You don't need to be "fixed" before you start to "do"
Written by Mitchell Robinson
This blog series has been trying to show you that:
- Pain is an alarm system not a damage report
- Our alarm system can become too sensitive: sometimes it’s too good, goes off too soon, too easily, too much and for too long!
- Pain is poorly related to damage: either can exist without the other!
- Pain is poorly related to “altered functioning”: there is no perfect way to move, you have options for moving - be a movement optimist!
- Pain is context-dependent: lots of things influence pain - not just the “usual” things we think of: tissue damage, poor posture, asymmetry etc.
- You are stronger than you think!
- If you’re alive and breathing, you can adapt positively (it’s not over for you!)
"The latest evidence suggests that active treatments promote recovery."
If you’ve had pain for a while, you’ve probably been told a lot of different things by friends and therapists about why you’re hurting and how to fix it. Their advice will all vary depending on their experience and their journey. Sometimes their advice will conflict and this can be frustrating. However, one thing we commonly hear from patients of Sycamore Health is that they’re damaged goods - things are out of place, fragile, misaligned and broken! These patients have been told that they need to be “fixed” before they can start “doing” again.
We're serious about helping you live life without pain. Right now, you can book in for a FREE initial assessment. No hidden funnies, weird pyramid schemes, or quackery. Just a great chance for you to see how physiotherapy can help you move again. In fact, we're so serious, we even offer half-price treatment should you chose to pursue your tailored therapy, right in the very same session. Press the button below to quickly make an online booking. It's no fuss and super-simple, we promise.
What this blog series has tried to show is that this is not true! Oftentimes, these things really aren’t that important. You don’t have to stop doing the things you love. I know that can be hard to believe, but it’s true! The latest evidence suggests that active treatments promote recovery. Understanding pain helps reduce pain, you can explore different ways to move (you have options!), you can begin to make plans to improve fitness, and you can gradually do the things you love again! For the most part there may be nothing that is off limits. Sure, you may have a flare-up occasionally, but there's no need to stress about that! It just means you're still a bit sensitised. What we’ll look at is (1) how much you can do, (2) what your beliefs are about returning to these activities and (3) how you approach doing these things again. The bottom line? You can adapt and start to slowly do the things you love again.
If you’re struggling with pain and think you would benefit from seeing a physiotherapist for your pain management, talk to your GP. Sycamore Health has a speciality in pain management and non-medicated remedies, and would love to help you take control of your pain!
Would you like to know more about pain? Here are 10 Life-Changing Truths About Pain and 10 Low Back Pain Takeaways from the world's leading back pain researchers. Remember, learning about why things hurt helps things hurt less!
