Health
LiveWell with Phil Rainier: Pain
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Hello again everybody! We’ve all experienced pain. From our first skinned knee to headaches, back pain and arthritis as we get older. But, not all pain is created equal. There’s acute pain or the kind of pain you feel when you stub your toe. It hurts like crazy when it happens, but it goes away. Then there’s chronic pain that develops slowly over a period of time and lasts months, even years.
Low back pain is considered chronic, so is pain associated with conditions like arthritis, cancer, migraines, fibromyalgia, endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Unlike acute pain, chronic pain can be debilitating. It can limit what they can do in the way of daily tasks. Some withdraw from activities they’ve always enjoyed. They become anxious and depressed.
There’s growing evidence physical therapy that mobilizes the spine can be effective in treating some people’s back pain. The fact is PT can be effective at treating a variety of painful conditions like tendinitis/bursitis, degenerative joint problems (osteoarthritis), and inflammatory joint problems (rheumatoid arthritis).
Central Physical Therapy owner Helen Balzli sees it every day in her clinic. A Physical Therapist herself, she says she has seen “first hand” the relief patients with painful diabetic neuropathy in their feet can get from low-level laser treatment. CPT’s Erik Strahan, DPT has had similar success using a treatment called ASTYM therapy. He’s used it to treat patients with repetitive use problems ranging from carpel tunnel syndrome to tennis elbow and heel pain also known as plantar fasciitis. Strahan says “ASTYM works especially well on old injuries that have just never healed.”
Whether you opt for physical therapy or some other medically approved pain treatment, the message is clear. No matter what you’ve tried or how many times you’ve tried it, don’t give up hope. Chronic pain is a complex problem. The challenge is finding the right treatment or combination of treatments for you. To find out more about PT and how it may help reduce your pain, call Central Physical Therapy. We will work with closely with your doctor to determine what works best for you.
Phil Rainier is not a doctor, nor is this column intended as medical advice. Phil is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Central Physical Therapy. If you questions about Physical Therapy or the role it can play in pain relief, call 225-261-7094. Phil’s e-mail address is [email protected].
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