Do you ever feel as though nothing will help to alleviate your pain? Have you suffered for so long that you have just accepted your pain as a burden you must carry for the rest of your life? Have you tried Physical Therapy before with no success? Many people feel the same way you do, and these feelings are often compounded by the fact that everything you’ve tried has failed.
Painkillers only cover up the symptoms, traditional massage therapy doesn’t work, heating pads only bring temporary relief, and that brace…well, you’d rather just throw it away. Perhaps the worst thing of all is that physical therapy has also not worked for you. You thought it would help you with your pain, but it only left you feeling desperate!
This can be tough and frustrating. Honestly, giving up on your healing journey may seem as though it’s only the right thing to do. Here’s the thing: there’s hope; there’s a way to get rid of your pain – you just haven’t found it yet.
What is it, you ask? Well…it’s physical therapy. Now… you just said it didn’t work, right? That’s fair. But what if you were someone who gets a coffee at Dunkin every day and one morning they got your order wrong. Is one bad cup of joe going to turn you off of coffee forever? Of course not! So, why give up on physical therapy without broadening your horizons? You just haven’t been given the correct treatment yet!
I’m not going to ask you to believe me straight off the brat, though – I have proof! Take a look at the following 6 facts that may explain why your previous physical therapy session(s) did not work:
1. The Root Cause Was Never Found
A good physical therapist will always chat to you about the root cause of your problem. Why, you may ask? Well, one of the reasons physical therapy is so effective is that it finds and treats the root cause of the problem, not just where the pain is coming from. If the root of the problem is never found and treated properly, you’ll never be able to get rid of that pesky pain to regain mobility, strength, and independence in a meaningful way. Not having found or treated the root cause of your issue may indeed be why your previous physical therapy failed.
2. There Was No Clear Plan For Your Recovery
Imagine buying a car but not knowing how to drive or how to get home from the dealership! Well, Physical Therapy without a clear course of action or recovery plan is similar to getting ready for your high school prom night, but sitting on the couch all night instead. It’s very important that your Physical Therapist has a clear plan, that he or she sticks to that plan, and that you have regular check-in’s in order to note your progress. Our clinic wouldn’t have the reputation for quality treatment without this system, and you should never settle for anything less.
3. Exercising In Vain
It may be that one of the first things you were told at your previous physical therapy session(s) is that you need to do more exercises, right? That’s all good and well but did they tell you what to do or how to do it? Even if they did, did they make sure you were comfortable and clearly understood the moves and postures involved? If not, chances are you were doing the exercises in vain. Physical Therapy training plans involve targeting those problem areas specifically – generic plans don’t cut it. Make sure you know what to do, how to do it, and when to stop – this is critical to a successful treatment.
4. A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action, Please!
Let’s be honest: Physical Therapy isn’t about the therapist…it’s about you! Any Physical Therapist pushing his or her own agenda on your injury will never be able to treat you. Not only that, he or she could end up making things worse! If there is a lot of prodding, poking, and general pressing in the area of pain, he or she could aggravate the issue further, thereby causing you unnecessary pain. Forget the hidden agendas and engrained formula – you need physical therapy for YOU.
5. Stretching Only Brought Temporary Relief
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Cliches aside, knowing which stretches to do, as well as knowing how to do them correctly is the key to success. A good Physical Therapist will always tell you that true healing takes time – there must be long term pain in place for you when it comes to stretching. Honesty is the best policy, and being truly pain free means understanding that you need to be committed for the long run…it will come and it will last.
6. You Didn’t Choose The Right Physical Therapist
Choosing a PT is critical when it comes to your healing process. Choosing Mister “A” because he’s quick and efficient isn’t always the best choice. Similarly, going for Miss “B” because she says nice things and gets through the session quickly is also a big mistake. It’s important to remember that Physical Therapy needs time. Initially, the PT needs time to find the root cause of the problem, but after he or she needs time to treat it properly So, just because you are promised pain relief in 15 minutes, doesn’t mean the former is true…only the latter. Give yourself and your Physical Therapist enough time to make the difference you dream of.
So there are 6 reasons why your previous attempt at Physical Therapy failed you. It’s not always easy to know how to choose a qualified, professional, hands-on therapist, and I understand that. At the end of the day, you need to feel comfortable, get the care you need, and have a plan tailored to you. You need to be given the attention needed to treat the root cause of your problem – not just your area of pain.
If you are still unsure as to why PT didn’t seem to work for you in the past, then I invite you to give me a call. Not only will I answer your questions to the best of my ability, but I’d be happy to discuss how you can move forward and make changes in order to make a difference and tackle your pain – for good!
