Have you ever wondered how your therapist or doctor decides when to try physiotherapy, injections, or even send you to a surgeon? In the medical world, injuries are thought of and managed in 3 distinct phases

1. Physiotherapy & Bracing

The first line of treatment when you have an injury is physiotherapy and bracing. These options are the least invasive, have the least side effects, and are effective in managing many injuries. Physiotherapy involves figuring out exactly what is injured, why it happened, when you will get better, and how to get you better. Bracing may also be helpful in this stage because a brace can add support and take pressure off of the injury. 

2. Injections

Injections are more invasive than anything that would be done in Physiotherapy but less invasive than surgery. There are several different effective treatments for injuries that involve injections into the injured tissue or sometimes surrounding areas. Typically, your doctor won’t consider this option until you have given Physiotherapy and bracing a full course of treatment. If you aren’t improving as expected, or your physio decides something doesn’t seem right, you will be referred back to your doctor to discuss the different options here. 

3. Surgery

If all other options have failed, surgery may be the best option to help fix what’s causing your pain. There are many different procedures and many fantastic surgeons that are very effective in treating injuries. Surgeons often specialize in certain ailments and if this is the right option for you, your doctor will refer you to the right surgeon. If you undergo surgery to correct an injury, you will almost always be referred to Physiotherapy to then get you back to full function and normal life!  

Are you in pain? Just had surgery? Think LOCAL

DP