Some people who undergo surgery find that postoperative pain lasts longer or is more severe than they expected. High levels of pain can have very adverse consequences for recovery, leading to more missed work or school, less effective rehabilitation, and overall worse outcomes and quality of life. Nevertheless, physical therapy has been shown to be extremely helpful in combating many types of post-surgical symptoms, allowing patients to feel better faster.
JAG Physical Therapy is the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania area’s leader in physical rehabilitation after surgery. Our multispecialty PT team will combine advanced therapeutic methods to develop the best post-op recovery plan for you, getting you back on your feet sooner following your operation. Book your appointment with us now to get started or see more below on the importance of managing surgical pain with physical therapy.
How Does Physical Therapy Help Manage Post-Surgical Pain?
A great number of the root causes of pain after surgery can be met head-on using physical therapy techniques. For example, if healing is slow due to poor circulation, this can be remedied with compression or aquatic therapy. Meanwhile, inflammation can be targeted with therapeutic massage.
Your physical therapist will also particularly focus on your mobility after an operation. If you’ve had musculoskeletal surgery on an arm, leg, hand, or foot, for example, they will lead you through a series of targeted exercises for that specific part. Your regimen will start off small and involve increasingly more types and difficulties of movement as your PT observes your progress, and in this way, you’ll be able to regain strength, dexterity, stamina, agility, and other movement skills. No matter what type of operation you’ve had, you’ll get the best results with a customized exercise plan – a therapist’s experience allows them to determine what works well for patients who have had cardiac surgery versus joint replacement, and so on.
What Techniques Are Used in Physical Therapy for Pain Management?
If you undertake physical therapy for pain in the aftermath of an operation, the therapeutic methods your PT will use will differ depending on your specific situation. However, several techniques are almost always useful and will be employed in most cases.
For example, the vast majority of postoperative physical therapy patients will be advised to do strengthening and stretching exercises, although the precise exercise regimen can vary greatly. Manual therapy, application of heat and cold, and electrical stimulation for muscles and nerves are all also common.
Gentle movement and treatments administered directly on the site of pain are a great way to deal with acute issues. However, with physical therapy’s focus on building up capabilities and increasing exercise levels, it is also helpful for potential chronic pain after surgery. There are in fact a number of PT modalities specifically meant for chronic conditions, such as acupuncture.
How Does Physical Therapy Reduce the Need for Pain Medication?
Currently, not only do many physicians prescribe pain medication very cautiously, many patients prefer to take it as little as possible. There is now widespread awareness of the risks of opioids and some other classes of medications for pain relief, including the possibility of developing dependence. Patients might also want to avoid side effects such as lowered pain tolerance after finishing the course of medication, drowsiness, and others affecting the digestive and excretory systems.
Physical therapy is one of the most-used ways of reducing reliance on medication after surgery. It offers a form of pain relief that is non-pharmaceutical, minimally invasive, and can be utilized over the long term with no risk. According to studies from the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins University, there is a strong link between PT care after surgery and reduced pain, disability, and risk of complications. Furthermore, regaining mobility with physical therapy alleviates muscular, circulatory, psychological, and other issues that can arise from extended bed rest.
Why Choose JAG Physical Therapy for Post-Surgical Pain Management?
When it comes to post-surgical rehabilitation in the NY-NJ-PA region, JAG Physical Therapy is a name that is trusted by countless patients. Not only do we use the leading PT techniques at our state-of-the-art clinics, our empathetic and skilled therapists will always take your needs and lifestyle into account for your custom pain management plan.
Start Your Pain-Free Recovery Journey with JAG Physical Therapy
If you’re in need of post-operative pain management, your most effective and clinically studied option is multispecialty physical therapy. JAG PT has convenient locations throughout the New York City metro area, and we have experience helping people from all walks of life get back to normal after surgery. Schedule your appointment with JAG Physical Therapy now and get started with relieving your pain naturally.
