Physical therapy helps cancer patients deal with pain

  • By Steve Powell Special to The Herald
  • Friday, October 2, 2015 12:37pm
  • Life

SMOKEY POINT — Judy York has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

But she keeps a positive frame of mind, and one of the reasons is she is getting help from Tawny Bridge-Pope of Smokey Point Reaction Physical Therapy.

“I’m so grateful,” York said. “I feel so much better. I have this one spot that overwhelms me,” with pain, she said.

York said she is fortunate because her oncologist emphasizes a holistic approach to dealing with cancer.

“I can focus on the whole thing,” York said.

She said she would recommend that more cancer patients have physical therapy, during or after treatments.

“It helps your overall well-being,” York said.

York, who has four chemo treatments remaining, many cancer patients wouldn’t even think of physical therapy.

“It would never occur to them,” she said. “They have pain and think they just have to deal with it.”

Bridge-Pope said working with a cancer patients is similar to working with those who don’t have it. The main difference is physical therapists are more cautious. Safety is the No. 1 concern.

“Through treatment we have a different level of awareness,” Bridge-Pope said. Patients can have varied energy levels.

“If they just had chemo they may not feel well,” and their muscle tissue could be fragile, she added.

The physical therapist can almost always help the patient with range of motion and stress reduction.

“Tawny helps that a lot,” York said. “She knows right where to go to relax my arm.”

While she’s helping York during treatment, Bridge-Pope said she has more patients come after treatment.

“They’re weak, and they want their endurance back,” she said. “Especially when they are young with kids they want that full range of motion back.”

Oncology rehabilitation

Physical therapy can help manage lymphedema, chronic swelling caused by damage to the lymph system.

Prostate, bladder, uterine, cervical and colorectal cancer treatment can damage pelvic floor muscles. Physical therapy can help.

Physical therapy can help with frozen shoulder, a painful condition common after breast cancer surgery/treatment.

Physical therapy can help build bone and prevent injury due to osteoporosis, a common side effect of cancer treatment.

Removal of lymph nodes can be painful, tight and limit range of motion. Physical therapy can help.

Physical therapy can help after radiation treatments with tightness, scarring and range of motion.

— Steve Powell, Special to The Herald

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