It is common for clients to call, many of whom have had significant discomfort for a long period of time. They know their body should be healing, but several months have passed and they are still limited by their symptoms.
Meeting Expectations and Making Progress
These clients are often recommended by friends and we work hard to meet their expectations and those of their friends. For the most part, they make great progress and we see pain reduce, their mobility improve and, importantly, their bodies begin to heal when they were not before.
The Dreaded Relapse
Then we sometimes get a phone call. “Ahh, it’s back to how it was. It just ‘went’ on me.” The dreaded relapse. On occasion, it happens. There is good news, though. The chances are that the injury has not reverted to how it was before care. The body has been healing for weeks and the pain mechanism has been reducing.
Understanding the Pain Mechanism
The key to understanding this problem is to know that the pain mechanism (inflammation, muscle spasm and nerve pressure) is not a reliable way to measure how well you are healing. For some, the pain mechanism is partially absent; however, their spine is not in as good condition as they think. For others, the opposite is true.
When Pain Flares Up
This return to significant pain is just a ‘flare-up’ of the pain mechanism; the healing has been underway for several weeks in a clear and definitive way. It’s just that it hurts right now. Almost always, after a few days, the client is free of discomfort and returns to a regular schedule of adjustments as before. And significantly better than when they first came for care.
Don’t Delay Your Next Visit
Pain is fickle. It can change rapidly and is not a reliable indicator of progress. If things suddenly flare up, don’t wait until your next appointment. Always come for a visit.
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