Rehabilitation myths you need to ignore
Injury and pain recovery is an extremely fickle experience; everyone endures a different process, everyone heals at different rates, and each person’s perception of pain and discomfort widely varies. As a result of conflicting personal experiences, there are general misconceptions about what the rehabilitation process involves. From myths such as set time-frames of recovery to inactivity being the best choice, we debunk the falsehoods about rehabilitation, explaining the truths you should believing during this physically trying time.
Surgery is your only option
As Sydney chiropractors, we meet many back pain sufferers and injury-prone athletes who suffer from what seems to be irreparable damage to their body. What these sufferers have been lead to believe is that surgery is the best and only course for them, thinking any other style of treatment won’t effectively work. While some extreme injuries require surgery as the sole treatment style, this isn’t the case for every person and each specific injury. Therefore, it’s essential each patient is individually assessed by health professionals, such as your local chiropractor, before drawing treatment conclusions, especially treatments as drastic as surgery.
Push through the pain
Recovery from an injury is much different from lifting weights or running a tough hill. While there is this undeniable mental and physical pain that surrounds tough exercise sessions, pushing through injury based pain is much different. Pain is the body’s indicator something is wrong, and during rehabilitation, ignoring this pain won’t benefit your recovery. This style of pain linked to injuries or chronic pain is indicative that it’s time to stop any aggravating activities, and to rest and heal.
Rest your way to health
Rehabilitation is multifaceted in its approach, and resting is just one of the ways to combat injuries and associated pain. When your chiropractor advises you to rest, most likely they are advising you to cease strenuous activity for gentler options, and not to lie in bed all day without movement. Prolonged periods of inactivity can increase recovery time, as this time decreases blood flow to the body and the affected area. Muscles weaken during this time, and the mind becomes used to the inactivity.
Everyone heals the same
Despite suffering the same injury or pain as the person next to you, such as common neck and back pain, every person recovers differently, and within their time frame. Though your chiropractor may provide you with a time frame for your recovery, it’s essential you understand this is an estimate only, based on foreseeable recovery behaviour, and shouldn’t be relied on entirely.
Are you unsure about your rehabilitation journey? Contact us at MyChiro to discuss the path best suited to you, and to clarify any misconceptions you have about pain and related issues.
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