The healing process can be frustrating. It often limits you from your normal activities and can even require you to rely on others. Here are 5 things you’ll want to remember to help you heal faster so you can get back to normal as soon as possible!
- Get extra rest – healing can require extra energy, and your body does some of its best healing when you are asleep. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause a variety of health problems, including delayed healing.
- Drink more water (aim for ½ your body weight in oz.). Dehydration can manifest as joint and muscle pain, headaches, constipation, fatigue, dry skin, and congestion.
- Pay Attention to Nutrition – you are what you eat! Is what you are eating fuel for healing and growth, or causing inflammation? Nutritional supplements are sometimes necessary to fill in the gaps or if you are under stress (physical, chemical, or emotional.)
- Avoid excessive poking, prodding, stretching, rolling injured area and sore spots unless instructed about how and when to do so – you may risk aggravating them!
- Listen to your body!! Don’t try to do too much, too soon, especially when you just begin to feel better. Nerves, muscles, and ligaments may not be stable yet, and can easily be overloaded and re-injured. If it seems like something you should avoid doing, it probably is. Dr. Morrone will recommend appropriate and safe exercises as you improve.
What to Expect While You Are Healing
Everyone is different, but these are the most common things you may notice as you are healing!
You will start moving and feeling better – adjustments that relieve tension and stress from your nervous system and improve mobility can be like removing an annoying pebble from inside your shoe. As soon as the irritation is gone, you start feeling better!
You will feel different and/or more discomfort, possibly in areas other than you “normally” do. If you have chronic health issues, a history of multiple injuries, scar tissue from surgery, or other injuries, your brain and body have developed ways to adapt and compensate for them. Some muscles have become weak or overactive. Nerves have become hypersensitive, some have “fallen asleep.” As you start to move better, you are going to be more aware of it. Inflammation and soreness may also come and go, as your body breaks down and repairs damaged tissues. Flare-ups are common with chronic problems, but we will give you the tools to manage them.
You won’t feel much different – Just like you don’t feel your hair and nails growing, it is happening, and you notice gradual change over time. Your body is constantly changing, adapting, and healing even when you’re not aware of it. Cells and tissues are being broken down, regenerated, and repaired. It may take a few weeks or even months before you notice major improvements, especially if there has been long-term damage or we are working through “layers” of problems.
Be patient, take good care of yourself, and healing will happen!