The Questions We Ask

With the evolution of science we now understand that both injury and pain are more complex than originally considered, and so treatment to heal requires a more holistic approach. Particularly if the discomfort from injury has hung around for more than a few weeks. 

When someone has had pain for more than 3 months it is deemed chronic and we often ask questions such as:

How many hours do you sleep?

What’s your step count per day?

What do you think is going on?

What may be perceived as random questions to be asked are all highly relevant for solving pain problems, and to identify the unhelpful beliefs that may be getting in the way of your recovery.

We know if you sleep less than six hours per night pain is ramped up in your nervous system, so the sensation is actually worse. 

We know if your step count has reduced considerably and suddenly, you are more likely to experience back pain (think working from home and lockdowns). 

We know that your subconscious beliefs, such as “my mum had a knee replacement at 50, so I probably need one”, or “it’s definitely arthritis because I'm 60”, need to be addressed and removed in order for you to begin your road to recovery. 

We also know that starting your day with movement - such as your physio program, some stretches/ yoga, will lead to a better day in terms of movement quality and overall reduced pain. 

We know from research and functional MRI studies of the brain that in the presence of pain, all sorts of areas you wouldn’t expect to light-up, such as past experiences, beliefs etc. 

So addressing pain and injury is not about setting some exercises and on completion expecting you to be sweet.

It’s a combination of the right exercise program, sleeping well, managing your stress, removing unhelpful beliefs, having better sleep hygiene, increasing your step count and a bunch of other factors.

If you’re in pain ask yourself - are there some beliefs that you hold which may not be helping? I’m happy for you to reply to this with ones you need help with. 

Think - Is your sleep good and you’re doing the right things in the lead up to bed time? Are you moving enough, or could you start your day by doing your physio program? Let me know your thoughts - I'm genuinely interested in hearing them.