OT and Chronic Pain

An occupational therapist helps treat many different kinds of diagnoses that restrict functional ability, one of them being chronic pain. Chronic pain can be frustrating and discouraging especially when it inhibits your daily activities and things you enjoy doing. Occupational therapists have the knowledge and expertise in understanding a clients pain and taking the right steps in order to cope and manage the pain that their feeling.

But what is chronic pain? Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than a month, and persists longer than it should in letting the body know there is a problem. While affecting the bodies cognitive abilities, giving or increasing anxiety and not being able to think clear from being in so much pain, and affecting your physical ability; such as taking care of yourself and household duties.

Occupational therapists can help alleviate the pain and help you on your journey back to a productive and pain free life. The first step is to determine the amount of pain the client is in and then identify what is causing the pain and suggest alternatives. The second step would be to teach methods for decreasing the pain overall. The usual methods are exercises that increase strength and endurance. There are also many other activities that occupational therapists recommend with handling the pain such as yoga and meditation.

One of the most important steps in handling pain and going to an occupational therapist is that attitude you convey in order to help cope with the pain. A positive and willing attitude is prevalent in getting better and reaching success in alleviating the pain. Often times when dealing with pain, it is hard to have a positive attitude, but occupational therapists have such a strong belief system, it puts a powerful effect on the clients and increases their hope.

Chronic pain is a serious obstacle that should not be overlooked or untreated. Occupational therapists help treat with exercises and flexibility and most importantly a positive attitude to help you get better. Having chronic pain? Go see an occupational therapist, you can’t beat their wellness procedure and outcome.

We feel like we have the best physical therapists around. Did you know you don't need a referral to get help from a Physical Therapist? Direct access is available for you, please call us and set up an evaluation so we can help get you back on your feet. In Orange County we offer Physical Therapy in Chester, Goshen, Monroe, Port Jervis, and Montogmery. Westchester County has Physical Therapy in Armonk, Bedford, and Hawthorne. In Ulster County we offer Physical Therapy in Wallkill, while in Sullivan County you can get Physical Therapy in Ferndale. To round out our 12 locations in New York, those living in Rockland County can go to Physical Therapy in New City as well as Pomona.  If you happen to live in PA, we also have Physical Therapy in Milford and Dingmans Ferry of Pike County.  Give us a call today!