ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
What is Pain Management Treatment?
Pain Management is treatment that works to provide pain relief to patients using a varying amount of analgesic medications, opiates, and other non-narcotic medication depending upon the severity of pain and recovery time. It is often used after surgeries as a means to help patients recover in as little pain as is safe and possible. In order to ensure the safety of our patients when prescribing opioids we routinely do not:
- Prescribe long-acting opioids
- Prescribe more than a short course of short-acting opioids
- Refill lost, stolen, or destroyed prescriptions
We also advise all of our patients to be smart and safe during their recovery period, especially when it comes to their prescription drugs. We encourage you to abide by a three step process:
- Use: Take your medications only as directed by your doctor. DO NOT share your medications with anyone—sharing your prescriptions is illegal and could endanger other people’s health. If you are taking benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, etc.), consult with your doctor on the management of these medications with opioids.
- Combining opioids with these medications can slow or stop breathing.
- DO NOT mix opioid medications with alcohol.
- Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how your medications affect you.
- Store: Store your prescriptions securely in their original containers. Keep them out of sight and out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet or high shelf.
- Dispose: Unused medications are best disposed of at a take back facility/pharmacy – search for public disposal locations here.
Dispose of medications immediately after your pain symptoms have resolved.
What are the Methods of Pain Management Treatment?
Your post-operative treatment features three different forms of care:
- Medication for Pain: Immediately after surgery, we typically give one of the following narcotics to alleviate the pain:
- Percocet (Oxycodene-Acetaminophen)
- Norco/Vicodin (Hydrocodene-Acetaminophen)
- Anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofen/Motrin/Advil, Aleve/Naprosyn, Mobic/Meloxicam) as needed
- Medications for Managing Side Effects: Narcotics may cause some to experience nausea and constipation. The following medications may be taken as needed while taking the narcotics:
- Zofran
- Colace
- Senokot
If you have any question concerning your medication, do not hesitate to contact us.
- Cryotherapy: Use of cryotherapy or ice is very beneficial in reducing your pain in addition to decreasing the amount of swelling that can occur after surgery.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy (PT) is treatment that works to preserve or restore functionality and range of motion to joints impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability. After having a restorative or reconstructive knee or shoulder operation, physical therapy plays a critical role in getting you back to moving without pain and impediment. It is common for patients of all ages to participate in physical therapy to help restore functionality and range of motion to injured joints and tissue. If the recovery from your procedure prohibits you from performing everyday tasks, physical therapy is strongly recommended.
Physical Therapy Sessions
During sessions, a physical therapist works with you to recover strength and stability in your injured joint. The goal of each session is to get you back to living your life before injury, with a strong and healthy joint. This is achieved through a combination of :
- Therapeutic exercise
- Physical modalities (e.g. massage and electrotherapy) and
- Assistive devices (e.g. cane, walker, crutches etc.)
Physical therapy could be needed for a few weeks after your procedure, or a few months. The duration of your physical therapy schedule will depend on the nature of your injury, and the procedure performed. But no matter how long you’re scheduled for treatment, it is important that you remain dedicated and focused on your recovery. Physical therapy is the last step toward your getting back to a normal you, so always take it seriously.
Doctor-Provided Guidelines
After your procedure, your doctor will provide you with some physical therapy guidelines that are specific for your recovery. These guidelines will include therapy goals, precautions, treatment recommendations, and minimum criteria needed to progress to the next phase of therapy.
