One of the top services we offer is pain management for athletes. It’s important to discuss what this looks like because of the frequency of injury that occurs due to recreational and professional sports. If you or a loved one is frustrated with pain getting in the way of play time, we’ve got some resources for you. Read on to learn more about your options.

 

Common Sports-Related Injuries

While each specific sport or athletic activity is challenging the body in unique ways, there are several types of injuries that are more common to athletes than others. This is due to the typical types of movements, repetitive movements and speed of most recreational activities. Many of the injuries that we treat at our Bedford pain and wellness center (as well as at our Benbrook location) include the following:

• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Strains
• Swollen muscles
• Concussion

 

Chronic Pain in Athletes

Unfortunately, athletes often consider the acknowledgement of pain a sign of weakness. This is especially true of high-performance athletes or career athletes. This belief can lead to long-term injuries or chronic pain conditions. It’s important that athletes instead be coached to listen to the signals that their body is sending and work closely with their trainers to be as proactive as possible.

The good news is that modern chronic pain treatments are advanced enough to be able to offer hope to many athletes. Chronic pain specialists can offer customized treatments that incorporate nutritional support, therapeutic tools and non-invasive treatments. If needed, there are also sophisticated, low-risk surgical solutions available.

 

Treatments that Do Not Involve Prescription Medication

Because of the dangers surrounding opioid pain medication, nonpharmacological options are typically recommended as a first response to pain. Even when pain medication is involved in treatment, it’s typically done in conjunction with additional therapies and treatments. Many of the following strategies may be included in a patient’s pain management plan:

• Strength Training
• Stretching
• Physical Therapy
• Pain Psychology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Massage
• Relaxation Techniques (Biofeedback, meditation, Tai Chi, deep breathing exercises)

At our Bedford sports pain relief clinic (as well as at our Benbrook location) we make it our priority to customize your treatment to your pain as well as to the lifestyle you love. If pain is keeping you from playing a sport you love, we will do all that we can to help you get back in the game! Check out our full list of treatments to learn more about all the options we offer.

 

Prevention

As simple as it sounds, sometimes the best way to avoid pain is to be proactive. There are many proven prevention methods for all levels of athletes to protect themselves. Start by knowing your own limits and how far you can push those limits. Along with that tip, try to frequently integrate as many of these as possible:

• Build in rest time
• Get training support from experts
• Use all recommended protective gear (specific to your activity)
• Increase balance and core strength
• Increase flexibility
• Avoid playing while injured

 

Bedford Sports Pain Relief

Your chronic pain should not stop you from living life! We provide a 360-degree treatment approach to pain management. The physicians at the Comprehensive Pain Institute are trained in advanced pain management procedures. You will receive thoughtful personalized care from our compassionate and caring providers. Get in touch today to learn more.