical activities that they enjoy. Stiffness: Muscles and joints may feel stiffer when suffering from chronic pain. Increased weight: People with chronic pain may put on too much weight, which can lead to a host of added problems, from diabetes to heart disease. Ready to find relief? If you have back pain, it’s time to take action. Schedule a physical therapy assessment today. Your physical therapist will work with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan for your specific condition. With both active and passive treatment methods, you will be on the road to pain reduction or even elimination. At the end of the road, you will be able to move about your daily life with reduced or no pain in your regular activities!

Are You Battling Opioid Addiction? There’s A Better Option Available!

Are You Battling Opioid Addiction? There’s A Better Option Available! If you are suffering from arthritis, particularly in a weight-bearing joint like the knee or hip, taking an opioid painkiller for relief can be a powerful temptation for you. All you want is for the pain to subside so that you can get on with your day, right? Unfortunately, although opioids can temporarily relieve pain, your bones will continue to grind together, making the underlying cause of the condition even worse. Opioids don’t cure the source of your pain, they only mask it. So, rather than turning to opioids for your arthritis, consider the chemical-free alternative to arthritis pain: physical therapy! Call our office to learn more about how working with a physical therapist can relieve your arthritis or other pain symptoms so that you can stop relying on harmful medications to get through the day. How do I know if I have arthritis? Arthritis is a very common condition that many individuals of all ages suffer from. Arthritis symptoms can be managed with the help of physical therapy. Some of the most common symptoms that arthritis sufferers have to deal with include: Inflamed tissues: The pain and inflammation associated with arthritis can cause tissue swelling near the impacted joint. The area surrounding the joint might feel warm to the touch. Sensations of “grinding”: Arthritis is a result of lost cartilage, the material in the joints which acts as a cushion and lubricant between bones. The loss of cartilage can make it feel as if the patient’s bones are grinding together when they move. Decreased mobility: An arthritic joint can restrict your range of motion, to the point where you are unable to carry out daily tasks like you used to. This can make doing the simplest of things difficult and frustrating. Joint stiffness: The joints are especially stiff when you wake up for the day and may feel sensitive or painful when touched. Pain: To put it simply, arthritic joints may hurt during or after physical movement. Why are opioids so harmful? In a study published by the American Physical Therapy Association, titled “Beyond Opioids: How Physical Therapy Can Transform Pain Management and Improve Health,” the issue of opioid abuse is discussed. It identifies three important events that triggered what the medical community identifies as the “opioid epidemic:” Increases in deaths involving prescription opioids starting in 1999 Increases in deaths involving heroin starting in 2010 Increases in deaths involving synthetic opioids since 2013 Both opioid prescription rates and deaths from opioid overdoses have quadrupled in the last twenty years. Given these stark statistics, an obvious conclusion can be made: Opioid dependence has gotten out of hand, and the consequences can be literally fatal. Beyond extreme physical risk, over-reliance on prescription painkillers can have other detrimental effects on your health. Opioid use can lead to depression, which sets up a vicious cycle of self-medicating in order to feel better emotionally as well as physically. The Centers for Disease Control offers some frightening statistics from opioid overuse in 2011: Sales of prescription painkillers to pharmacies and providers had increased 300% since 1999 In 2010, 12 million people ages 12 and older reported using prescription painkillers “non-medically” More than 40 people were dying each day from overdoses involving prescription opioids You might be thinking, if these medications are harmful, what other options do we have in order to combat chronic pain? There’s an answer: physical therapy. If you have been struggling with pain or discomfort, contact us today to find out how we can resolve your issues the natural way. How can physical therapy provide better relief? If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, you can work with a physical therapist to learn strategies that will help you manage your symptoms, without having to resort to painkillers. During your first appointment, be prepared to talk about your medical history with your therapist. You will be asked to describe your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. For example, does your arthritis prevent you from taking your dog on long walks? Are you no longer able to play weekend basketball with your friends? Your therapist will likely have you do a few simple tests which will vary based on which joints are suffering from arthritis. In general, expect to be tested on your range of motion in the impacted joints, as well as your strength and balance. These tests will be used to determine how far the arthritis has advanced, and to assist the physical therapist in crafting the best possible plan of treatment for you. What techniques will a physical therapist use? Body mechanics will be another part of your arthritis treatment. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to carry out daily activities with minimal impact on your arthritic joints. This helps to prevent the grinding sensation and helps prevent the arthritis condition from worsening. Manual therapy will likely be a part of the treatment strategy for managing your arthritis. This specialized type of therapeutic massage not only relieves stiffness and pain in arthritic joints but can also help to loosen tissues up and extend your range of motion. All licensed physical therapists are trained in the use of manual therapy for arthritis. Depending on the location of your arthritis, your therapist might recommend aquatic exercise in a pool for joint relief (as one possible example). The goal will be to increase your strength so that muscle structures can bear your weight better, without putting undue strain on arthritic joints. Exercise and weight management may also be a part of your course of physical therapy. Kick the pain meds today — call our office Physical therapy can help you manage the pain of arthritis without turning to powerful opioids or other painkillers. Call our office today to schedule your first appointment with a licensed physical therapist. Sources: https://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis https://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/Advocacy/Federal/Legislative_Issues/Opioid/APTAOpioidWhitePaper.pdf

3 Reasons To Add Stretching Into Your Daily Routine!

3 Reasons To Add Stretching Into Your Daily Routine! You might not think about it, but there are many simple physical motions you can do every day that will dramatically improve your overall health, wellness, and quality of life! Stretching happens to be one of them. These exercises are a staple of physical therapy, a natural and safe way to gain relief from chronic pain symptoms. You might be surprised to discover just how many ways stretches can help you. Some of them you may already do! Here is more information about the importance of stretching, as well as some prime reasons that a physical therapist might prescribe stretches to enhance your life at Chesterton Physical Therapy. Why it’s important to stretch daily The key to good health is to keep your body flexible. ​Many common aches and pains stem from tight muscles and poor movement. Stretching helps your circulatory, respiratory, lymphatic, and musculoskeletal systems. Normal blood and lymphatic fluids circulate the body easier, oxygenating your tissues properly when your tissues are flexible. This helps you feel energized, relieves pain, and allows you to perform daily tasks without feeling tired. It’s no surprise then that stretching is necessary for dedicated athletes, gym warriors, or anyone looking to improve their physical performance. After a workout, you may not feel the need to stretch if your muscles aren’t aching or sore. You still need to! There are several potential effects of not taking the time to stretch correctly after exercise; you could hurt yourself. You might experience stiffness if you’re not stretching adequately. Muscles and tendons that aren’t stretched properly after exercise may be more susceptible to injury. 1. Stretching is a stress reliever Stretching provides numerous benefits to help your body keep itself healthier. One of the most important of these is stress relief. Everyday life throws lots of challenges at you, and the resulting stress can be held in your muscles. You might not realize how much stress you’re carrying until you begin to stretch. Stress in your muscles leads to tightness, spasms, and chronic discomforts such as headaches and neck pain. Stress also floods your body with “fight or flight” hormones such as cortisone and adrenaline. These imbalances can suppress your immune function, making you more vulnerable to viruses and other diseases. Hypertension is yet another dangerous consequence of chronic stress. Regular stretching helps your body release all that pent-up stress. By relaxing and loosening your muscles, you can maintain better control over your blood pressure, avoid chronic muscle pain, and keep your immune system ready for anything. 2. Stretching improves tissue health Tissues that are tight, stiff, or generally unprepared for challenges may tear, resulting in a strain or sprain that puts a premature end to your participation. Stretches provide a safe, gentle way to work out the kinks and get your tissues ready for action. As you become more limber, you reduce your risk of a soft tissue injury. You’ll find those tissues more capable and responsive as you work or play. You’ve probably seen athletes go through sets of stretching exercises before a competition or training session. They’re not just stretching for the fun of it — they’re trying to optimize their athletic performance while also protecting themselves against injury! Stretching after your activity is just as beneficial; it prevents your muscles from seizing up and getting stiff once they’re no longer being exerted. 3. Stretching improves your mobility Stretching becomes even more important when you’ve become less mobile due to issues such as osteoarthritis. The less you move your joints, the greater the likelihood that your muscles and connective tissues will become shorter and more painful. It’s quite common for a physical therapist to prescribe various stretching exercises to individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions. This change obviously limits your joint motion even further and leaves you in even more pain. Stretches naturally support physical therapy recommendations such as walking, heat therapy, or massage therapy in increasing blood flow to painful joints and widening your pain-free range of motion. Chronic pain syndromes often involve tight muscles. Syndromes such as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome cause muscle knots that limit muscle motion and trigger referred pain to other parts of the body. Regular stretching can help you “untie those” painful knots — all you have to do is consult with a physical therapist to learn more about the best kinds of stretching for your body type and condition! Ready to get started? Contact us today There’s a good reason we suggest visiting a physical therapist to learn more about stretching. There are right ways and wrong ways to stretch! For one thing, different kinds of stretches offer different benefits. Your particular situation might call for active stretches (in which you move a body part with no assistance), passive stretches (in which the body part is held or supported), or both. Our physical therapist can help you stretch safely and effectively — so contact us or visit our physical therapy center in Chesterton, IN today!