Pain Management

Pain attacks the human body at every vulnerable target — muscles, bones, and joints. Everyone experiences pain at one point or another. It’s often an indication that something is wrong. Each individual is the best judge of his or her own pain. Feelings of pain can range from mild and occasional to severe and constant. There are lot of types of pain such as:

Back Pain: The causes of back pain can be complex — accidents, muscle strains, sports injuries. Stiffness, pain, lower back pain, and pain radiating down the leg are symptoms of back pain.

Neck and Shoulder Pain: Overexertion, pinched nerves — all sorts of joint and muscle problems can cause neck and shoulder pain. Neck and shoulder pain can be classified in many different ways. Some people experience only neck pain or only shoulder pain, while others experience pain in both areas.

Chronic Knee and Joint Pain: Arthritis that affects your shock absorbers is the cause of pain and disability in knee and hip joints that can lead to surgery.

Muscle Pain: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a fancy way to describe muscle pain. It refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissues. Myofascial pain is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles). Myofascial pain syndrome may involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. In some cases, the area where a person experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located. Experts believe that the actual site of the injury or the strain prompts the development of a trigger point that, in turn, causes pain in other areas.

Musculoskeletal Pain: Musculoskeletal pain is pain that affects the muscles, ligaments and tendons, along with the bones.The causes of musculoskeletal pain are varied. Muscle tissue can be damaged with the wear and tear of daily activities. Trauma to an area (jerking movements, auto accidents, falls, fractures, sprains, dislocations, and direct blows to the muscle) also can cause musculoskeletal pain. Other causes of pain include postural strain, repetitive movements, overuse, and prolonged immobilization. Changes in posture or poor body mechanics may bring about spinal alignment problems and muscle shortening, therefore causing other muscles to be misused and become painful.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed because of swelling of the nerve or tendons or both. The median nerve provides sensation to the palm side of the thumb, index, middle finger, and the inside half of the ring finger. It also gives power to, or innervates, muscles in the forearm and hand that allow a pincher grasp (the ability to grasp an object between the thumb and forefinger). When this nerve becomes impinged, or pinched, numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain of the affected fingers and hand may occur and radiate into the forearm.

Hip Pain: Despite its durability, the hip joint isn’t indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged.

Whiplash: Whiplash, also called neck sprain or neck strain, is injury to the neck. Whiplash is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck. In whiplash, the intervertebral joints (located between vertebrae), discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged. Whiplash is caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either backward or forward, and often occurs as a result of a car accident.

Sciatica Pain: When your rear or leg muscles worsen when sitting for a long period of time, climbing stairs, walking, or running — it might be sciatica. Read up on this common problem.

Arachnoiditis – Spinal Pain: Arachnoiditis is a pain disorder caused by the inflammation of the arachnoid, one of the membranes that surround and protect the nerves of the spinal cord. It is characterized by severe stinging “burning pain,” and neurological problems.

Joint Pain: Joints form the connections between bones. They provide support and help you move. Any damage to the joints from disease or injury can interfere with your movement and cause a lot of pain.

Physical Therapy and Pain Management is important for ongoing pain control, especially if you suffer with long-term or chronic pain. At Atlantic Rehabilitation in Neptune NJ and Hillsborough NJ, we can help you get pain relief.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a type of treatment you may need when health problems make it hard to move around and do everyday tasks. It helps you move better and may relieve pain. It also helps improve or restore your physical function and your fitness level.

The goal of physical therapy is to make daily tasks and activities easier. For example, it may help with walking, going up stairs, or getting in and out of bed.

At Atlantic Rehabilitation in Neptune NJ and Hillsborough NJ, our physical therapist will examine you and make a treatment plan. Depending on your health problem, our physical therapist will help you with flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and/or balance. Our physical therapist will try to reduce your pain and swelling. Then we will work to increase your flexibility, strength, and endurance.

Physical therapy almost always includes exercise. It can include stretching, core exercises, weight lifting, and walking. Our physical therapist may teach you an exercise program so you can do it at home. At Atlantic Rehabilitation in Neptune NJ and Hillsborough NJ, our physical therapists also use manual therapy, education, and techniques such as heat, cold, water, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to help you get pain relief.

Studies have shown that physical therapy plays a very effective and a major role in managing arthritis and Fibromyalgia symptoms and bringing relief.

Physical therapy program will include an active treatment that will strengthen the body and prevent further arthritis and Fibromyalgia pain and a passive treatment to relax and cleanse the muscles.

We use various techniques incorporated in a treatment including Spinal and Joint Manipulation, Dry Needling, Manual Therapy and Myofascial Release, IATSM and Graston, Kinesiotaping, Advanced Exercise Protocols, or Laser Therapy

Dry Needling

Dry Needling is the practice of puncturing the skin with needles at certain anatomical points in the body to relieve specific symptoms associated with many diseases. The anatomical points (Needling points) are thought to have certain electrical properties, which affect chemical neurotransmitters in the body.

Needling is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical practices in the world. Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, Needling gained attention in this country in the 1970s, when China and the US opened relations. The practice has been growing in popularity since.

Needling is generally performed with metallic, solid, and hair-thin needles. Patients report different feelings associated with Needling, but most feel minimal pain as the needle is inserted. Needling makes some people report feeling energized by the treatment, while others say they feel relaxed.

Dry needling is the use of solid filiform needles for therapy of muscle pain, sometimes also known as intramuscular stimulation. Acupuncture and dry needling techniques are similar. Although the needles used have been called “acupuncture needles” and were described as such in the Huang Di Nei Jing in the Han dynasty and at one time were manufactured for use by acupuncturists they are now more properly referred to as solid filiform needles and are used in both procedures. Dry needling contrasts with the use of a hollow hypodermic needle to inject substances such as saline solution, botox or corticosteroids to the same point. Such use of a solid needle has been found to be as effective as injection of substances in such cases as relief of pain in muscles and connective tissue. Analgesia produced by needling a pain spot has been called the needle effect.

Dry needling for the treatment of myofascial trigger points is based on theories similar, but not exclusive, to traditional acupuncture; however, dry needling targets the trigger points, which is the direct and palpable source of patient pain, rather than the traditional meridians, accessed via acupuncture. The distinction between trigger points and acupuncture points for the relief of pain is blurred. As reported by Melzack, et al., there is a high degree of correspondence (71% based on their analysis) between published locations of trigger points and classical acupuncture points for the relief of pain. What distinguishes dry needling from traditional acupuncture is that it does not use the full range of traditional theories of Chinese Medicine. Dry needling would be most directly comparable to the use of so-called ‘a-shi’ points in acupuncture. The debated distinction between dry needling and acupuncture has become a controversy because it relates to an issue of scope of practice of various professions.

In general, Needling points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system, which, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals either alter the experience of pain or release other chemicals that influence the body’s self-regulating systems. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.

What’s Trigger Point Dry Needling?

Trigger Point Dry Needling is one of the most efficient medical techniques that use Needling needles to release deep trigger points. It is widely used on muscles, tendons, and joints to achieve greater and longer lasting pain relief.

Trigger Point Dry Needling will get rid of inflamed trigger points and muscle knots, release muscle tightness and muscle spasms, increase blood flow in muscles and fascia, decrease inflammation and tenderness, decrease tension, help heal muscle overuse and muscle injuries, stimulate muscles to work better and more efficiently, and therefore prevent further injuries.

We use the finest and highest quality needles on the market to insure maximum results and an almost discomfort free treatment.

At Atlantic Rehabilitation in Neptune and Hillsborough, we can help you get pain relief.