A 70-year-old patient is visiting their healthcare provider. The patient has osteoarthritis and is taking Tylenol 500 mg two tabs twice a day. They tell the provider that they are not moving around much because of the pain. Which would be the next step in pain control for this patient?

The best approach for this patient is ordering physical therapy to help manage their pain associated with osteoarthritis. Engaging in physical therapy can provide the patient with personalized exercises tailored to improve their range of motion, strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints, and enhance overall functionality. This can lead to a reduction in pain levels and promote better mobility, counteracting the patient's current inactivity due to pain.

Physical therapy also focuses on teaching patients how to manage their condition through safe movement and stretching techniques, making it an effective long-term solution rather than just addressing the immediate discomfort. While medications like Tylenol or codeine can offer temporary relief, they do not address the underlying issues contributing to the patient's limited mobility and pain, making physical therapy a more sustainable option for overall pain management in osteoarthritis.

Engaging in outpatient counseling could provide support, but it would not directly tackle the physical limitations caused by pain. Simply prescribing Tylenol with codeine might increase the pain relief temporarily but does not promote recovery or improve function in the long term. Encouraging the patient to "just deal with the pain" would be dismissive and unhelpful in promoting better health outcomes. Thus, physical therapy represents a comprehensive approach to improve the patient’s quality of life and overall