Are You Still Dealing With Pain

Are you dealing with pain and haven’t been able to solve it yet? Have you tried everything from massage all the way through to pain killers and maybe even injections? What about physical therapy? Have you been to a clinic only to find that it didn’t help and that you really didn’t get the results you were looking for? Well, the truth is – you’re not alone. Some people spend months, if not years, looking for a way to solve their pain, and many of them have actually been to see a physical therapist only to be disappointed. Today we’re diving into why your previous physical therapy may not have worked.

First, I’m going to ask you a few questions:

My guess is you will respond “No, I don’t”.

Life isn’t without its ups and downs. We often find ourselves having to make difficult decisions including deciding who we are going to listen to. Your doctor may say that you need surgery while your neighbor says you need to take more supplements. Then you add in the information on the internet and you can find yourself struggling to even determine who is “right”.

The real truth is that there is one “right” answer to deal with your pain. However, it may not be the same “right” answer that worked for your neighbor, your family member, or that you found from searching on-line.

Your healing takes a unique combination of willpower, commitment, expertise, and individualized care to really get rid of your pain for good. If you don’t have the perfect ratio, then it may not work out precisely how you would have liked. The important thing to remember is, you definitely don’t give up. Why? Because you deserve a better life, one that is pain free and full of energy, movement, independence, and joy. And the truth remains: physical therapy is simply your best, safest bet.

Now, let’s take a closer look at why your previous physical therapy treatment may not have worked so that you have more knowledge to help with your decision.

No Root Cause Was Found

I say this every day, and I will gladly say it again right now, finding the root cause to the problem is the single most effective way – if not the only way – of getting rid of the pain. If your previous physical therapist failed to find, diagnose, and treat the root cause of your problem, then the likelihood of you being pain free is very slim indeed. He/she may not have been as skilled as a different physical therapist, or he/she may have gotten it wrong – it happens, people are simply trying their best. Please don’t let this stop you from trying again, though. Physical therapy can help you and, I promise, it’s the most effective way of finding and treating your root cause for a jump-start to a permanently pain-free life.

Finding the root cause is so important to us that we made it the second step on our Physical Therapy for everyBODY journey. We call Phase 2 “Dig”. This is where we “dig” down to find the root cause of your pain or dysfunction. Because once we know what the root cause of your problem is then it becomes very easy to create the plan to heal the damaged tissue.

There Was Simply NO PLAN

If you were planning a trip to Europe, you would consult a few guide books, check out a few different websites, and maybe ask around for tips and advice about the best hotels and beaches, right? Of course! Travelling – successful travelling – takes some planning, some idea of what you’re doing, where you’re staying, and of course, how to get back home! So, why would you look at your pain differently? It’s essential that any treatment has a plan. Perhaps your previous physical therapist didn’t outline a plan clearly for you. Or you may have felt that the plan was generic and not customized specifically for you.

We promise that will not happen here at Physical Therapy for everyBODY. You will be given a clear timeline of how long it will take to reach your goals. Perhaps most importantly, you will clearly understand the path, the timeline, and the goals (because YOU set them!).

And, if you have any questions regarding your plan at any time, you feel comfortable asking your therapist questions. You want to be in an environment where you can ask all of your questions. So that you are empowered with knowledge about your plan and the part you play in your success.

Your Physical Therapist Didn’t Listen to You

It may be that your previous physical therapist didn’t listen to you or your story. Physical therapy is about looking at the person as a whole . This includes hearing your story of what brought you to this point. Part of your story may include previous injuries, surgeries, and medications.

As manual physical therapists we also want to listen to what the surrounding muscles, tissues and joints are saying to us. Of course, a complete evaluation involves looking at your gait and movement patterns. Not looking at your whole picture could lead to a misdiagnosis and the root cause being evaded.

It’s extremely important that you find a physical therapist who listens to what your problem is, examines you as a wholeperson, and makes sure to give you enough time to understand and treat the root cause accordingly.

Less is More: Too Much Too Soon

Physical therapists always give their patients the tools to execute proper exercises at home so that the patients can keep the progress going outside of the clinic – well, the good ones do. If your previous physical therapist did do this, it may be that the program was too intensive, too quickly.

Doing too much, too soon, especially during the treatment can end up exerting muscles before they’re strong enough to take the pressure, thereby causing a recurrence of pain. Always make sure that you’re able to handle the exercises and that your physical therapist keeps a close eye on your progress, adjusts your goals accordingly, and listens to your comments throughout the course of treatment.

You see, physical therapy offers you the best of both worlds: a pain free life and a safe, effective form of treatment to achieve it. If you’ve been given treatment but haven’t experienced the relief you hoped, then it may be due to the above reasons. Physical therapy isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ treatment: each person is unique and should, therefore, be treated as such. It is essential that you find a physical therapist who is professional, hands-on, and dedicated in order to ensure that your journey to a pain free life is one that is permanent and enjoyable.

For this reason, we invite you contact us for a totally complimentary, risk free Discovery Visit. We specifically designed these visits for people who were skeptical that we could help them. For people who saw a Physical Therapists and did not get the results they were looking for. During this visit we will listen to your story, answer all your questions, and discuss the next best steps for your journey to health. You can get all your questions answered about what is going on with your body and how we are different. The best part is that there is no obligation and you have nothing to lose. Simply click here to sign up for your free Discovery Visit.

Or you may feel more comfortable getting some of your questions answered over the phone before you come into the office. If that’s you, feel free to give us a call at (425) 658-4944. Our front desk concierge is always available to chat and answer all of your questions.

We wish you the very best in health. Don’t give up on physical therapy. At the end of the day it is the one form of treatment that guarantees a life free of pain, all without surgery, medications, injections, or any other invasive procedures. So, take another look and get back to living the life you deserve.