When Should You See a Physical Therapist?

Everyone experiences pain at some point in their life. Whether it is due to an injury, surgery, or seemingly appears out of nowhere, pain is a normal human experience. But not all pain is the same. Take stubbing your toe for example. We all know this is a pain that is short-lived and will quickly fade. But what about pain that doesn’t resolve, prevents you from doing normal daily activities, or keeps returning over time? Today, we’re discussing when it’s time to see a physical therapist for the pains that don’t quite seem right. 

“Normal” Pain

When I have conversations with clients about pain, I frequently hear this comment: “I don’t know what pain is normal versus abnormal. I’m not even sure if I should be in PT for this pain.” 

If you’re not a rehab professional or in healthcare, this can actually be a hard question to answer on your own. While the experience of pain is somewhat straightforward (“Ow, that hurt”), interpreting what is worth ignoring versus what should be evaluated is something that may take some time to decide upon. 

An example of this could be waking up with neck pain. If you aren’t used to sleeping in a certain position or using a certain pillow, you may wake up with a cranky neck. If this happens for several days or longer, you may think something is wrong. Is this worth seeing a PT? (If you can’t find the solution on your own, then yes). 

Here is a list of what I would consider qualifies as “normal” pains: 

• Fully resolves within 24-48 hours

• You did a new activity/sport that resulted in muscle soreness

• Stays below a 4/10 pain threshold

• Localized to a specific muscle/joint 

• Doesn’t impact sleep or ability to perform daily activities

• Not in conjunction with muscle/limb weakness or numbness

• Isn’t sharp or stabbing

Now, here comes the somewhat tricky part. Some of these things WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER QUALIFYING FACTORS can be considered abnormal. An example of this is having 3/10 pain for a prolonged period of time, like a few weeks to months. This is when seeing a licensed physical therapist at Strive Performance and Mobility would be recommended. 

“Abnormal” Pain

Now we get into the pains that most likely require a comprehensive evaluation by a Doctor of Physical Therapy. These are the pains that impact quality of life, don’t appear to be getting better (or may even be worsening), and limit your ability to perform daily activities. 

Here’s a list of pain descriptors I’d consider “abnormal” and worth looking into: 

• Pain that lasts more than 48 hours and doesn’t decrease in intensity (or worsens)

• Pain levels above a 4/10 

• Radiating pain that travels to or past another joint

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness with pain

• Impacts quality of life, sleep quality, or ability to function

• Sharp, shooting pain

• Pain with feelings of instability 

If you feel like even just one of these relates to you, it may be time to reach out to a trusted physical therapist. While none of these are "red flags" in and of themselves, they are indications that something more than a simple injury may be going on.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait

Many people wait weeks or months before seeing a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy, often prolonging recovery and the time to relief. They think it’s just a bad strain and will heal on its own over time. While this does often happen due to the natural healing process, this does not always occur. 

Without getting into the weeds, this is where chronic pain can arise. A while back I wrote another article on the psychological aspect of pain that is worth a read. When someone is in pain for a prolonged period of time, it can literally begin to change how the brain thinks. Chronic pain is a very challenging thing to deal with and even harder to treat. That’s why early evaluation and rehabilitation are crucial!

A physical therapist will perform a comprehensive evaluation to rule out more serious concerns and, if necessary, make a referral to an appropriate healthcare provider for even further evaluation. If your PT rules out the "red flags", the next step is finding a rehabilitation program SPECIFIC TO YOU! No cookie cutter programs. No "Here's the 5 best exercises for this injury". No being passed off halfway through the session to a PT tech with no rehab experience.

At Strive Performance and Mobility in West Ashley, our Doctors of Physical Therapy are committed to helping you become pain-free and live the life you want. You will work 1:1 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy for the entire session, with open communication with your PT even on non-PT days.

If this article is a wake up call for you or you’ve been looking to get out of pain, send us a PT Inquiry to get a thorough evaluation scheduled. We look forward to helping you live pain-free!