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Here’s How Our Physical Therapy Team Can Break the Chronic Pain Cycle

Feeling the weight of chronic pain? Imagine waking up each day to a battle with your own body, where pain is a constant, unwelcome companion. That’s the reality for about 25% of adults in the U.S. who live with chronic pain. It involves much more than aching joints or a persistent headache—chronic pain can seep into every facet of life, affecting your mood, sleep, work, and relationships.

The Cycle of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the typical healing time of about 3 to 6 months. It’s a condition that can arise from various causes – be it an unresolved injury, a long-standing health condition, or even stress and emotional distress.

Chronic pain can manifest in many forms, such as migraines, back pain, fibromyalgia, or nerve damage pain. This pain is not just a symptom but a disease in its own right, often made worse by factors like stress, anxiety, poor sleep, and lifestyle habits. Understanding these nuances is the first step toward effective pain management.

Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Pain with Physical Therapy

Physical therapy (PT) emerges as a powerful tool in combating chronic pain. Here’s how our physical therapy team can make a difference:

1. Early Intervention to Reduce Opioid Dependency: With our focus on early intervention in the pain cycle, we aim to decrease the reliance on opioids. Our therapists use various techniques to manage pain effectively without the need for medication.
2. Holistic Approach to Treatment: We don’t just treat the symptoms; we look deeper. Our physical therapists address the root cause of pain, incorporating strategies that cater to both the physical and psychological aspects of chronic pain.
3. Customized Therapy Plans: Each patient’s journey with chronic pain is unique. Therefore, we create personalized therapy plans that may include exercises, manual therapy, and education on pain management. We also emphasize lifestyle modifications to enhance overall health.
4. Empowering Patients Through Education and Support: We believe in empowering our patients with knowledge and skills to manage their pain. This includes understanding their condition, learning self-management techniques, and making informed choices about their health.
5. Comprehensive Care Beyond Physical Therapy: Our approach is multidisciplinary. We collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure a comprehensive treatment plan, addressing all facets of chronic pain.

Move Past Chronic Pain at Impact Medical Group

We understand that chronic pain can be debilitating, but with the right support and guidance, it’s possible to regain control and improve your quality of life. Ready to take the first step towards a pain-free life? At Impact Medical Group of Tampa, our physical therapy team is not just about alleviating pain; it’s about transforming lives. Call us today at (813) 283-1910 to learn more about our physical therapy services and how we can help you break free from chronic pain!

Is There More Than One Type Of Physical Therapy For Accident Victims?

If you’re in a car accident, you may experience minor or severe injuries depending on the force of impact. But what you may not realize is that your recovery isn’t a cut-and-dried process. Your physician may employ several modalities to help you recover.

Today, our accident care team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel explains the types of physical therapy we may use when treating after-accident injuries.

After an Accident: What Happens Next?

Following any accident, no matter how minor, we always recommend people seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is because many injuries such as whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries take time to manifest, but if caught early, we can treat them sooner than if you had waited to be seen by a doctor.

So, the first step is to visit a doctor. The next step is their evaluation, and then treatment.

Treatment may include different types of therapy including:

• Chiropractic Care
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Psychotherapy

Let’s take a closer look at each!

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic treatments fall into two groups—modalities and manipulations.

• Manipulation: The act of a chiropractor manually adjusting your joints, which helps minimize inflammation, pain, and restores mobility.

• Modalities: These are treatments that are used to adjust the joints including spinal traction, heat, electric nerve stimulation, and ultrasound.

Essentially, chiropractic care helps align your spine, thus relieving some of the pain caused by misalignments after an accident. Manual chiropractic treatments use controlled force to re-adjust the vertebrae in the spine, preventing them from putting pressure on your spinal nerves.

Note: Though chiropractic care can help you feel better, it often requires several treatments to feel complete relief following an accident.

Physical Therapy

The ultimate goal of physical therapy is to increase mobility and flexibility after an accident. This fosters greater strength, function, and range of motion.

We recommend physical therapy, in many forms, after:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Nerve inflammation
• Soft tissue damage
• Fractured or broken bones

The kind of physical therapy we suggest will depend on the type of injury. Some techniques we may employ include:

• Therapeutic Exercise: Exercises and movements designed to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and endurance.

• Manual Therapy: Include hands-on techniques that mobilize joints, improve joint mobility, and manipulate soft tissues.

• Electrotherapy: Uses electrical stimulation to relieve pain, promote healing, and enhance muscle function.

• Heat or Cold Therapy: The use of heat or cold can reduce pain and inflammation in the body after an accident.

• Hydrotherapy: Exercises done in the water lessen the strain on the joints and muscles.

• Ultrasound: This therapy uses high-frequency sound waves to generate heat deep within the body’s tissues. It is used to encourage tissue healing, improve overall blood flow, and reduce pain.

In the context of accidents, whiplash is a common injury that can cause many uncomfortable symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, neck and shoulder pain, and decreased range of motion. The good news is that physical therapy is quite effective for treating whiplash.

When someone comes to us with whiplash we:

• Test for neurological issues
• Rehabilitate eye control and balance
• Share exercises and stretches to combat pain, enhance range of motion, and improve posture

Occupational Therapy

If an accident or injury impacts your day-to-day life, occupational therapy can be greatly beneficial. Your therapist will help you regain the skills that are inhibited by your injury, helping you return to work and have an overall better quality of life.

This type of therapy is often needed when a patient has suffered a catastrophic injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, a severely broken leg, paralysis, or amputation.

Psychotherapy

After an accident, your injuries may not be all physical. You could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues due to the trauma of an accident.

A psychotherapist can help alleviate anxious thoughts and sadness, essentially getting a patient back on track following a car crash.

Call Impact Medical Wesley Chapel

Recover and heal from car accident injuries with the help of Impact Medical Wesley Chapel. With a skilled team of chiropractors, physical therapists, physicians, and psychotherapists, we can help you get back to living the life that an accident robbed you of.

Don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with our compassionate team today at (813) 953-1002!

How to Tell When You Need Radiofrequency Ablation Vs. Steroid Injections for Pain

Living with chronic pain? Every day can feel like a debilitating experience, impacting quality of life and everyday activities. Today, medical advancements have introduced effective pain management techniques like radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and steroid injections. Here’s a closer look at these two treatments, so you can determine what’s best for your situation.

What Is Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)?

Radiofrequency ablation relies on heat generated from radio waves to target specific nerves that are causing you pain. This heat “turns off” the nerve’s ability to send pain signals to the brain. One of the best things about this treatment is that it’s non-invasive. The ideal candidates for RFA are:

• Patients with chronic joint or spinal pain.
• Those who have had successful pain relief from a diagnostic nerve block.
• Individuals not responding well to physical therapy or medications.

RFA provides distinct benefits for many patients, like:

• Long-lasting pain relief, typically ranging from six to twelve months, and sometimes up to two years.
• Quick recovery time with minimal discomfort.
• A non-surgical option that can reduce dependence on pain medications.

What Are Steroid Injections?

Steroid injections—or corticosteroid injections—involve injecting a steroid medication near or directly into the pain site. This treatment’s known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used for joint pain, like arthritis-related pain. Ideal candidates for steroid injection include:

• Patients with acute pain due to inflammation, such as arthritis or herniated discs.
• Those who experience flare-ups of chronic pain.
• Individuals looking for temporary relief to improve mobility and participate in physical therapy.

How can steroid injections help people dealing with chronic pain? The benefits of this treatment include:

• Quick relief of pain and reduction of inflammation.
• Limited systemic side effects as the steroid is injected directly into the pain site.
• Can be a diagnostic tool to identify the pain source.

Deciding Between RFA and Steroid Injections

As you determine which treatment—RFA or steroid injections—is best for your situation, keep these considerations in mind:

• Duration of Relief. Looking for long-term pain relief? RFA offers a more prolonged pain relief compared to steroid injections. Steroid injections provide temporary relief, so they’re ideal for managing acute flare-ups or as a step to facilitate physical therapy.
• Nature of Pain. RFA is effective for nerve-related chronic pain—especially in the spine or joints. Steroid injections are better used for inflammatory conditions, like arthritis or sciatica.
• Recovery and Risks: RFA involves a slightly more complex procedure with a brief recovery period. The risks, although minimal, include nerve damage or infection. Steroid injections have fewer risks, but repeated use can lead to joint damage or decreased immune response.
• Personal Health Profile: Your overall health, medical history, and specific condition play a critical role in determining the appropriate treatment. It’s wise to talk with a pain management specialist to evaluate your condition and discuss potential risks and benefits.

Impact Medical Group Is Your Partner in Pain Management

Ready to leave pain in the past? Impact Medical Group of Brandon can help you determine the most appropriate and effective treatment for your pain. The goal is not just to alleviate pain but to improve your overall quality of life. Call us today at (813) 522-8885 to schedule your free medical evaluation.

Looking For Adaptive Chiropractic Care At Your Convenience In Tampa Bay? 5 Reasons You Can Count On Impact Medical

Finding the best chiropractor for you is no easy feat. You need an expert who can identify your trouble areas and treat them effectively, but they also need to know how to alter your treatment plan according to the changes in your body. Get ready to learn more about how Impact Medical offers adaptive chiropractic care in Tampa Bay for your convenience!

What Does “Adaptive Chiropractic Care” Mean?

To promote better flexibility throughout your body, chiropractors need to demonstrate their own style of flexibility with their skillful hands in treating you. With that being said, an adaptive chiropractor is a professional who is skilled in altering their methods to match the needs of the patient. This is the best way to receive optimal treatment for the best results as opposed to sticking to a monotonous path that doesn’t account for any possible changes.

Imagine refusing to change your diet after finding out that you’re lacking a certain nutrient. If you don’t make the necessary changes, you may have to deal with deficiency symptoms in the future. The same goes for treatment with chiropractic care.

A Quick Lesson On The Human Body:

Did you know that the cells in your body replace themselves every day? It’s even said that all of the cells that make up our bodies are swapped out completely every 7 years or so, but of course, many more factors fall into that claim. The point is that the human body never stays the same. We adapt to our environment, responding to various stressors and more.

Can A Healthy Body Affect Your Mental Health? Yes! Another benefit to receiving effective physical treatment in the form of adaptive chiropractic care is improved mental health and a better mindset when powering through your daily activities.

1. We’re Here To Help You Find Your Frequency!

When you come in for your initial exam and first adjustment, we will help you find a treatment plan tailored to your personal needs. However, our expertise doesn’t end there. We will continue to work with your bodily changes with exceptional adaptive chiropractic care so you can better achieve the results you want.

2. We Make Routine Chiropractic Care Possible

A big part of adaptive chiropractic care that works is regular treatment. We can catch any changes as they occur and fixate our plan accordingly. Our cash-pay business model makes it easy for you to stop by for sessions on your own time and helps you keep up with consistent and regular care!

Learn more > Cash-Based Chiropractic Care: The Next Step In Your Wellness Journey

3. We Offer Affordable Chiropractor Services!

Seeing a qualified adaptive chiropractor isn’t reserved for those in a certain tax bracket or for those with insurance providers. Our cash-based services are affordable for anyone, even without the need for insurance assistance. Your initial exam will only be $39, and that includes an adjustment! You can also save more with our bundled deals:

6 pack $198 ($33 per adjustment)

12 pack $336 ($28 per adjustment)

24 pack $552 ($23 per adjustment)

4. We Have Skilled Professionals On Staff

You can rest assured that although we offer affordable services, the price is not a reflection of the quality we provide. We only hire the most skilled and qualified professionals to ensure an elite staff and guaranteed satisfaction!

5. We’re Located In The Heart of Tampa

The location of your practitioner can be a huge factor in how often you keep up with your adaptive chiropractic treatment, and that’s why we have multiple locations conveniently placed throughout Florida, including Tampa.

Get The Adaptive Chiropractic Care You Need At Impact Medical!

For adaptive chiropractic care near you, contact your local Impact Medical facility for more information about our self-pay services! Caring for your ever-changing body is easy with our friendly staff and skilled professionals.