Pain is a warning signal from your brain that's meant to protect you from further harm. Pain can be simple, such as when it prompts you to pull your hand away from a hot stove element to protect your skin from damage. Pain can also be complex, such as pain that persists for years following brain or nerve damage.
Physiotherapists are experts in treating pain, drug-free. At River East Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists assess patients with a thorough history and physical examination of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. We work with your medical doctor to help diagnose the cause of your pain, and treat it in collaboration with you.
Common causes of pain after an injury include inflammation in the soft tissues or joints. Aggravation or damage to nerves (which send the pain signals) can also cause pain. Your physiotherapist has a wide range of physical tests to determine the root cause of your pain and help you navigate how to respond.
For example, your physiotherapist may consider:
- Is your pain a normal response to your injury, or is it more complex?
- Is there a soft tissue contracture limiting how much your joint can move?
- Is your joint hypermobile, and therefore needs some support to heal?
- Is your joint or muscle damaged, and if so, to what extent?
- Is your pain the result of muscle weakness, rather than damage?
- Could your symptoms be due to biomechanical stress from poor posture, work habits or work injury?
- Are the movements required from your sport causing your symptoms?
- Is a more complex condition, such as brain or nerve damage, causing your pain?
- What physiotherapy options are appropriate to reduce or relieve the symptoms? Or do you need a referral to your family doctor, or a medical specialist?
Our physiotherapists can treat many types of pain with drug-free techniques, including:
- Hands-on therapy ("manual therapy"), including massage, manual muscle release, desensitization, and joint mobilizations.
- Education, e.g. teaching you on what to do, and what not to do, as you heal.
- Heat, ice, and contrast baths
- Therapeutic exercise - such as exercise to change how you sit, stand, and move (i.e. your "biomechanics") to relieve the stresses that cause pain. When prescribed by a physiotherapist, exercise can be the best medicine to reduce, eliminate and prevent pain from recurring. A home exercise program customized to your needs is essential.
- TENS machines, Intraferential Current, ultrasound, and other types of electrotherapy
- Low-level laser
- Acupuncture and dry needling
Let River East Physiotherapists move you. Call us to book an appointment, or call to arrange a FREE 15-minute phone consultation with a physiotherapist.
