Pain is one of the most common symptoms that may lead someone to seek the help of a physical therapist or other health care professional.
Pain is a completely individualized experience. We often use different terms to describe it, and it is hard to know if you feel pain the same way as your friends or family feel pain. Some people talk about having a high or low tolerance to pain, but because pain is such a subjective experience, science has not developed accurate ways to measure pain tolerance. Currently, there are 2 ways your physical therapist may categorize your pain.
The most standard classification of pain is time-based:
Acute (pain experienced for less than 3 months)
Chronic (pain experienced for more than 3 months)
The second classification is based on the likely triggering mechanism:
Nociceptive triggers result in pain that is localized to an area of injury or dysfunction. The pain is often aggravated or eased by certain movements or positions, which demonstrates that the pain has a clear mechanical nature.
Peripheral neuropathic induced pain occurs with a history of injury, disease, or mechanical compromise to a nerve.
Central sensitization results in pain that is disproportionate to the nature or extent of the injury or disease. The pain is usually non-mechanical and unpredictable in response to factors that usually aggravate or decrease pain.
Our highly skilled manual therapists will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying mechanisms involved in your pain and develop a program that specifically addresses your needs. Your physical therapy may include the following treatments:
Manual therapy
Manual therapy consists of specific, hands-on techniques that may be used to manipulate or mobilize your skin, bones, and soft tissues.
Movement and strengthening exercises
Moving and exercising can often be a great strategy to lessen pain.
Modalities and Specialties
Your physical therapist will be able to determine whether the use of modalities such as ice, heat, or electrical stimulation will benefit your unique condition. Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy also offers a variety of specialties which may help such as Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, Aquatic Therapy, Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation, McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy and Dry Needling.
With our comprehensive approach our experienced manual therapists have succeeded in helping patients where other approaches have failed.
Pain Education
Evidence shows that people with chronic musculoskeletal pain experience less pain when they have a better understanding of what pain truly is. Your therapist will provide education to help you understand your individual pain. You and your therapist will work together to help you reach your goals, bringing hope for a return to the activities you enjoy most.
With overuse of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain becoming a national public health epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines that recommend nondrug approaches such as physical therapy over long-term or high-dosage use of addictive prescription painkillers.
Before you agree to a prescription for opioids, ask if physical therapy might be right for you.
Being referred to Hulst Jepsen for physical therapy changed my life. Everyone is pleasant, kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. From the first visit, I began learning techniques that made a real difference in my health and life. After only 7 visits, I have taken control of problems that had plagued me for years. I could not be more grateful.
Kristin V.