Physical Therapy Treatment For Nerve Pain
Physical therapy treatment is an effective and often cost-effective solution to relieving nerve pain. Depending on the cause, it may involve exercises, manual therapy or other techniques designed to increase mobility while relieving discomfort.
Physical therapists are qualified to evaluate various body systems to pinpoint the source of your symptoms and prescribe treatment tailored towards that issue. They can also pinpoint and address any underlying causes for pain while offering strategies to avoid future issues.
Your initial Physical Therapy appointment will involve an examination and assessment of your symptoms, as well as any underlying health concerns. The PT will ask questions about your condition, how you move, and where the symptoms rank on a scale from 0 to 10. From there, they’ll collaborate with you on creating a treatment plan which may include exercise or other forms of physiotherapy, along with lifestyle modifications that could contribute to aggravating factors.
If you experience neuropathic pain, medications may be prescribed to help control symptoms and maintain overall wellbeing. These drugs may be combined with other therapies like psychological counseling or surgery in order to provide temporary relief and prevent future flare-ups.
Surgery can help repair damaged nerves or stimulate their growth. Doctors may extract part of a nerve or implant it from another part of your body (nerve graft). These procedures can restore function and reduce the risk of permanent disability, but they aren’t always necessary.
Your PT may use soft tissue massage or other techniques to enhance the nerve’s capacity to transmit signals. These may also help release tension in muscles that is placing pressure or irritation on nearby nerves.
Exercise to keep your muscles flexible and avoid further straining them, particularly if you suffer from lower back or leg pain. Stretching the muscles while exercising can help alleviate some symptoms by decreasing muscle strain and increasing blood flow to the affected area.
In some cases, a physical therapist (PT) may suggest low-impact aerobic training to increase your heart rate and get your circulation flowing again. This type of workout is beneficial for joints and should be done slowly so as not to injure yourself further.
Some therapists also utilize spinal mobilisation or manipulation to increase flexibility in the spine and release pressure on neural tissue. Dry needling is another technique that may be utilized to alleviate pain, improve muscle function and reduce inflammation related to a specific nerve-related issue.
Physical therapy is the best way to alleviate nerve pain. Seeking treatment when you experience symptoms that are worse than expected or don’t respond to medication or other treatments is imperative.