If I had a nickel for every time I talked to a patient over the years about whether they were actually getting better, I wouldn’t have to write blog posts. I kid! But seriously, it is a very real question with very real implications. You have been dealing with a nagging injury, and whether you are actually seeing a doctor or physical therapist or chiropractor is beside the point – are you actually getting better?
Timelines of injury
Believe it or not, there are actual tissue healing times our bodies will on average adhere to. Typical Muscle Soreness should only last 0-3 days. And we aren’t talking about boot camp or cross fit soreness – which with exercise intensity, by the way, is too much on average. Muscle strains and tendon injuries depend on the degree – very mild could be just a few days, and a very severe tear could take 6 months or more. Bone is much faster – 5 weeks to 3 months depending on tissue health, injury, and overall person health. And get this – most bone heals better than its preinjury state and that’s more than soft tissue can say. Articular cartilage (the Teflon cartilage of the joint) 2 months to (get this) TWO YEARS! And ligament grafts (because inside the joint ligaments like the ACL really don’t heal) after say an ACL reconstruction – another 2 months to 2 years. Yikes!!!! (1)
But what about me?
That’s all great, but what about what I am experiencing? Well, I would say at any given time, if you are unsure, I want you to remember the very first day of your injury? Remember the pain, the swelling, the way your life changed from the injury, etc. Compare that to where you are today? Is it different? Then yes, probably so. You have probably gotten better.
How about intensity of the pain you are experiencing? Were you at 8/10 when you first got hurt, and now you are a 4/10? That’s pretty awesome. 0/10 may not always be the most realistic goal, especially in a very short period of time. It is easy with a cut at the skin level to see progress in healing, but it is hard when you have shoulder pain and you cannot see the healing progress.
How about activity levels? Were you unable to walk without a pain or limp before, and now your pain is there but you don’t have to limp anymore to get by? Well that in and of itself is a sign of progress. How about higher level activities like riding a bike? Can you actually do that now when you couldn’t do it at all before? Golly you have moved up in the world!
How about you think back and you are exactly the same? Or, God forbid, WORSE? Well in that case I would say its high time you change it up. Have you thought about seeing a doctor? Having some imaging? Consulting with a physical therapist (like me) or other healthcare professional? Have you tried injections? Over the counter or prescribed medications? Yoga? Pilates? You DO HAVE OPTIONS! Whatever you do, do not wallow in this condition that is stalling you in life.
Heal today, transform tomorrow. Unlock your potential to heal, learn and grow. – Dr. Barb Wally, LLC
References:
1- Dr Caleb Burgess, DPT, OCS, SCS. Healing Times. Accessed 2023 November 6. https://www.facebook.com/dr.caleb.burgess.
Note: These blog posts are not in exchange for a one on one Physical Therapy visit. Please contact me if you are interested in receiving a Physical Therapy visit!
Note: These blog articles are not in exchange for a one on one Physical Therapy visit. Please contact me if you are interested in receiving a Physical Therapy visit!
*This content is original and copyright Dr Barb Wally, LLC*
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