Chronic Pain

Chronic pain’s causes are numerous and varied, but most cases are due to musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. If you’re struggling with chronic pain, the Holsman Physical Therapy team can help. The practice has 17 locations throughout New Jersey and New York City that offer a comprehensive range of noninvasive treatments that reduce pain while increasing mobility. To benefit from their expertise, call Holsman Physical Therapy or request an appointment online today.

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain continues for several months and often years. It may remain constant or worsen over time.

Millions of United States citizens live with chronic pain, affecting their ability to work, pursue leisure activities, and enjoy everyday life. Chronic pain frequently exists alongside mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

There are many reasons why you might have chronic pain. Cancer, for example, often causes severe, ongoing pain for the duration of the illness. However, most chronic pain conditions are due to neuromusculoskeletal disorders or injuries affecting the nerves, connective tissues, muscles, bones, and cartilage.

What might be causing my chronic pain?

Chronic pain conditions that the Holsman Physical Therapy team sees most often include:

Lower back pain

Herniated discs, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and degenerative disc disease are common causes of chronic lower back pain. These degenerative conditions typically cause changes in the spine that put pressure on the nerves exiting your spinal cord.

Pain syndromes

Conditions like fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and myofascial pain syndrome all cause muscular and nerve pain that manifests in different ways. Fibromyalgia, for example, causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, while CRPS typically affects one limb.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, an age-related degenerative joint disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, are the most common types of arthritis. However, there are around 100 other types that all cause chronic or recurring joint pain.

What treatments are available for chronic pain?

At Holsman Physical Therapy, the team uses a variety of safe, effective treatments that relieve chronic pain, build strength and flexibility, and help damaged tissues heal. Options include:

• Cryotherapy (cold therapy)
• Heat therapy
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Whirlpool hydrotherapy
• Active range of motion (AROM) exercises
• Active assistive range of motion – therapist-assisted AROM
• Gait or walking training
• Isometrics (muscle contraction without joint movement)
• Isotonics (muscle contraction with resistance)
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Maitland/Kaltenborn mobilizations
• Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
• Posture training
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
• Stretching/flexibility exercises
• Occupational therapy

People with chronic pain conditions often depend on pain medications to control their symptoms. However, prolonged use lessens their effectiveness, meaning you must take higher doses to achieve a similar degree of relief. There’s also a risk of side effects, and prescription painkillers like opioids can be addictive.

To benefit from safe, effective chronic pain treatments, call Holsman Physical Therapy or book an evaluation online today. The practice has locations in Lyndhurst, Fair Lawn, Cedar Grove, Caldwell, Bloomfield, Maplewood, Newark, South Orange, Clifton, Paterson, Kearney, Jersey City, and Rahway, New Jersey, and the Crotona and Van Nest neighborhoods in the Bronx and the Cypress Hills neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City.