When it comes to back pain, finding a fast, effective treatment is often foremost in patient’s minds. They don’t want to be burdened with feeling bad or unable to participate in daily life, so they’ll do anything to alleviate the symptoms.
This can be true especially when it comes to chronic back pain. Dealing with pain for a long amount of time will eventually impact a person’s physical, mental, and emotional state. However, taking medication to treat back pain — even chronic back pain — may not be effective.
What is Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain is any pain or discomfort that lasts for longer than 3 to 6 months. The cause of the pain may not be easy to pinpoint, unlike acute pain, which generally occurs after an injury or a specific ailment.
What Types of Drugs Are Used to Treat Pain?
When it comes to medications that are used to treat pain, there are a variety that are available. These can include over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications. Some of the most common OTC medications include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
When it comes to prescription medications to relieve pain, these can include opioids, corticosteroids, lidocaine patches, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. These are only available from a doctor, and they have to write you a prescription so you can get the drugs from a pharmacy.
All of these medications can be effective in treating pain, but they also come with side effects and the chance of forming a dependency. There’s already a pain killer crisis in the world, so finding ways to reduce their use and addiction is imperative.
Physical Therapy Can Be More Effective Than Drugs
With the need to reduce the number of prescription drugs that are used for chronic pain, people are looking at physical therapy as an alternative. This method has been found to be cheaper, safer, and more effective than medication. Physical therapy is also less risky and has fewer side effects than most medications.
The more a person moves, the better they’ll feel. Strengthening and stretching your body is an effective way to increase mobility while also decreasing pain. Focusing specifically on the parts of the body that are impacted by chronic pain is a good way to make that area feel better.
Physical therapy offers patients skills and exercises that have a longer lasting effect on the body than medication can provide. While both OTC and prescription medications are effective in treating pain, they don’t strengthen or target the root cause of the issue like physical therapy does. Taking care of that issue means that future pain could be improved or eradicated altogether.
Finding relief from back pain, whether acute or chronic, is important to the sufferer. They want to be able to get back to living their life without discomfort or impairment. In many cases, taking the quick way to that end is used, and that often includes medications. These will work for the short-term, but it’s important to find a long-term solution, and physical therapy is more effective than drugs.
The Lattimore Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation Network was founded by Physical Therapists John and Cindy Shuman in 1992. Since then Lattimore has grown to 20+ locations in 4 different counties.
What’s unique about Lattimore is our patient experience. We tailor your 1:1 treatment around your individual needs, conditions and goals. With us, you’re more than just a number. You’re a member of our local community and we’re invested in your success. Call 1–888-PT ROCHS to experience The Lattimore Way!
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