You might not want to hear this, but it's a fact: healing takes time.
Usually a lot of time.
And effort, energy, commitment, resources, etc!
Healing often doesn't just happen. Yes, time can heal. Resting can heal. But I've learned over the last 20 plus years that if you really want to feel better you have to put in the effort.
What kind of effort? All of it.
When I was a Senior in High School, in fact weeks before my prom and graduation, I was in a bad car accident when I was stopped at a red light and rear ended so hard that I slammed into the person in front of me. This accident caused me severe whiplash and back pain that I am still managing today (even though it happened over 20 years ago).
Then, during Covid due to teaching and training too much (hello nonstop virtual classes!!) I strained my peroneal tendon (which is down the outer part of your leg, below your knee) and suffered from plantar fasciitis. It's funny because looking back at the videos there's times where you can see the KT Tape I used to help support my shin and feet to try to help relieve the pain. I vividly remember hobbling to my car SO many nights because I was in so much pain I could barely walk.
So, needless to say, I get it. I understand your pain on some level. You might have more injuries or conditions then me. It's not a competition y'all; but I am here to say that I've been there and I know firsthand that living with chronic pain sucks.
But I am here to tell you that you don't have to accept chronic pain.
However, you do have to accept that it's YOUR responsibility to heal yourself.
YOU need to put in the time, focus, effort, attention, awareness and resources into healing yourself. No one is going to do it for you; and most likely sitting around and magically hoping that you'll feel better someday isn't a great strategy either.
What is a good strategy for truly healing an injury?!
Talk to a professional! Start with your doctor, advocate for tests and blood work!
Sign up for Physical Therapy and actually go AND actually do the homework they give you. It'll seriously help! My Physical Therapist Lauren was a huge part of my recovery programming and I am SO grateful for her!!
Work with a Personal Trainer that can help you modify, cross train and provide support so that your whole body can continue to not only heal but also become stronger and more resilient!
Stretch and incorporate Yoga every damn day. If you have time to watch TV or scroll on your phone you have time to stretch.
I'm going to add Foam Rolling to #4. In fact, I encourage YOU to put your foam roller ON your couch and don't sit down at night until after you've stretched and rolled out! Doing this at least 3-4 nights a week will change your life.
Try other holistic healing services like: acupuncture, chiro, dry needling, cupping, massage, reflexology, body working, nutrition coaching, etc! Try it all. And I hear you, this takes time and money but isn't it worth it to feel better?!
Try other exercise styles and see what helps you feel better. Truthfully, NOT moving is 99.9999% of the time NOT the right choice. NOT moving and being stagnant does not encourage your body to heal. In fact, it usually makes things worse! So reassess and carefully try new things to see what helps; like swimming, yoga, pilates, weight lifting, etc. There are countless options out there so experiment and see what helps alleviate pain and hopefully helps correct the underlying issues so you are actually healing.
Reflect and consider how stress plays a roll in your pain. What areas of your life are causing you the most stress and what can you do to change things? Do you need clearer boundaries? More time for self-care? Do you need to delegate? Let go of things? See a therapist?! All are great options for healing inside and out!
All of these options and methods will help you understand your body and your injury/condition better, help you make changes that encourage healing, and help you actually fix the problem rather than just putting on a bandaid and covering it up.
And I hear you - all of this takes time, energy, money, resources, focus, etc.
And you know what I'm going to say: aren't you f*cking worth it?? Seriously? Isn't THIS life that you are living right now worth the investment to feel better??
Thankfully, after doing ALL of the things listed above (seriously I have done EVERYTHING listed above) I am so very grateful and proud to say that I am finally feeling better! A lot better in fact!! Most of my neck, back, foot and leg pain has not only been relieved but has also been fixed. However, that doesn't mean that I give up on all of these habits and self-care rituals. Rather, I am continually recommitting to healing myself because I know I do not want to end up hobbling to the car, holding back tears in pain anymore.
I am worth the investment to stay healed and healthy and happy. And SO ARE YOU.
I say this with love, if you suffer from chronic pain or any pain or injury at all and you are ready to take a step forward email us, Hello@connectedthroughstrength.com. And we will email you back asap and help you come up with a smart and effective plan to feel better. Seriously, Kenny, Stephanie and I have all struggled with our own pain and we believe everyone deserves the right to feel damn good.
Thank you for reading,
Erin
PS - Here is a list of the amazing providers I rely on every month to help me feel my best! They are all in the Boston area :)
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