Could physical therapy help you avoid surgery?

Persistent and disabling pains in your body can affect your day-to-day life. They can deprive you of your favorite outdoor activities and even hinder you from spending quality time with your loved ones. That may trick you into thinking that you need surgery. However, surgery is not only expensive, risky and requires months of recovery but also causes debilitating post-operative pains.

Physical therapy can help you avoid all of this. It can treat injuries, pains and deformities through various non-invasive/non-surgical methods such as messages, hot and cold compresses and guided exercises. Mentioned below are the reasons physical therapy can help you avoid surgery. 

Promotes self-healing

Natural mechanisms in our bodies help us heal when it comes to regular wear and tear. Strains and sprains usually go away within a week with the help of our natural immune system. Albeit, sometimes such casual injuries become chronic ones due to neglect. They soon become so painful that it makes you wonder “Is surgery the only option you have left with?”

The answer is “No”! In most cases, a physical therapist can help with treating these injuries through non-surgical methods such as hydrotherapy, electrotherapy and hold/cold therapy. These practices help your body fight these damages by promoting self-healing, eliminating the need for you to go under the knife.

Facilitates pain relief

Back and joint pains can be terrible. They can adversely impact the quality of your life. You might be considering surgery to get rid of them. Yet, MRIs and CT scans reveal that most of these pains are due to pressed nerves and compromised muscles. So, if you are suffering from such pains you may need muscle strengthening and decompression of nerves to relieve pain.

A physical therapist is an expert pertaining to strengthening body muscles and loosening up compressed nerves. Your physical therapist can teach you exercises and techniques to prevent such pains in the long run. Consistently following recommended practices helps you clear out such pains and avoid surgery. 

Reduces inflammation

When an injury occurs, the affected area becomes swollen and bruised. This phenomenon is known as inflammation. The body needs extra help during the inflammatory phase. If the affected area is left untreated for a long time, it can turn into chronic inflammation that can lead to cancer. Long-term usage of anti-inflammatory medicine is often not recommended as it leads to other complications. 

Physical therapists use various skills and advanced pieces of equipment to reduce inflammation and improve mobility. Physical therapy under a qualified physical therapist helps reduce redness and swelling over a short period. Hence, for patients who want to avoid surgery or long-term use of anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy is an excellent option.

Many patients who have spent hundreds of dollars on diagnostic tests and pharmaceuticals, choose physical therapy because of its effectiveness and efficiency. Sometimes, the pains in our body can be so intense that you may believe that you need surgery. However, in most cases, physical therapy can help you avoid it.