I can’t tell you the number of times I hear patients say “I thought it would get better on its own”. Unfortunately, the reality is it rarely does. It’s not that the human body isn’t capable of healing itself, it just sometimes needs a little bit of help. Here are a few things you can do after an injury to make sure you limit short term pain/suffering and prevent an injury from becoming more serious.
For minor injuries, the first thing you should do is rest and ice for 24 hours. Most people think to use heat but this should actually be avoided for the first 3-4 days. After you have rested for 24 hours, seek the help and care of your healthcare professional. Whether it be chiropractic or massage, this is a great place to start and if they can’t help you they can at least point you in the right direction. That being said, chances are the chiropractic or massage therapist office is exactly where you should be.
Getting the musculoskeletal system treated should be a top priority. Research has shown that duration of injury symptoms can be correlated to the time it takes to heal. In other words, the quicker you do something about it the faster you recover and heal. So next time you have an injury, big or small, book an appointment at Clayton Heights Chiropractic and get the treatment your body needs.