The Startling Reasons Why Physical Therapy Isn’t Working for You! by 99 Shades of Pain (2024)

FAQs

Why am I not getting better with physical therapy? ›

If physical therapy doesn't work, there can be a number of reasons why, including unrealistic expectations, a poor fit between the therapist and patient, not keeping consistent appointments, failure to complete a home exercise program, or even misdiagnosis.

It's possible that you may feel worse after physical therapy, but you should not have pain. Should you be sore after physical therapy? Yes. When you are mobilizing, stretching, and strengthening the affected area you are going to be required to do exercises and movements that can cause soreness after your session.

It is common for patients to feel some discomfort and soreness after a physical therapy session. Physical therapy challenges the body just like a standard workout program to build strength, muscle, or conditioning. For physical therapy to work, the body must train itself by pushing to its limits.

Sometimes physical therapists focus only on the part of your body that's feeling pain – this can be due to insurance limitations, taking on too many clients, or inexperience. Unfortunately, this also can lead to physical therapy being ineffective.

In general, you should attend physical therapy until you reach your PT goals or until your therapist—and you—decide that your condition is severe enough that your goals need to be re-evaluated. Typically, it takes about 6 to 8 weeks for soft tissue to heal, so your course of PT may last about that long.

Persistent or worsening pain

If your pain persists or worsens despite participating in physical therapy, it may indicate that the current treatment approach is not effectively addressing the underlying issue.

You'll be happy to know that physical therapy is designed to reduce inflammation and pain. This is accomplished by helping your body become stronger and more flexible. This not only helps you to experience less pain but also greater range of motion and mobility.

If at any point you experience pain, back down. It's better to stop or modify an exercise than to further any injury. “When starting a new exercise routine, take it slow,” Kennedy says.

Patients sometimes feel worse before getting better in physical therapy because the treatment involves mobilizing injured areas, breaking down scar tissue, and strengthening weak muscles, which can cause initial discomfort. This effect generally subsides after the first 2-3 weeks of treatment.

We know many patients out there are afraid of physical therapy because they assume it will make them feel worse than they already do. This is not true, as physical therapy is actually designed to strengthen the muscles around your injury or medical condition to make you feel better over time.

Does PT help nerve damage? ›

Whether you suffered a traumatic injury or are experiencing pain from carpal tunnel, physical therapy is an effective way to understand nerve damage and expedite recovery. Damage to the nervous system can be complex and—with certain conditions— worsen over time.

Physical therapy offers pain relief, improved mobility, and tailored treatment plans, enhancing recovery from injuries while promoting long-term health and independence. Potential drawbacks include time commitments, adherence challenges, and the potential for injuries to feel worse before they feel better.

The two main reasons to stop physical therapy include goals not being met and lack of progress.

It's also important for the injury to heal properly. Otherwise, it's much easier to injure the same part of your body a second or even a third time. If you don't get the physical therapy you need, the injury won't heal properly, leaving you more vulnerable to reinjury and extreme pain over time.

If there's no change to the area of pain or discomfort within two weeks of physical therapy, this might need to be a referral back to a physician. This assumes that the patient has fully participated in their treatment, and the PT is also doing their role.

Patients sometimes feel worse before getting better in physical therapy because the treatment involves mobilizing injured areas, breaking down scar tissue, and strengthening weak muscles, which can cause initial discomfort. This effect generally subsides after the first 2-3 weeks of treatment.

Some patients may stop showing up for their appointments because of personal events or circ*mstances. Others may be dissatisfied with their treatment. In any case, some patients never explain why they drop out, making it challenging to resolve the issue properly.