Should You Take Painkillers Before Physiotherapy?

Undergoing physiotherapy when you're not at your physical best can result in some aches during and just after a session, and taking some painkillers before you go in for your appointment may seem like a good idea. After all, some people take over-the-counter painkillers before other medical and even cosmetic procedures just so they don't have to deal with minor pain, so why wouldn't it be a good idea for physiotherapy? Well, physiotherapy is much different than, say, getting your legs waxed. The cause of any pain you might feel is much different, and the effect of the painkillers on the appointment is different as well. Plus, the pain you think is normal may actually not be, and you need to take a different approach in that case.

Always Clear the Painkillers With the Physiotherapist First

First, even if you are sure the painkillers will be fine, clear them with the physiotherapist first. Medications like ibuprofen and paracetamol have markedly different effects on the body and even different results. Ibuprofen is more anti-inflammatory and can affect your kidneys and stomach, and paracetamol is more of a general pain reliever and can affect your liver. You want the physiotherapist to be aware of all medications you're taking.

Why Are You Considering Painkillers?

First, why are you considering painkillers? Does the physiotherapy really hurt and cause a lot of pain during the session, or are you trying to avoid the general achy feeling you can get after a tough workout (which is kind of what physiotherapy can feel like)? For general achy feelings, it may be better to take a pain reliever after the session. If you're constantly taking them before the session, you could end up masking physical feelings that would help you gauge your progress better.

For pain that really hurts, you need to speak to the physiotherapist before anything else. You should not have severe pain during therapy; if anything is likely to hurt, the physiotherapist should warn you. And if you're experiencing serious pain outside the therapy sessions, you need to see your doctor instead of popping a few pain relievers.

The Type of Painkiller Matters

Not only are there differences in general over-the-counter pain relievers, but you may have access to a range of prescription versions, too, and those have very different results. If your doctor has given you opioid-based painkillers to take when needed for your injury, you don't want to take those before the session because you will not be as focused. Plus, those are powerful painkillers that would cover up any indication of how the therapy was really going for you, even more so than the over-the-counter meds.

If you're really having a problem with pain, speak to your physiotherapist. It could be that the exercises have to be modified temporarily or that there is another problem that the therapy has uncovered. And you don't want to cover that up with medication.

For more information, contact a physiotherapy professional near you.