How To Improve Pain Relief

When pain persists, there may be more to the story than simply treating the painful spot.

Pain can be frustrating.

You might have tried medication, massage, physiotherapy, exercise, rest or other treatments and still find yourself asking: ‘Why am I still in pain?’

It’s a reasonable question… And the answer isn’t always straightforward because pain is influenced by many things, and the reason it persists can be different for everyone.

Pain isn’t always a simple problem with a simple solution

Sometimes there’s an obvious injury or physical problem that needs to be addressed.

Sometimes an area has become sensitive after an injury has healed.

Sometimes your body has adapted the way it moves because of pain, weakness or reduced mobility.

And sometimes several things are happening at once.

Your sleep, stress, activity levels, strength, fitness, recovery and general wellbeing can all influence how your body feels and how you respond to physical demands.

That’s why simply treating the place that hurts doesn’t always tell the whole story.

What have you tried so far?

If you’ve been dealing with pain for a while, it’s useful to step back and look at the bigger picture.

Have you had it properly assessed?

Persistent or unexplained pain deserves appropriate assessment. Your doctor, physiotherapist or other health professional can help determine what’s happening and whether further investigation or treatment is needed.

Have you stopped moving because it hurts?

Understandably, pain can make you cautious, but avoiding movement altogether can sometimes leave you less confident, weaker or less capable than you’d like to be.

The right movement, progressed appropriately, can be an important part of recovery.

Have you rebuilt your strength?

Feeling better isn’t always the same as being ready to do everything you used to do.

Building strength, mobility, balance, coordination and endurance can help you gradually increase what your body is capable of.

Are you giving your body time to recover?

More treatment isn’t necessarily better treatment.

Your body also needs appropriate rest, recovery and time to adapt to increasing demands.

Where does massage fit?

Remedial massage can be useful for managing muscular tension, discomfort and movement restrictions, and it can be one part of a broader approach to looking after your body.

But massage isn’t a magic fix, and it doesn’t need to be the whole solution.

Sometimes the most useful approach is a combination of hands-on treatment and active rehabilitation.

That’s where understanding what your body needs becomes important.

What if you’ve finished rehab but still don’t feel like yourself?

This is something I see regularly.

You may have completed your physiotherapy or clinical rehabilitation and been told you’re ready to return to normal activities, but you’re still thinking:

‘I’m not quite confident yet.’
Maybe you want to get back to the gym.
Walk further.
Get up and down from the floor.
Climb stairs.
Garden.
Travel.
Lift and carry things.
Play with your grandchildren.
Or simply move through your day without constantly thinking about your body.

That’s where Post-Rehab Recovery can help bridge the gap between completing clinical rehabilitation and feeling confident using your body again.

The focus is on gradually building your:

Your treating health professional remains responsible for your clinical care. My role is to help you build on that foundation through personalised movement, Pilates-based exercise and hands-on support where appropriate.

Your body isn’t a problem to be fixed

If you’ve been living with pain for a while, it’s easy to become frustrated with your body.

Instead, it can be helpful to become curious about it.

What can you do now?
What has changed?
What would you like to be able to do again?
What does your body need to get there?

Sometimes the answer is treatment.

Sometimes it’s movement.

Sometimes it’s strength.

Sometimes it’s rest and recovery.

And often, it’s a combination.