Chronic pain doesn’t discriminate, impacting people of all ages, backgrounds, and health experiences. Disruptive, challenging, and debilitating, chronic pain can be one of the most intense journeys to navigate – and far too often, people experiencing chronic pain do it alone. Chronic pain is described by HealthDirect as ‘pain that lasts for more than 3 months, or in many cases, beyond normal healing time. The pain can range from mild to severe and is usually experienced on most days.’ Chronic pain can develop as the result of an injury, illness, as a result of nerve pain, or on the back of surgery. For some individuals, however, there’s also no obvious cause of this pain, creating even more tension when it comes to finding viable treatment pathways.
While there’s no sure-fire solution to chronic pain, there are a number of ways in which chronic pain can be reduced or, in some cases, alleviated. At Get Active Physio, our skilled physiotherapists play a crucial role in the chronic pain journeys of many of our clients, giving them vital support in their daily health, wellbeing, and functionality. Here’s why the role of a physiotherapist is so important when it comes to managing chronic pain.
Physiotherapy and pain relief techniques
Physiotherapy is centred on non-invasive, sustainable pain therapy, using physical techniques to improve movement capabilities, decrease stiffness, and create results that improve everyday qualities of life. Treatments can involve massage, heat treatment, joint work, stretching, acupuncture, education, and more. This holistic approach to pain management can be particularly helpful for those who are struggling with chronic pain, where a single modality of treatment doesn’t necessarily result in effective pain relief.
Physiotherapy’s combination of exercises, manual therapies, and patient education can help- those living with chronic pain to build sustainable treatment pathways through natural tools and techniques. This can be crucial in avoiding a reliance on medications, which is a common risk for many when chronic pain continues day after day.
Targeted, personalised treatment plans
When it comes to chronic pain management, there’s no room for errors – and that’s why it’s so important for personalised treatment plans to be at the centre of every care decision. By working closely with a physiotherapist, those struggling with chronic pain can collaboratively develop a targeted, personalised treatment plan that’s all about their specific needs, conditions, and healthy history. Our physiotherapists conduct thorough assessments to understand as much as possible about chronic pain experiences, building an understanding of associated physical impacts that translate into realistic care goals.
By taking an individualised approach, we’re able to support the most effective treatment for each client’s unique experience, offering the very best chances of ongoing pain relief and improved pain management on a day-to-day level.
If you suffer from chronic back pain in particular, we have a specifically designed program called the Better Back Program. This program is highly structured, and based on research to help you regain your mobility, strength, core stability and fitness.
Support for ongoing self-management
There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling like your health journey is out of your control. This is often the case for individuals in the midst of chronic pain experiences, and it’s one of the reasons physiotherapy is so crucial during this season.
As well as providing immediate relief and ongoing strengthening support, experienced physiotherapists also work closely with their patients to develop the knowledge and education necessary to self-manage their pain. With personalised strategies for daily pain management, physiotherapists can play a key role in supporting individuals with chronic pain to sit in the driver’s seat of their health journey, taking an active role in their own care.
Chronic pain can be an incredibly isolating experience – but you’re not alone. Get Active Physio’s team of expert physiotherapists and massage therapists have worked with the St Leonards community for over 20 years, providing crucial support in the management of both acute and chronic pain experiences. With your rehabilitation and quality of life as our first priority, you’ll experience the difference in every session with our physiotherapy team.
Contact us today to take the first step in formulating your personalised treatment plan, finding the support you need to reduce the impact of chronic pain on your short-term and long-term health and wellbeing.
