When is it time to see your physical therapist?
One thing that I've learned along the way in my 20+ years as a physical therapist is that almost everyone waits too long to get started in physical therapy! I think it's human nature…I'm even guilty of this myself!
So when IS the right time for therapy? How long should you wait and suffer before you finally decide to do something about it?
There's no one perfect answer, but there are definitely a few tips to keep in mind when deciding if you need to get going sooner than later. Check them out below.
If your pain or problem lasts longer than a week or two, there's no need to wait any longer. It's probably not going away on it's own and may need a little push. The sooner you start, the less work it usually takes to get things back into tip top shape.
If your pain or problem is causing you to modify or avoid certain activities, you likely need therapy. The longer you avoid those activities, the higher the chance that tightness begins to develop, and your movement patterns overall start to change. This is not the direction you want to be going, my friend!
If you can eliminate your pain with over the counter meds (like Ibuprofen, Aleve, Tylenol) but it comes back consistently, it's probably time to get looked at by your physical therapist. A mild sprain or strain will heal fairly quickly, and your need for meds will reduce at a corresponding rate. Is that not happening? Make your appointment. (:
One thing to remember is that living in pain isn't ‘the norm’…or at least it shouldn't be! So often we tend to start with pain or an injury and then think that it's just always going to be a problem. Guess what…if you wait forever to get it treated? It will become the norm. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO!
Physical therapists are movement specialists. We evaluate your body and it's movement patterns, and we are trained to help you fix them! Through manual work, exercise, movement training, and education. LOTS and LOTS of education.
If you are living with pain (and also live in the Cedar Park/Leander areas), click here to schedule a time to chat on the phone for a free consult to see if I can help. You can also just call (512)588-5408.
There is one thing that is consistent. The longer you live in pain, the longer it will take to get you out of pain. As humans, we are busy with life, inundated with to-do’s, and often overwhelmed with our responsibilities. We are really good at putting off some of the most important to-do’s…taking care of our health, both mentally and physically. Take this to heart and remember that when you’re hurting, it’s ok to stop and take a breath to figure out why you’re in pain and how to reduce it.
Be good to yourself. Don't wait to take care of you.
Xo,
Jill
