Ring in the new year with the permission to take care of yourself! You may have pains and pains that you ignored during the busy holiday season or hoped that they would go away on their own. Well, this is the new year and the time to take care of yourself is your top priority!
Many aches and pains can be caused by tendonitis, nerve compression syndromes, or osteoarthritis. These conditions are progressive and become more difficult to treat if they are neglected for long periods of time. Take action today!
Consult a doctor to get a diagnosis. Your doctor will discuss your treatment options. One of the proposals may be manual, professional or physical therapy. As a rule, therapy involves attending sessions with a therapist one to three times a week. Remember that in order for your therapy to be beneficial, you must go through a program that your therapist sets up for you.
You do not speak? Feeling healthy and strong? Good for you, we hope you stay that way! Excessive use of injuries and syndromes can sneak up on you, unlike injuries with a known cause and sudden onset of symptoms, such as pain or swelling. In case of excessive injury, you may notice slow, gradual pain or pain that can progress if not visited. Take a moment to review the course of action if you notice a new pain or pain.
1. Make an appointment with a doctor. Remember that early diagnosis and treatment leads to faster recovery. Get ready for your visit with your doctor. Write down the questions that you have, and be sure to discuss your options!
2. In the meantime, try using a cold gel pack wrapped in a pillowcase through a painful or swollen area for 10 minutes, several times a day. This is especially important during the first three to five days after the onset of your symptoms.
To get your own cold pack, take out two Ziploc bags per gallon and put them inside the other. Fill it with a bottle of 16 ounces of alcohol and 32 ounces of water. Seal both bags tightly and loosely until they become slush.
3. Respect pain. Throw out the phrase "no pain, no gain". Pain is a way of your body to tell you that stressful activity. If you can safely stop in the middle of an action that increases your pain, do it.
4. Lay the sore area as much as possible. Plan ahead to avoid or delegate activities that you know will be painful.
Every year that passes, our lives and schedules seem more busy with less time for ourselves. Regardless of what the new year expects for you, accepting a timeout to “pamper yourself” may just be the answer.
Happy New Year!
