When Life’s a Pain: 5 Signs It’s Time to See a Physical Therapist in Metairie, LA

In 2023, the National Institutes of Health released a study that found that “new cases of chronic pain occur more often among U.S. adults than new cases of diabetes, depression and high blood pressure.”

And of those who suffer from chronic pain, almost two-thirds still suffer from it a year later. 

The lead author of that study, Richard Nahin, Ph.D., says the data stresses the need for “increased use of multimodal, multidisciplinary interventions able to change the course of pain and improve outcomes.”

We couldn’t agree more over here at FunXional PT. 

So, that’s what we set out to do for the Metairie community. 

Whether your pain is new, recurring, persistent or a mystery, it’s important to know that there is a source (if not several). And with a talented team of physical therapists in Metairie LA behind you, you can identify that source. 

Better yet, you can overcome that pain and live a happy, normal life.

Still, most people who experience pain never call a physical therapist.

Instead, they try to ignore the pain and save treatment for another day.

But that treatment needs to start today if you want to live a pain-free life — and we’re ready to help you get there. So, here are the five most common and prominent signs that you need a physical therapist.

Don’t ignore them — act on them!

1. Pain that won’t go away or overstays its welcome

We all experience pain from time to time. 

We’ve all stubbed our toe on the corner of our bed or bruised our hip after falling on a slippery driveway, but most of this pain can be treated with rest, ice, compression and elevation — the RICE method. 

But what happens when that pain overstays its welcome? 

What happens when pain persists? Or keeps coming back? 

If at-home treatments aren’t doing the trick, then it’s time to get a physical therapist involved. If you let the underlying cause of your pain linger, it can potentially progress into a larger, much more chronic problem. 

Even if the pain doesn’t appear to be getting worse, contact a PT if it doesn’t go away after a few days. 

2. Pain while working out or during physical activity

Are your workouts more painful than they are rewarding? 

While it’s normal to feel a little sore and exhausted after (or during) a workout, it shouldn’t result in any sharp or stabbing pain — and it shouldn’t be accompanied by bruising, swelling and/or tenderness. 

If that’s the case, then you’re likely dealing with an injury. 

Some of the most common causes of exercise-related injuries include overuse, not properly warming up, poor recovery, pushing yourself too far, poor form or mechanics and misuse of the workout equipment.

Either way, your physical therapist can identify the solution. 

Whether that means tweaking your form or changing your workout routine all together, the goal is to make exercising fun again — not painful. And when exercising is fun, you’ll start to see all that effort pay off. 

3. Limited mobility or difficulty moving like you used to

Do you often feel stiff or unable to move as freely as you once did? 

Limited mobility can present itself in a wide variety of ways, such as difficulty reaching overhead, trouble bending over to tie your shoes or having a hard time getting in or out of the car — none of this is normal.

And none of it should be ignored. 

Naturally, your body will compensate for the limitation with abnormal or dangerous movements. While this can help you move better in the present, it usually leads to larger, more serious issues down the road.

But that’s where we come into play.

A physical therapist can help you identify the source of limitation and ultimately regain your range of motion through various exercises and lifestyle changes — all of which are intended to improve your life.

So, if you don’t move around like you used to, contact a physical therapist!

4. You’re recovering from or trying to prevent surgery 

Physical therapy is vital to the surgery process in three primary ways. 

First, it can help certain patients avoid surgery by addressing the root causes of pain or dysfunction and restoring your body’s natural strength, mobility, and function.

But sometimes, surgery is unavoidable and necessary to live a normal life.

In those cases, physical therapy helps with the preparation and recovery process. 

Often referred to as pre-hab, physical therapy before surgery can significantly improve your outcomes and speed up the recovery process before it even begins – acting as the perfect buildup to the surgery. 

When surgery is done, the goal behind PT is to recover and prevent further injury. Without rehabilitation, patients can develop scar tissue, chronic pain, or other complications that impact your quality of life. 

So, if you’re preparing for, recovering from or trying to avoid surgery, PT can help!

5. You want to prevent pain and discomfort in the future

Physical therapy doesn’t have to be reactive — and it doesn’t have to be about pain. 

In fact, many people who don’t feel pain on a day-to-day basis can benefit from sessions with a trusted physical therapist. And there’s plenty to take away from physical therapy, even if you’re not injured. 

That’s because physical therapy can be proactive, too — and it can be preventative. 

Whether you’re an athlete looking to enhance performance, someone aiming to prevent injuries, or simply seeking to stay active and healthy, physical therapy can help you become the best version of yourself. 

Plus, you’ll learn a lot about yourself and how you move — which is always interesting!

So, if you’re looking towards the future and want to feel young long-term, contact a physical therapist!

FunXional PT: Some of Your Best Years Are Ahead of You!

Does pain occupy a large majority of your day? Do the simplest tasks seem to take too much out of you? Are you finding it difficult to move like you used to? Did you just suffer an injury or come out of surgery? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you can benefit from physical therapy. 

And with that, we’d like to welcome you to FunXional PT — your friendly neighborhood PT. 

We understand how pain, limited mobility, or lingering injuries can affect your ability to enjoy daily activities, work, or hobbies. That’s why we’re fully dedicated to helping you rewrite a new chapter. 

Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, recovering from surgery or looking to move better and feel stronger, our team of physical therapists will create a tailored plan to get you back to doing what you love.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us today at 504-517-4594. You can also book a free consultation online.