As the season changes, so do our favorite sports and activities! With these changes, your body may react to different demands placed on it. Sometimes, these uncomfortable sensations signal the need for thorough evaluation and treatment. However, often your body can adapt to the changing loads and simply needs to be monitored carefully.
A common question is, “Should I work through the pain?” The best, albeit somewhat frustrating, answer is, “It depends.”
You may be skilled at assessing and categorizing the sensations in your body, or you might rarely pay attention to these signals. Finding the right balance between ignoring all aches and being overly sensitive to every little discomfort is key. Knowing your body and your tendencies can help you strike this balance. The appropriate level of caution varies based on different factors and activities. For example, if you have a known injury that you are rehabilitating, it’s advisable to be more cautious and consult an expert if something feels off.
image credit: https://www.firststateortho.com/blog/chronic-knee-pain
**What Does It Depend On?**
Learning to listen to your body can be incredibly liberating! Here are some questions I encourage my patients to consider as they learn to interpret the signals their body sends:
1. What type of pain or discomfort is it? (sharp, dull, aching, pulling, electric, etc. – distinguish it from normal discomfort, such as muscle burn during exercise)
2. How intense is it? (mild, moderate, severe)
3. Does it improve or worsen as I continue the activity?
4. How do I feel afterward? (within 24-48 hours)
**General Guidelines for Understanding Your Pain:**
- If the pain is severe and does not improve with activity, do not push through it.
- If the pain is of any severity but decreases with activity, you can proceed! This may indicate that arthritic joints are becoming lubricated or that irritated tendons or fascia are becoming less bothersome. Just be aware of when the pain might increase again, as this will help you gauge your future activity levels and track progress.
- If pain is absent at the start but worsens significantly throughout the activity, this suggests that something isn’t functioning properly or your body isn’t managing the load effectively. In this case, reduce the intensity of the activity and continue to monitor your symptoms.
- If there is no pain during the activity but you experience discomfort within 24 hours, and the quality of the pain differs from typical delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), it usually indicates that your body can handle the activity’s demands. However, you should decrease the intensity or duration and keep an eye on your symptoms.
- If the pain is electric, travels along a limb, and is accompanied by numbness or tingling, do not push through this. Once aggravated, nerves can be difficult to calm down.
image credit: https://www.healthxchange.sg/head-neck/brain-nervous-system/how-to-take-care-of-nervous-system
If pain persists over several weeks without improvement, or if it worsens, it's crucial to seek early evaluation and treatment to address the root causes. This can help prevent the issue from becoming chronic, which typically takes much longer to resolve.
If you feel unsure about what you're experiencing, don’t hesitate to consult an expert. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with us at Precision Osteopractic Physical Therapy. We can help you understand your body and any potential issues. If hands-on treatment or movement and exercise training is recommended, we’ll provide you with options to turn that consultation into a full treatment session, putting you on the path to wellness and helping you return to the activities you love!
