If you’re struggling with lower back pain, you’ve probably considered various treatment options like opioid medications, MRI tests, epidural injections, or even surgery.
However, before making a decision, it’s essential to understand why physical therapy (PT) can be a more effective and safer choice.
Here are 10 reasons to consider:
- Non-Invasive Nature: Unlike surgery, PT is non-invasive. It helps alleviate pain and improve mobility without the need for incisions or anesthesia, reducing the risk of complications like infections and repeat surgeries…all of which come with a high price…not to mention, it can take several months to recover.
- Avoiding Opioid Dependency: Opioids can provide short-term relief but come with a high risk of addiction and other side effects like nausea, constipation, and drowsiness. PT, on the other hand, addresses pain management and recovery without these risks.
- Cost-Effective: MRI tests and surgery can be expensive, often involving high co-pays or deductibles. PT typically is more cost-effective and is covered by most insurance plans. Moreover, MRI results often include false positives. This can have a significant psychological and emotional impact.
- Long-Term Solutions: Physical therapy offers patient education, personalized exercises, and lifestyle changes that provide long-term relief, unlike temporary solutions like epidural injections. Like surgery, epidural injection can result in serious side effects like allergies, infections, and often only provide temporary relief.
- Personalized Care: A physical therapist tailors treatment to your specific needs, focusing on the root cause of your pain, which is often not detectable by an MRI.
- Improving Mobility and Strength: PT not only alleviates pain but also enhances overall mobility and strength, reducing the likelihood of future injuries.
- Education and Self-Management: Physical therapists educate you on managing pain and preventing future episodes, empowering you with knowledge and self-care strategies.
- Avoiding Side Effects of Injections: Epidural injections can provide temporary relief but come with risks like infection, allergic reactions, and nerve damage. PT avoids these risks.
- Supporting Overall Health: PT promotes overall health and wellness, encouraging active lifestyle changes that benefit your entire body, not just your back.
- Accessibility: PT is often more accessible than other treatments. You don’t need to wait for surgery dates or recovery periods; you can start and progress at your own pace.
While other treatments might offer quick fixes, physical therapy provides a safe, personalized, and comprehensive approach to managing lower back pain. It’s a holistic choice that not only addresses the immediate pain but also fosters long-term health and mobility.
If You Have Lower Back Pain, You Owe It To Yourself To See A Physical Therapist First…And Our Team Is Tops In The Community.
Call Us Today: Visalia (559) 733-2478 | Hanford (559) 582-1027
