Physical therapy can help you regain functionality after an injury, surgery, or suffering from certain conditions. However, you don’t want to have to be in physical therapy forever. Whether physical therapy isn’t working for you or whether you feel good enough to call it quits, your physical therapist should let you know when you can stop physical therapy.

Here, we’ll go over how to know when you should stop physical therapy and factors involved in this. 

When Should You Stop Physical Therapy?

Generally speaking, you should not stop physical therapy until you’ve reached your goals or unless your condition is not improving and your physical therapist determines that you would be better served by another treatment method. 

If physical therapy is too painful, you may need medical treatment. If you’re not seeing progress, you may need to talk to your physical therapist about adjusting your treatment plan. You may also need to reassess physical therapy as a whole. 

Remember that consistency and patience are key with physical therapy. Just because you don’t feel better right away doesn’t mean you should stop. Talk to your physical therapist about realistic expectations for your treatment. 

How Long Does Physical Therapy Last?

There’s no cut and dry answer here, because every case is different. Depending on personal healing rates and specifications about injuries, conditions, and medical history, how long physical therapy lasts varies. 

That said, people typically spend about 6-8 weeks in physical therapy. You may spend more or less time in physical therapy than this depending on your progress and goals. 

About Insurance

Unfortunately, insurance may dictate when you should stop physical therapy. Finances may cause you to stop physical therapy earlier than is advisable. Physical therapy may be covered partially or fully by your insurance and there may be a limit on how many sessions you can attend. It’s best to talk to your insurance company about what it covers and what its requirements are in order to plan appropriately. 

Something important to note here is that some people may use all the physical therapy sessions that their insurance covers even if physical therapy isn’t providing them with any sort of relief. Don’t do this. If physical therapy isn’t working for you, talk to your physical therapist. Your treatment plan may need to be adjusted or you may stop physical therapy and try another treatment method that could help you more.

What If Physical Therapy Isn’t Working?

It’s important to note that progress with physical therapy may be slow. Patience is key, as it takes time for your body to regain strength, mobility, and flexibility. However, if you aren’t making progress in a reasonable amount of time, your physical therapist should refer you to other treatments that may be more appropriate for your specific needs. 

If physical therapy isn’t working for you, your physical therapist will likely recommend that you stop physical therapy and refer you to other professionals who may be better able to help you.

What Should You Do If You Think You Should Stop Physical Therapy?

If ever you’re in doubt about whether or not you should stop physical therapy, it’s best to consult with your physical therapist. Good physical therapists won’t tell you to continue with a treatment that isn’t working. They know their personal limitations and the limitations of physical therapy itself. They will know other treatment options that may be better suited for you.

Physical therapists carefully monitor your progress (or lack thereof). They’ll adjust your treatment plan as needed in order to ensure that it works for you. So, if you’re not progressing initially, your treatment plan may just need some adjusting, and then you may see progress. Communication from both your physical therapist and yourself is key throughout the entire process to ensure that it is as effective as possible. 

Every condition and person is different. People heal at different rates and what works wonders for one person may do nothing for another (or even make them worse!) Your physical therapist will work closely with you to formulate a personalized treatment plan designed to meet your unique needs. 

Do You Need Physical Therapy?

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy is here to help. We provide physical therapy for all sorts of different injuries and conditions, from sports therapy to aquatic therapy and more. Contact us today to learn more about the physical therapy services we offer at each of our different locations in Northern Utah. 

Whether or not you need a referral for physical therapy depends on a variety of factors. While physicians may write you a referral for physical therapy, you do not need a physician’s referral in order to see a physical therapist. However, if your insurance covers physical therapy, you may need to get a referral showing that physical therapy is medically necessary in order for your insurance to either partially or fully cover treatment. 

Here is what you need to know about getting a referral for physical therapy and some of the various factors involved in this. 

Do You Need A Referral For Physical Therapy?

You do not need a referral for physical therapy in order to make an appointment. However, if you want insurance to cover treatment, then you will likely need to obtain one. 

Physical therapists may need either a referral or a prescription for physical therapy from your doctor in order to bill your health insurance for treatment. Your insurance may require a referral for physical therapy showing that it is medically necessary in order to cover it.

How Do I Figure Out My Insurance Plan’s Physical Therapy Coverage?

You will need to talk to your insurance company about their physical therapy coverage. A representative from your insurance company will be able to tell you this. You can also look in your plan manual to see what your insurance does and does not cover.

You will need to ask your insurance what they require to cover physical therapy. Many insurances require a referral for physical therapy in order to provide coverage. Your insurance company will be able to tell you what physical therapists are covered under your plan so that you can plan accordingly. You may also be able to look for covered providers in your plan’s manual or on your insurance’s website.

We bill as “Davis Hospital and Medical Center”. As such, your insurance may not list our therapists individually, but if Davis Hospital is listed in your manual, our therapists may be covered providers.

If you have insurance questions, they are best directed to your insurance company. 

How Do You Get A Referral For Physical Therapy?

You will need to make an appointment with a physician. If they deem that you could benefit from physical therapy, they will write you a referral. 

How Do I Know If I’ll Benefit From Physical Therapy?

If you ever have any doubt about whether or not physical therapy is for you, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor. This way, if you would benefit from physical therapy, they can write you a referral then and there, knocking out two birds with one stone.

Generally, people go to physical therapists for help recovering from persistent pains, injuries, and surgeries. Some of the conditions that may benefit from physical therapy are as follows:

• Sports injuries
• Orthopedic issues
• Workers compensation
• Auto accident injuries
• Lymphedema
• Pre- and post-operative care
• Pelvic health issues (in both men and women)
• Neurological disorders
• Pain management

Many different injuries can benefit from physical therapy. Some of the injuries we here at Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy treat include: 

• Knee 
• Shoulder
• Hand and wrist
• Elbow
• Hip
• Back
• Neck
• Foot and ankle
• Sciatica
• SI joint pain
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic pain
• Whiplash
• Herniated discs
• Pinched nerves
• Bulging discs
• Strokes
• And more

If your doctor determines that physical therapy could be helpful for you, they will write you a referral for physical therapy that you can use for your insurance. You will then need to schedule an appointment, as few physical therapists accept walk-ins. In your first physical therapy appointment, your therapists will assess your condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. 

Do You Take My Insurance?

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy provides professional physical therapy services in Northern Utah. We accept many different health plans and insurances. Check our Insurances We Cover page to see if your insurance is listed. If you do not see your insurance provider on the list, please call us to see if it is covered. 

Depending on your insurance, co-pays, and deductible, how much physical therapy costs will vary. 

We also provide cash-pay options for patients without insurance or whose insurance will not cover physical therapy. We are happy to work with you, simply contact us in order to learn more about what the options we provide are. 

Our staff will work closely with you in order to authorize your therapy so that you receive optimal insurance coverage according to your health care benefits. 

Contact us for any questions that you may have about our services. 

If you experience shoulder pain, you know how it can inhibit your ability to go about your daily routine. Shoulder pain can result from injury, poor posture, wear and tear, and more. If you have pain in your shoulder, it’s important to seek treatment to help you regain mobility and find relief from your pain. 

You may wonder if shoulder pain can cause pain in other parts of your body, as well. People often Google things like ‘shoulder pain and ear’, ‘shoulder pain nausea’, and the like in order to determine whether or not their persistent shoulder pain could be a culprit in other symptoms they are experiencing. Depending on the cause of your pain, you could experience pain in other areas of your body. 

If you are searching for answers for these types of questions, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your doctor or physical therapist. They will be able to ask you specific questions about your unique circumstances and conduct examinations and any necessary tests in order to diagnose you. Once they have diagnosed you, then they will be able to provide you with a personalized treatment plan. 

That said, here are some instances where you may have pain in your shoulder and pain in other parts of your body.

About Referred Shoulder Pain

Typically, if you have a shoulder problem, moving the shoulder makes it better or worse. This is not the case with referred shoulder pain. Referred pain is when the source of the pain is elsewhere, like your heart or belly. Referred pain is constant, but may come and go. 

This can be caused by heart problems, neck problems, stomach surgery, lung problems, stomach problems, and more. You usually notice other symptoms with this.

Doctors need to determine the source of pain to determine the best treatment method.

Neck And Shoulder Pain

The neck and shoulders are so connected that pain in one often leads to pain in the other. This is because some nerves in the neck travel to the shoulders and upper back. The neck and shoulders also share some of the same muscles, tendons, and ligaments. As such, if you strain or injure your neck, you could have pain in your shoulder too.

Pain that starts in the neck often feels like an electric shock and gets worse when you move your neck. It is typically relieved by support close to the side/base of the neck. Pain that starts in the shoulder is more of an ache. It tends to be worse at night, when lifting objects, when arms are overhead or reached behind, and can radiate into the upper arm. It typically feels better after rest.

Some cases where you can have pain in your shoulder and pain in your neck include:

• Pinched nerve/cervical radiculopathy 
• Poor posture
• Degenerative diseases, like arthritis and spinal stenosis
• Unsupportive mattress
• Chronic inflammation

Different causes affect different structures and need different treatments. 

Pain In Your Ears And Shoulders

If you have both shoulder pain and ear pain, you likely have neck pain too. Some of the factors that can cause you to have both ear pain and neck pain include:

• Muscle spasms
• Poor posture
• Forward head position
• Neck pain can also lead to ear pain

TMJ is another potential cause of both shoulder pain and ear pain. This is because chronic stiffness/misalignment of the shoulders can directly affect jaw joints. Abnormal jaw function can cause tense/imbalanced muscles, which can eventually affect the neck, shoulders, and even arms in extreme cases.

Armpit And Shoulder Pain

If you are experiencing both shoulder pain and armpit pain, muscle strains are a likely cause.

Nausea With Shoulder Pain

If you have severe pain in your shoulder, you could also have nausea. Any severe pain can cause nausea. This is because extreme pain can stimulate the nervous system. When the nervous system is in a hyperactive state, it can lead to nausea. This is because vomiting is how the body rids itself of harmful substances. So, if the nervous system is overstimulated, the body can trigger this response. 

Nausea and shoulder pain together can also happen because of a heart attack, which is a medical emergency. 

Elbow And Shoulder Pain

If you are experiencing both shoulder and elbow pain, there are many potential reasons for this. Some causes include:

• Rotator cuff tendonitis 
• Bicipital tendinitis
• Subacromial bursitis
• Arthritis
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Frozen elbow
• Dislocation
• Joint overload

Chest Pain With Pain In Your Shoulder

If you are experiencing both shoulder pain and chest pain, this could be because of a heart attack, especially if the chest pain is severe. This is a medical emergency which you will need to seek medical attention for immediately. 

Symptoms for heart attacks can vary for men and women. For men, the pain spreads to the left shoulder and either down the left arm or up to the chin. For women, the pain can be more subtle. It can go to either arm, the shoulder blades, up to the chin, down to the abdomen, etc.

Heart attack symptoms can also include: cold sweats, racing heart, jaw stiffness, difficulty breathing, and crushing chest pain. 

On a less serious note, both shoulder pain and chest pain together can occur because of gallstones. You may experience pain between your shoulder blades or in your right shoulder. This can occur due to inflammation of the gallbladder.

Headaches And Shoulder Pain

If you have pain in your shoulder, you could end up suffering from tension headaches. This can occur due to the persistent tension in your muscles.

Ectopic Pregnancy And Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain doesn’t lead to an ectopic pregnancy, but if you’re having an ectopic pregnancy, you may experience shoulder tip pain. This can occur on either or both of your shoulders. It’s a strange or unusual pain where your shoulder ends and your arm begins. This can happen due to internal bleeding in the abdomen. 

Are You Experiencing Persistent Pain?

Whether you are experiencing pain on its own or along with pain in other parts of the body, it’s a good idea to see a doctor or physical therapist for a professional evaluation. Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy provides treatment options for shoulder pain, among many other types of pains and injuries.

Schedule a consultation at one of our Northern Utah locations for shoulder pain treatment. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.