Embrace the Challenge Pt ✌️

Hi there! 👋

Have you been in the midst of healing from an injury, feeling SO positive about your progress, and you get hit by pain? Maybe the pain even feels worse than before?

If this is a familiar experience for you, you are not alone.

What I tend to see for many of the patients I work with is this…

• Pain decreases + movement improves = increased confidence

• With increased confidence, folks jump back into activity (the intensity of activity varies greatly from person to person) and they’re hit with pain 💥 again and this often leads to frustration and fear

When we talk about what they were expecting of their healing journey, folks indicate they expected a straight line from start to painfree activity. So, it makes sense that a set-back feels devastating.

The reality is, just like working toward any goal in life, the healing process is not linear and there will be ups and downs along the way.

In fact, as much as it sucks, I think these set-backs or flare-ups can be a positive.

WHAT!?

Let me explain.

If you were in pain or afraid of moving your body, you never would have even tried jumping back into activity. The fact that you felt confident enough do activity without hesitation means you’re on the right track.

Even though your body wasn’t quite ready for the level of activity and you experienced a set-back, you already have evidence that your body is resilient, that it will heal, and you can trust that you’ll be able to get back to feeling better.

As a bonus, you have more information than you did before! You now know what “too much” is in this moment and can make corrections to take smaller steps as you return to activity.

Here are a few actionable tips you might try when you experience a set-back or flare-up of pain and the frustration + fear that comes with that…

• Remind yourself that your body is resilient and that your pain improved once already so you can trust that it will again

• Move your body gently in ways that feel good and create feelings of safety

• Breathe - full, deep breaths all the way into your belly with a long, slow exhale to help calm your nervous system

• If you don’t have an appointment already scheduled, get yourself back into physical therapy…I can help you problem solve through the flare-up much faster than you trying to do it on your own

Questions? Send them my way!

Chat soon,

Bre

PS - Know someone who might find this message helpful? I’d be honored if you shared this post with them! 🙏