Feel it, don’t force it

The hardest patient to treat is the one who doesn’t know how to communicate with their own body.

I often times spend most of a first session explaining that our bodies are constantly speaking to us through symptom and sensation as I explained in my blog, “Are you listening?”.

Equally as important to listening to your symptoms in pursuit of diagnosis is listening to your body’s reaction to the treatments we offer it.

In our Western cultures, we teach and learn that symptoms are meant to be ignored and numbed (even more-so for women and POC). So when I ask, “What do you think is going on?” and “Do you think we’re doing the right thing for it?” people look at me like I have 6 heads.

They’re not at all expecting to be included in the decision-making process. However, you, the patient, has all the information I need to make a good decision! I need you!

Treatment is an active process, a dynamic conversation and we both need to consistently contribute to it.

The second most important lesson after listening, is feeling. Feel it, don’t force it. Work with your body, not against it.

Every single treatment can be both helpful and hurtful depending on how you do it and where your body’s baseline is at.

The information I give you is only as effective as what you do with it.

The better you get at listening and feeling, the shorter rehabilitation time and the lower your risk for subsequent injuries is.

This all not only informs you of your current problem, but better equips you to listen to the problems you come across in the future. It’s the process of mastering your machine.