You deserve better than chronic pain and limited mobility. This is the foundation of your average occupational therapy clinic and a reality you can tap into once you know the full extent of your underlying issues. Millions of Americans live every day with some form of wrist, hand and elbow pain, with some relying on pain medication to get through the day and others having no choice but to apply for disability benefits. Wherever you land on the pain scale, reaching out to a general orthopaedist or hand doctor can be the one factor standing between you and a lifetime of struggle. Make this the year you decide to stop living with chronic pain and take your life back, quite literally, into your own hands.
What does an occupational therapy clinic do and how can it improve your quality of life?
The most important thing to know is you’re far from alone on the matter. Chronic pain affects a significant number of American adults, with this percentage even higher among those over the age of 65. The number of Americans of retirement age will double from 46 million to nearly 99 million by the time 2060 arrives, meaning the demand for the accessible occupational therapy clinic will only become more stark from here. While it’s highly encouraged you learn ways of managing your pain in the day-to-day, reaching out to a specialist will ensure this pain no longer reaches astronomical levels.
Chronic pain can take on any form, though some are more widespread than others. Recent studies provided by the American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons have delved deeper into these figures to provide a bigger picture on the state of chronic pain in the country. It was estimated back in 2014 over two and a half million Americans were living with an artificial hip. Another study by the same group saw nearly five million Americans living with an artificial knee. The only way to know for sure which option is best for you is to apply to advanced physical therapy.
Lower back pain is one of the most common forms of chronic pain in the country. A major cause for this is the myriad of ways the lower back can be put under extreme stress, leading to degradation of the muscle and a gradual development of mobility loss, stiffness and soreness. Lifting heavy objects improperly, such as putting too much strain on the back and not the arms or legs, can exacerbate lower back pain. Sitting down for long periods of time without proper back support can do the same. Last, but not least, age and a lack of exercise can make this condition worse.
Wrist pain is a finicky issue due to the delicate nature of this part of the body. In fact, many people can find themselves too nervous to seek help because of this perceived complication. The fact of the matter remains that occupational rehabilitation can do wonders for reducing pain, increasing mobility and restoring your previous capabilities. Back in 2016 Medicare proceeded to approve payments for over three million orthotic procedures, accounting for a staggering $1 billion in Medicare spending. If you are constantly stretching to relieve pain from your wrist or have to take frequent breaks from typing or drawing, it’s possible you have a condition that needs to be presented to a physical therapy clinic.
An occupational therapy clinic will properly diagnose your ailment and offer you resources to start your recovery. More minor issues may require frequent sessions to stretch, adjust and gradually alter the source of your pain to a more manageable state. More extreme issues, however, may require an MRI scan and eventual surgery to correct. Those worried about costs would do well to take the imitative. According to a recent study provided by the Health Services Research journal, physical therapy used as a first strategy saw patients facing 70% fewer costs over their first year of treatment.
You don’t have to live with back pain, wrist pain or hip pain. Let an occupational therapy clinic show you the way.