Drop the pills!!

Exciting news has just come from the U.S. Surgeon General’s office regarding the treatment of pain. The surgeon general is releasing a letter to all physicians in the United States imploring them to reevaluate their practices regarding pain management. He is recommending the inclusion of physical therapy as a front-line option for curtailing prescription drug abuse. In the letter he says, “Since 1999, opioid overdose deaths have quadrupled and opioid prescriptions have increased markedly – almost enough for every adult in America to have a bottle of pills. Yet the amount of pain reported by Americans has not changed. Now, nearly two million people in America have a prescription opioid use disorder, contributing to increased heroin use and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.”

At Hudsonville Physical Therapy, we understand the issue of pain management is complex, but  believe therapeutic treatments such as exercise, manual therapy and education can be a great addition to a comprehensive pain management program. Physical therapists are trained to rule out more sinister pathologies and treat the pathologies that respond well to treatment. Please take advantage of our free 15 minute consultations to see if physical therapy can help with your pain!

Sources:
Opioid Letter

Guidelines


​Author:  Mike van Der Laan PT, DPT

---