The biggest of big bad pain myths and a massive reason for pain persisting and people missing out on what they love.
But, guess who’s fault it is….. Health Professionals.
The people that are sought out for advice on pain and injury often don’t fully understand pain and injury. What hope does the butcher, baker or candlestick maker have if the doctor, physio, or therapist don’t understand?
Let’s play a game. I’m going to list things that can happen to your body. You right down if you have ever felt the body part hurt when those things happen. I’ll give you a hint underneath. Ready?
|
Tired |
Stiff |
Sunburnt |
Hungover |
Broken |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
All of these things can hurt when you move. Imagine being hungover and sunburnt!!!! AAAAAGGGHHHH the pain.
There is only really one time you want to stop moving something, and that if it has been recently broken. But to break stuff you need force, trauma, an incident. Most of the time though stuff just hurts. And most of the time it is safe and a good idea to move.
If you stop doing things when they hurt, sometimes you will have to do nothing. What if everything hurts? Do you stay home from work, do you stay inside, do you stay in bed?
“If it hurts don’t do it” is a total cop out said by people who don’t understand pain, healing or load capacity. The big problem is hearing this can be bad for you.
I have no doubt I have seen people who, if they had not heard this 6 months before, would no longer need to see anyone. A lot of what I do is undo the real harm words like this can do to people in pain.
We have loads of people in our gym every day doing things that hurt and that are good for them. Understanding the reason it hurts is the fundamental point. You and your nervous system are fantastic, if you know why it is sore, you are more likely to be able to move with it. It is even possible for it to hurt less.
You might then even be able to get back to lifting the kids, running, working a full week.
If you hear “if it hurts don’t do it” and you are not inside an ambulance or operating theatre please seek a second opinion.
At newcastlepain.physio there is more information on what you should do when you are in pain.
Stay tuned for more pain myths debunked
Until next time
Dave
