In this physical therapy education article, we are going to explain how seeing a physical therapist for your pain first and foremost can help save you time and money.
The Traditional Way
Imagine there’s a patient named Charlie who has been having chronic back pain for the past couple months. He’s tried at-home treatments, but nothing is working.
The traditional treatment route would be for Charlie to make an initial appointment with his primary care doctor. Depending on what the primary care doctor finds in their examination, they might then refer Charlie to a specialist, who may order diagnostic testing (MRI scans, X-rays, etc.). After those tests, Charlie then follows up with his doctor, who may refer them to a physical therapist. All these visits and tests can add up and take a lot of time.
The New Way
Doesn’t it make more sense for Charlie to visit a physical therapist first? This is the new method of treatment.
The fact is that most cases of back pain are treated first with conservative treatment methods like physical therapy. Sure, some cases will require additional treatment (injections, surgery, etc.) but these are often seen as secondary measures if physical therapy and other treatment options fail. If Charlie tries physical therapy and it doesn’t work to relieve his pain, he can then see a specialist, but if it does work – Charlie has just saved himself a lot of time and money.
Minnesota Physical Therapist
At OrthoRehab Specialists, our Minnesota physical therapists have nearly three decades of experience treating patients for a wide variety of conditions and injuries. Over our years, we have developed strong connections with local providers – with over 600 regularly referring their patients to us for continued rehabilitation treatment. If you don’t have a referral, don’t sweat it! We also offer direct access to physical therapy, which means you can set up your appointment with us even if you don’t have a referral. Reach out to our physical therapists today and set up an appointment at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics.