It is practically impossible to live out your entire life without experiencing pain. Whether this pain has come on gradually, from an accident or an injury, or as a result of a disease or illness, you must find a way to manage it. It is quite common for people dealing with pain to choose opioids in an effort to relieve the pain. This is partly why the opioid addiction has grown exponentially in the last few decades.
While there are certainly circumstances in which opioid medications are appropriate, opioid use for extended periods of time to relieve pain can sometimes find themselves becoming chemically dependent, leading to even greater health risks and loss of functional ability. This is why physical therapy is often a better solution.
Correcting the underlying issue
Unlike opioids (which only relieve the pain), physical therapy identifies the problem and finds a way to ease the pain while correcting the underlying issue. Vivek Murthy, MD, a former U.S. Surgeon General is on record suggesting that physicians consider recommending non-opioid treatments, including physical therapy, first to deal with many pain conditions.
One of the factors that have significantly contributed to the over-prescription and the subsequent over-use of opioid medications is misinformation, where the doctor may be given potentially misleading information regarding the potential benefits as well as the risks associated with these medications.
A safer, more effective long-term solution
In most cases, opioids are excellent solutions for short-term use to relieve intense pain. However, when used for prolonged periods, their effectiveness plummets while the patient’s condition worsens. It’s true that there are certain circumstances where opioid medications are appropriate, but in many cases, physical therapy is often to be preferred as a safer and more effective long-term solution.
In an effort to ensure that their lifestyle and daily activities experience few interruptions, many people experiencing lower back pain choose pain medications. The problem with pain medications is that while they may offer immediate relief, they don’t deal with the underlying cause of your back pain.
By treating the underlying problem that’s causing your pain, you can save yourself from the possibility of living the rest of your life with pain and pain medications. Oklahoma Physical Therapy provides a safer and cost-effective alternative treatment.
At Oklahoma Physical Therapy, you will get a personalized treatment plan designed to help you live your life without pain and without the possibility of becoming addicted to opioid medications. Contact our certified and highly trained physical therapists and start a journey towards better health outcomes without opioids.