Occupational Therapy Can Provide Long-Lasting Relief For Chronic Pain Conditions

Sep30th 2021

Are you living with chronic pain that is restricting your physical abilities? You aren’t alone. An occupational therapist could be able to help you achieve the relief and relaxation you’ve been searching for. 

We understand that living with chronic pain from arthritis, trigger finger, sports-related injuries, and other conditions can seriously hinder the way you live your everyday life. That’s why our occupational therapists make it their number one priority to help you discover ways to manage or eliminate pain and also help you to make adjustments that can make your life easier as well. 

Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled occupational therapists, and start experiencing a more satisfying, pain-free lifestyle once again.

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is deeply rooted in science. It’s a tried-and-true treatment that works in the real world by helping people recover and regain skills after an injury, assisting children with disabilities in school and social settings, and assisting seniors in improving cognitive and physical skills. 

An occupational therapy plan is all-encompassing and includes an individual evaluation to determine patient goals, customized intervention activities to improve daily tasks and activities for the patient, and an outcome evaluation to determine if goals were met and to make changes to the plan or lengthen the amount of time a person needs to be in treatment.

The goal of an occupational therapist is to help you regain function and independence that you may have lost or may be at risk of loss due to an injury or pain condition. They can help you to accomplish everyday tasks in easier ways. 

For example, say you have a condition that makes it hard for you to reach up on shelves in your kitchen. An occupational therapist specializes in figuring out new, safe ways to help you do normal things without compromising  comfort, privacy, or independence. 

Why you might need occupational therapy

Occupational therapists are extremely helpful and knowledgeable professionals who specialize in helping people maintain their daily routines and find relief from their chronic pain. 

For example, occupational therapy for a young patient may include using a special tool to make cupcakes at home. 

If an adaptation to a utensil needs to be fashioned, an occupational therapist will do it. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care.

There are several reasons why a person might require occupational therapy, including:

  • Fibromyalgia – Fibromyalgia is an umbrella term used to describe someone who is experiencing a certain combination of symptoms, including soreness, pain, and chronic fatigue.
  • Osteoarthritis of the hand – Osteoarthritis is caused by overuse, an injury to a joint or “wear and tear” on a joint. 
  • Hand edema – Hand edema may be caused by trauma/injury, infection, arthritis and repetitive stress injury. Hand swelling can also be caused by a cast that is too tight.
  • Shoulder pain – There are numerous reasons why you may be experiencing shoulder pain, and the severity can range from the temporary discomfort of a pulled muscle to the agonizing bone-on-bone friction of arthritis. This condition can make it hard to lift things or stretch to reach items.
  • An overuse injury – Overuse injuries are very common and can occur with any portion of the body that is used repeatedly in daily life. The way you stand, move, perform, and work out, for example, will all have an impact on your body. 

What to expect from occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is more than just addressing an injury. Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that is deeply rooted in science and supported by numerous medical journals. 

At our clinic, our occupational therapists focus on the functional needs of each patient by implementing certain exercises and activities that promote physical and psychological well-being.  

At our clinic, our occupational therapy plans include:

  • An individual evaluation to determine patient goals.
  • Customized intervention activities to improve daily tasks and activities for the patient.
  • An evaluation of outcomes to determine if goals were met and to make changes to the plan if needed.

Contact our clinic today

Occupational and physical therapy can benefit people of all ages, from helping children with disabilities participate in school and social arenas to helping seniors improve their physical and cognitive health.

 If you or someone you love is in need of occupational or physical therapy, call our office today to schedule an appointment. We work hard to help people recover from injuries and regain functional skills.  

Sources:

Fibromyalgia – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinichttps://www.mayoclinic.org › fibromyalgia › syc-20354780

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