Often, patients and their doctors will address pain by masking it with the use of prescription drugs. While these drugs can be used to manage pain, they do not locate and treat the source of the pain. In other words, they are simply covering up the issue, not healing it. Additionally, such drugs can be addictive and dangerous, leading to worse outcomes than the original pain. When discussing pain—both directly related to the feet (like plantar fasciitis) and because of imbalances—it is important to convey the advantages of treating pain via custom orthotics rather than masking it with prescription drugs.

To help you facilitate this conversation, we have put together this handy tip sheet to which you can refer.

Pain Management with Orthotics, not Drugs

  • Discuss and understand their pain in detail.
    • Explain that to help them, you must first understand the pain they are experiencing. Finding an effective way to discuss it in detail can be enlightening for both of you.
    • Be specific. Ask about where the pain originates, if it spreads from that point, and what exact areas of their body are affected. Ask them to describe the pain. Is it sharp, more of an ache, or a burning sensation? Does it occur more frequently during certain activities or at different times of the day? Have they noticed any triggers that cause their pain to flare up?
  • Talk about their health history in relation to their current pain.
    • Have they had any previous injuries that may contribute to the pain they feel now? For example, a knee injury could very well contribute to back pain. Knowing these health history details is important to your evaluation.
    • Discuss the interconnectedness of the body and why knowing these details about their health is important to a higher quality of life in the future.
    • This is also an opportunity to open the dialogue up to previous procedures and treatment methods, including prescription drugs.
  • Ask about their lifestyle.
    • Does their pain prevent them from living the life they want to live? Are certain activities they enjoy off the table because of it?
    • Do they exercise, stretch, and otherwise take care of their bodies in a manner that may help reduce their pain?
    • This is a good segue to a conversation about custom orthotics, being active, and how ongoing care can be an important healing tool.
  • Explore their current methods of pain management.
    • Have they previously seen a doctor, visited a chiropractor, or otherwise attempted to manage their pain? If so, what were they told, and what were the results?
    • Have they ever, or are they currently taking prescription drugs?
    • With this dialogue open, you can transition to discussing prescription drugs and why they are typically not the best form of medicine for managing and healing pain.
  • Talk about prescription drugs.
    • Be open and honest with your patient about the risks involved in taking prescription drugs for pain management. It may be helpful to have examples, research, and statistics available to bolster your point.
    • Let them know that there is hope and healing beyond potentially harmful pharmaceuticals. Introduce the possibility of physical improvement and pain reduction through natural, holistic means.
  • Introduce custom orthotics as a pain management solution.
    • With your conversation foundations in place—the risks of prescription drugs, the interconnectedness of the body, and the possibility of pain management through better methods—you can approach the discussion about custom orthotics with a shared mindset and basis of knowledge.
    • Explain how the feet act as the foundation of the body—if something is off in the foundation, the rest of the body will suffer. Often, this will manifest as pain or worsened preexisting pain.
    • Describe how modifying their foundation with custom orthotics can help reduce their pain. Relate it as closely to their situation as possible.
    • Tell them how custom orthotics are an easy to use, painless and non-invasive alternative to other pain treatments. Share that they are backed by proven science and have successfully helped to alleviate pain for millions of people around the world for over 70 years.

Recent Announcement & Featured Article:

Using Custom Orthotics to Manage Pain

A myriad of physical ailments can be addressed by restoring healthy foot function. Back pain, for example, can be traced to musculoskeletal imbalances, which can often be remedied by correcting imbalance in the feet. While you know this, your patient may be unaware of the connection or of the positive effect custom orthotics can have on their physical condition. By having an open yet structured conversation with them about the pitfalls of prescriptions and the benefits of custom orthotics, you can help them achieve better outcomes without the dangers of drugs.

Foot Levelers are the only custom orthotics that support all three arches of the foot for total body stabilization and better overall health. For more information about Foot Levelers and its industry-leading custom orthotics, feel free to contact us. With seven decades dedicated to improving lives, our experience in mitigating pain runs deep.

How can we help you today? Call 800.553.4860 for more information, or Get Started with Foot Levelers by completing the form below.

 

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