Aiding your recovery
Everybody heals and recovers at a different rate. Our ability to fight infection and recover from injury is down to a number of factors. Recovering from a back or neck injury is just the same.
We would like to share ways you can aid your recovery as well as boosting your health:
Activity - the expression "use it or lose it" is so true. As we age we lose the ability to walk as fast, bend as easily or lift as much. But we see many 60 and 70 year olds who are physically able and very active. Their secret is doing some form of exercise, be that walking, pilates or even weight lifting. The same principle applies to our spines - if you don't use the full motion in your spine you will lose it. This leads to stiffness, and possible injury. So, in short, keep active.
Diet - what we eat plays a huge part in our recovery. Professional athletes are given diet sheets with foods to eat that aid healing of damaged tissues. Why shouldn't this apply to you too?
Examples include protein which helps to repair muscle damage; calciumto strengthen bones and joints; and water to help prevent further disc damage and rejuvenate them. Patients suffering with nerve pain should try Vitamin B6 & 12 as they can regenerate nerves and help to reduce pain. For everyone a fully balanced diet is important.Social - Serotonin, Dopamine and endorphins are commonly known as the happy hormones, or feel-good hormones. They help to transmit information through our nerves, as well as regulating the body's daily systems. They can be released when we laugh, exercise, listen to music or enjoy our favourite hobbies. The hormones reduce stress, helping to reduce global tension in the body.
Some of you may have felt happy, energised or sleepy after coming to the clinic for adjustments - that's due to some of these hormones being released.Sleep - sleep pays a huge role in our recovery. The optimum amount of sleep is between seven and eight hours. When we are asleep we have a reduction in our stress hormones (cortisol), as well as the removal of unwanted waste from cells, enabling a faster recovery. If you are in pain, a pillow under your knees can help take physical stress off your lower back - aiding comfort and sleep.
Duration of back pain - there is a big difference between three days and three years, and the longer you have been suffering, the longer it is likely to take to go. Our recommendation is to seek help straight away to avoid further damage.
Our top tip: stiffness is often the first sign of problems developing - so please don't ignore it.