Rules for Recurring Pain

DO:

1. Know that your pain is real

2. Maintain physical activity, but listen to the body and modify as needed

3. Focus on remaining involved in other activities of daily life that are meaningful to you

4. Remain connected in your important social relationships

5. Know that pain is simply information, it does not necessarily mean there is severe damage

DON'T:

1. Blame yourself

2. Panic or rush to assumptions

3. Believe everything from online resources; find a few credentialed practitioners you trust, and consult with your general physician (GP) or physical therapist (PT)--(Contact me if you need referrals)

4. Rely on imaging to tell you the whole story--imaging will often show more than you want to know, and it will often seem scary. Imaging can give helpful information, but it may not show the cause of pain, even if it does show tears or fractures.

5. Assume pain means damage

Overall:

Allow time to help the body heal, keep moving, and refer to a therapeutic movement practitioner if you don't know what to do.

Often, recurring pain or chronic pain is from overuse and/or poor motor habits. It takes time to reduce stressors on the tissues, to reduce the current aggravation, and then re-teach the body how to move pain-free.