Pain Treatment with Neuromuscular Releases

One of our more interesting pain-free methods of removing pain that gets a “wow” response is called a neuromuscular release. Now this is not something you’ll find on the internet, and it comes in many different forms. Basically, the practitioner who is trained and skilled in using certain neurological patterns in the body can find a specific sequence to lightly stimulate and turn off an adjacent area of pain.  At this time, no one in our state is offering this type of treatment as we’ve integrated a few different styles to develop our own protocol. We use known reflexes and in the body in a certain way to remove pain. Sometimes we may use a particular nerve, muscle, tendon, pain pattern, nerve pattern, or sclerotome to stimulate in order to get rid of a pain. And yes, it is completely non-force and pain-free.

Imagine coming in with neck pain, a headache, back pain, or some stubborn pain that just won’t yield. Within minutes you are wondering what happened to that pain – (even those pains that have been there for years!) Sometimes we use a method that dampens the pain and within a few hours it’s gone. You leave with special instructions to ensure that this happens.

Pain Treatment with Manipulation

If pain remains after non-force methods are used, we may then move to using a precise mechanical force to remove the pain or problem. Now this treatment is familiar to some as it involves the “cracking” sound that some seek and some fear. Spinal Manipulation as provided in our clinic is a very precise procedure applied by a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy with advance training in manual therapy. HVLAT or High Velocity Low Amplitude Thrust manipulation is our preferred method as taught through the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy/Spinal Manipulation Institute. In no way does it relate to chiropractic adjustment as it’s origins are in Osteopathy or Osteopathic Manipulation.  We use an evidence-based approach in diagnosing and treating spine conditions. The bottom line is that it is used safely, and effectively to remedy many spine conditions and some extremity problems. Neck Pain, Headache/Migraine, and Mid Back Pain and Low Back Pain are the most common problems treated with this procedure.

Another type of Manipulation we use is that of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. Special instruments are used to strum and manipulate soft tissue areas of the body that are having problems healing. Conditions such as shoulder tendinitis, plantar fasciitis (heel pain), tenosynovitis of the wrist or thumb, patella tendinitis, and tennis elbow respond very well to this technique, and it’s fairly immediate. Our runners come in for treatment and literally run out of the clinic because this treatment works well with activity. This helps keep people at work too!

Pain Treatment with Dry Needling

Ok, so we’ve used our non-force methods, manipulation, perhaps some other manual techniques and exercises, and the problem still persists. It’s now time to get “in” to the problem and break the pain pattern and stimulate healing in a direct way. Dry Needling is an excellent treatment for such conditions. Occasionally people present with a problem that this procedure is called for on day one. Many confuse this with acupuncture, and by no means is it even close. Acupuncture involves the use of needles to treat bodily systems by moving “chi” or “energy.” This is a Chinese medicine concept/theory that Dry Needling does NOT use. Acupuncture makes use of acupuncture points and meridians. Dry Needling is not used to treat systems, manipulate energy or chi. This procedure uses Anatomy and Physiology science in order to help a specific problem in a specific body part, i.e. a muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve, or joint. At GT Physical Therapy, we are Certified to provide this procedure. Our state requires a certain number hours of training, but we feel it’s necessary to be credentialed to the highest level in order to ensure that we are giving you the best possible treatment.

Pain Treatment & Beyond

Getting rid of pain is not our primary focus, but it is a main one. Our primary focus is getting to the source of pain and creating a therapeutic change here that not only helps the pain, but it addresses the problem causing the pain. No matter how many fancy bells and whistles a clinic purports to have, keep in mind that it’s the operator, the therapist, and his or her ability to put these things to use in the proper way to help you the patient. How do you know who the best is? Ask around and shop around! And don’t be shy, call and ask to speak with the therapist. Of course, they can’t diagnose you over the phone, but you can quickly tell whether they are a good one to work with or not. What do you ask? 1. Have you ever treated my condition? 2. What should I expect? 3. How long will it take on average to get better? Therapists typically don’t know the cost, but some do. Expect a session to cost from $100-$150 depending. When paying out of pocket, a comfortable payment plan should always be available. With Obamacare, be prepared to pay, so what you pay for should be very worth it! You want results, and fast! I would.  At GT Physical Therapy, 20% of our patients are “out-of-pocket” and they are willing to pay! We must be doing something right. Moreover, more than half of them come from out of town.

CALL NOW to have you or someone you care about checked out for FREE! 662-773-3700. If we can help, we’ll help you get to moving better and feeling better 🙂 Life is Better with Healthy Freedom of Motion!