I'm hurting. Do I want to take that pain medicine?

I know that when I’m hurting, the last thing I want to do is get moving.  But I also know that’s what I need to do.  That’s one motivation for me to get to the pool in the mornings.   Our bodies are made for movement.  When we don’t move, we get weaker and lose flexibility, our circulation slows down as well as our digestion. Frequently, our lack of movement and inability to do the things we want to do can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety. 
Apparently, a lot of Americans are hurting due to injury or disease.  I’m sure you have heard that Americans are in the middle of an “Opioid Epidemic” from pain medications such as Vicodin, Lortab and Oxycontin.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 11% of American experience pain on a daily basis.  In 2012, 259 million prescriptions for opioids were dispensed, and 1 and 4 of the people receiving those prescriptions already struggle with addiction.  Another study of Medicaid patients showed that 61% of opioid related deaths were related to chronic pain diagnoses.   That’s why the CDC released a new set of guidelines in March 2017 with safer alternatives for long term- pain management.  Physical therapists can play a key role in those alternatives.
A physical therapist is trained to guide a person through movement to improve the pain instead of masking it with medications.  The “side effects” of physical therapy include improved mobility, increased independence, decreased pain, and prevention of other health problems through movement and exercise. As part of their new guidelines, the CDC cited “high quality evidence” supporting exercise as part of physical therapy treatment for familiar conditions like low back pain, hip and knee osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.
Before starting an opioid pain medication, talk to your physician or consult your physical therapist for information about alternatives and realistic pain management goals.  Blue Wave Physical Therapy and Wellness helps those with chronic pain by using manual therapy techniques, specific stretching, education of safe movement and body mechanics, and gentle progression of movement.