Many patients complain about pain that seemingly comes out of thin air. One day you’re fine and the next you assume you must have slept badly… Or perhaps it started building up during the day?
We refer to this as having an insidious onset, but we still need to identify the cause or the source to address it appropriately. It is not advisable to ignore such pain as it rarely goes away for good. Commonly, patients report that this type of pain has come and gone for YEARS!
Unusual Stress
We most commonly see the ‘I slept badly’ variety where the neck and shoulders are involved, followed closely by various back issues. The true cause of these are typically to be found in what you did the previous evening or over the past few days. Perhaps a few late nights behind the laptop in bed? Or battling with stringing fairy lights for your daughter’s upcoming party? Without fail, the problem started with a very normal activity that you’ve done before and didn’t cause any problems then. So, what’s the problem now?
Our ability to cope with life is largely dependent on how much of a certain task or activity needs to be endured and if we’re allowed to rest along the way. You’re significantly more likely to suffer from a physical pain when you’re in the middle of year-end or when your child has been sick. This is because lack of sleep and increased stress need only minor changes to your physical demands to put up one heck of a fuss! Consider that you’re possibly making up for lost time by suddenly working from home on your laptop in the evenings. You’ve done it before, but this time it’s an issue. Your body, and particularly your mind, are both battling to cope. And the one fuels the other, starting a chain reaction that doesn’t feel too good.
Physical Compensation
Another variety can be from physical compensation which builds up over extended periods of time. It’s usually not particularly intense, only rears its head every now and then, and dissipates before you bother to find the time to have it checked. Unfortunately, this is the version that we learn to live with and it’s too easy to find yourself 3 years later wondering how it got this bad, why you’ve left it for so long and why it never went away like it seemed to do so many times before…
Action Plan
If you experience any of the circumstances we have described above, do not ignore the pain. Rather take the following actions:
- Acknowledge and address the mild ache that comes and goes from time to time.
- Accept that you are likely going to take physical strain when you’re more stressed, so make time for your mind and your body to have a break from all the work.
- Knowing that you “can’t pour from an empty cup”, remember to look after yourself especially when your family needs you the most.
- Use the quieter times in your life to address the health issues that pop up from time to time – even while they aren’t symptomatic – to stop them from coming back.
- In the midst of it all, if you need help, ask!
Your health and physical wellbeing should be a priority deserving of quality care. Make sure to discuss any concerns you may have directly with your preferred physiotherapist, so that you can receive the appropriate guidance for your unique situation.