Sleeping Injury
So you woke up with a "sleeping injury". You have no idea what happened but that pain in your back, or neck or shoulder is taking your breath away.
Maybe you did a marathon clean of your home the day before, or have been recovering from a lingering cough. Maybe you went hard during your hockey game, or did nothing out of the ordinary at all, aside from working at your desk.
If you do not recall a specific injury moment, like a slip and fall, or jarring motion, it's more likely that you are okay, but may be dealing with a sensitive muscle, tendon, joint, ligament, or nerve.
"Well, which one is it?!" You might ask.
There are some special tests used by RMTs/PTs/ATs that may help determine the possible root cause. We all want to know what's going on in our bodies when we feel pain. The reality is, without x-ray or MRI vision, these special tests, along with your pain history cannot determine, without a doubt, what the problem is, but they can give us information on how to proceed safely with treatment.
The good news is, "knowing" is not always the most important part of treating pain that is NOT due to a recent injury, underlying health problem, or disease. Because there are things you can do for yourself, right in the moment:
Understand that your fear, about what the pain means to you, plays a role in how severe a pain will feel.
Be patient, breathe calmly, and find a movement you can do with relative ease. It won't stop the pain but just trusting that this sensation is temporary, that pain it is not always equal to tissue damage, and sometimes your body can be sensitive, can help reduce your fear about the pain.
If you can't move the painful area, move other parts of your body, or find an activity that involves gentle movement that can help to distract you.
At home you can:
Make your bed
Do the dishes
Water your plants
Go for a short walk
At work you can:
Take a walk around the office
Tidy your desk
Find a quiet place to do a few gentle stretches or
breathing exercises
You will be okay. When you need me, I’ll be here.
