“This HAS TO Work…”
Surgery feels like it should work since it’s kind of like the “nuclear option.”
Sometimes it does work because it’s the best possible option.
Sometimes it’s the best possible option and the pain doesn’t go away.
There’s such a big lead up to surgery
doctor appointments
referrals
consultations
blood tests and lab work
care giver seminars
It HAS TO work…right?
Success! … and, There’s Still Pain??
Surgery is designed to repair (bones, ligaments, tendons…) it’s not designed to inherently resolve pain
Resolving pain is generally a byproduct of surgery
When we look at surgery as the “FIX”, and we continue to experience pain after surgery we can feel “Broken”
Pain after surgery doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means there’s more to the puzzle.
More to the Puzzle
The other pieces of the puzzle are usually found in the nervous system.
Pain, actually can’t be visualized in a scan.
It can’t be visualized because pain is an interpretation your nervous system has of a situation.
Pain is real and valid, AND getting out of pain isn’t just about healing a tissue or sewing it back together when it’s damaged.
From High Alert to Healing
After an injury your nervous system will be on high alert to minimize further damage.
It also knows that after healing, that tissue will be weak so symptoms often stick around to keep you from going too hard too fast.
And that’s great! We don’t want to go to hard too fast, AND we do STILL eventually need to “go” again
Movement = Medicine
The great thing about most surgeries is they come with a prescription of physical therapy sessions
After surgery, the most powerful thing we can do to get out of pain is give the nervous system confidence.
It gains confidence when you build the strength, coordination, control, and mobility necessary to prove the previously injured tissues are safe
Complete Healing Also Takes Time
It’s normal to still experience some pain and trepidation to returning to actives and hobbies outside the scope of what you’ll do in physical therapy
If you find that at the end of your prescribed physical therapy doesn’t quite “get you there” that’s where an Active Life Professional (like me) or movement coach specializing in return to activity can be invaluable
We are uniquely suited with the education and experience to pick up where physical therapy leaves off and get you to living the life you got your surgery for in the first place
I’m in Your Corner 🫶
Take this information with you and share it with people you believe would find value in it.
If you want to go deeper into these topics or see if working together is right for you, I’m in your corner and am happy to jump on a call and explore it
Click on the button below to find a time on my calendar that’s convenient for you, and we will start with a call