{"id":26943,"date":"2020-07-20T19:17:32","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T19:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogging2k20.agvnt68s-liquidwebsites.com\/?p=17"},"modified":"2023-03-21T13:46:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T13:46:42","slug":"the-drug-free-path-to-pain-relief-physical-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nlphysio.com\/the-drug-free-path-to-pain-relief-physical-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Drug-Free Path to Pain Relief: Physical Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pain is a serious problem in today’s world. An estimated 1 out of every 5 Americans suffers from some degree of chronic pain, and 8 percent of those sufferers find the pain so intense that they can’t pursue their normal activities. It’s little wonder, then, that painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs have grown into such a mammoth industry. Unfortunately, these drugs offer their own share of troubles, from addiction to dangerous effects on internal organs. Many people are now seeking effective pain relief that doesn’t come from a pill bottle. If you’re one of those people, you need to know about the amazing pain-busting potential of physical therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem With Painkillers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications promise to ease pain and inflammation temporarily. Steroids do this by suppressing the immune system for people suffering from painful auto-immune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis). That same immune-suppressing power, however, also makes the body more vulnerable to infection. Long-term steroid use has also been associated with cataracts, glaucoma, hypertension, water retention, acne, high blood sugar and osteoporosis. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) block the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body. These drugs aren’t necessarily safe, either. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding and kidney damage in some individuals. They have also been associated with elevated heart attack and stroke risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most ominous danger comes from opioid drugs. Opioids can deaden more than just pain. These powerful drugs caused over 70,000 fatal overdoses in 2017 alone. Some of these deaths may have been related to recreational drug use, but over 60 percent of the deceased were chronic pain sufferers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical Therapy for All-Natural Pain Management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Physical therapy offers numerous advantages as a safe, effective, all-natural pain management tool. A physical therapist<\/a><\/strong> takes each individual’s symptoms (and those symptoms’ underlying causes) into account when devising a physical therapy plan for pain management. Your plan might include modalities such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n