Chronic Pain Therapy

Don’t put up with long-lasting pain. Improve your quality of life with specialized rehabilitation at UNC Health Wayne, and start moving more easily and comfortably.

Do I Need Therapy for Chronic Pain?

Physical therapy can help you reduce reliance on medications or avoid surgery if you have conditions such as:

• Back or neck pain

• Complex regional pain syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Lyme disease

• Nerve damage (neuropathy)

What to Expect

Your physical therapist will gradually help your body adapt to gentle physical activity that you may have stopped due to discomfort. Together, you’ll retrain your brain, nerves, and muscles to allow movement with less pain. Trust your therapist to understand your limits and work at your pace.

Treatments & Services

Depending on your needs, your care plan may include:

• Aquatic therapy

• Gentle stretches and exercises

• Heat and cold therapy

• Mild electrical stimulation, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), over the skin to block pain signals

• Massage

• Soft-tissue mobilization to allow more muscle movement

• Therapeutic ultrasound that provides deep heat to injured tissue

• Trigger point dry needling

Results

Over time, chronic pain therapy can increase your ability to take part in activities for work and fun. Your mood may improve as well. Follow the advice your therapist provides for self-care at home to maintain your progress over the long term.