St. Lukes Elks Rehab Blog

What can you do if you have pain but you are afraid of generating a big medical bill?

 

Look for free services offered in the community.  SLIERS has free screenings available. Although this is not a substitute for seeing your doctor if you have a serious condition, it may be just what you need to learn a few tips or exercises to alleviate your pain. 

 

Look for low cost exercise classes.  Sometimes just getting moving helps your body to get stronger and more flexible and can help reduce pain and stiffness.

 

Look for free seminars. For example, support groups or web sites that are specific to your diagnosis or problem.  Chatting with others who have your same condition can help you to learn practical tips that work for them. 

 

Look for prevention programs.  These usually take the form of education or instruction in exercises.  For example, SLIERS has a Skiing Injury Prevention course with lectures by physicians and exercise programs crafted by physical therapists that was free and presented to the community in early Fall.

                            

If you need to see a therapist here are a few tips that can make your experience short and sweet.

 

Be prepared for your first visit.  Fill out paperwork in advance if possible.  You will have more time to think about the questions and you can look up things like medications, surgeries giving the therapist a good knowledge base to start from.

 

Choose the direction of your treatment.  Make sure you identify your main issues and emphasize your goals.  Don’t waste time on what is not important to you.    

 

Let the therapist know what your preferences are.  The final outcome of treatment should include an exercise program.  Make sure it fits your lifestyle.   Do you belong to a gym? Do you want exercises that you can do at home?  If something has worked well for you in the past, tell your therapist so time is not spent on treatments that may not be as helpful. 

 

Make sure your schedule reflects your treatment needs.  If you can do exercises at home, do them there.  Use treatment time for advancing exercises, treatment components you can’t do on your own or learning self management techniques that help you achieve your goals.

 

Take an active roll and let your therapist know in advance of your desire to get the most out of your treatment in the least number of visits.

 

Susan Gordon

SLIERS, Downtown

489-4040

Filed under: General Health Tips, St. Luke's-Elks Rehab Events