Where do you think your pain is coming from??
There are many questions that I ask people when they come in for their first session. One of the questions that has dramatically improved my ability to connect with a person is to ask them, “what do you think is happening…?” OR “where do you think the pain is coming from…?” This allows the person to open up and tell more of their story and gives them some control. When is the last time a doctor asked you what you thought was going on?
Are you in pain…? Where do you think it is coming from? Answer that question guided by the following:
- Was my pain caused by physical activity?
- Does physical activity actually make my pain worse?
- Will physical activity harm my (enter area of pain here)?
- Are you afraid to move because you may feel it could make the pain worse?
Do you think you have structural damage? In many cases, structural damage is not the cause of the pain and gradual physical activity is the best medicine. It is my job as a clinician to help educate, or sometimes de-educate the person. You may have heard from another practitioner, google, WebMD, that there is something structurally wrong with you. This can instill a fear and confirms your thoughts that those structural abnormalities are causing the pain.
Are you fearful of moving? Have you been told NOT to do something that you love to do? Do you feel that if you move you will make things worse and increase your pain? In many situations, moving is OKAY. I love giving people the freedom to move. Empowering people to take control of their movement, their everyday tasks, and their lives again is an amazing part of my job. There is a time and a place for rest post-injury to allow an area of the body to calm down. However, that time is very short and when pain persists, lack of movement can cause worsening of the condition.
If you are dealing with pain like this, please seek some ACCURATE education from a qualified practitioner. Please do not let someone increase your fears and heighten your anxiety. There is so much evidence to support movement, loading the body and regular activity to assist in the treatment of pain. This treatment, however, has to be done gradually and with the assist of a professional! The body is extremely resilient and can recover from the state that it is in. So, be positive and find a coach, a physical therapist who can assist you on this journey to improving your quality of life.
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