How hard do you push yourself when recovering from an injury?

[Lawn Sale]

I'm just curious. I know a few may be doctors, but I was wondering how many people push themselves a little too hard sometimes when recovering from an injury.

I did something to my right knee while on Carrigan on the 18th and then hiked Owls Head on the 19th. I could only bend it about 10° before excruciating pain, and those attending the hike were great about accomodating my needs (thanks especially to Geri for lending me a pole when I broke mine). Needless to say, that didn't do it any good and it's been a slow recovery back. Last week I couldn't think about the stairmaster and could barely manage stairs, but did manage 5 minutes on Saturday. Today I did 20 minutes, but at 1/3 intensity which is down from 3/4 intensity for an hour before that weekend. While I was working out, I wondered how many people tend to push themselves a little harder than they should when coming back, and what consequences resulted. Did the extra effort help or hurt?

My philosophy has always been to work through the pain, within reason of course, which is why I stopped at 20 minutes. I know I should see a doctor, but I see them as a last resort and things are improving, just slower than I'd like.

 

[sli74]

Interesting topic. I was just having this conversation with my co-workers today. I hurt myself this past weekend and was forced to endure a day and a half of lying in bed doing nothing, which sounded wonderful until I had to do it. I am terrible at going to the doctor, terrible at "taking it easy" and in general push myself into getting better.

Everyone around me insists I go for x-rays and medication while I am waiting to see if my body will heal itself. I am weighing the benefits and risks of doing something outdoors this coming weekend. Most of me knows, I should rest and allow myself time to heal but the rest of me is going crazy at the thought of wasting another weekend lying around.

I am restless and so used to being on the go all the time that being a good patient is not part of my vocabulary.

So, to answer your question, I push myself a little too hard when recovering from an injury and am sure this is why I suffer for far longer than needed.

sli74

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I don't push myself too hard when healing from a muscular/skeletal injury, because these things take awhile to heal and it's easy to aggrevate the injury. I do make sure I do gentle stretches/yoga to keep the muscles/ligaments/etc supple. I don't subscribe to the 'no pain, no gain' school. I've never seen any muscle tear/torn ligament/whatever heal faster because someone was out tearing up the trails. The good news is that fit bodies recover much more quickly.

I do tend to push myself if I've planned a hike and feel a cold/flu coming on. Have always found that by late morning I'm feeling pretty good. My own theory is that exertion has raised my body temp enough to cook the little beasties, but there may not be scientific evidence (yet) to back that up. All I know is that it works.

Kevin

 

[post'r boy]

bum knee?? no biggy!!

chickety hiked over 465 miles with a bum knee last spring,she could barely bend it but she wouldn't give up!! she put on one of those stretchy knee braces with an ace bandage and hiked. by the time we made it to virginia she was getting better. the very first day she took that brace off she hiked 30 miles in 12 hours!! she's tougher than nails! if you want to see what can be done with a variety of injuries,go to neels gap georgia and hike north for about 200 miles. everyone is the walking wounded at the start.

 

[audrey]

I also believe in working/walking through the pain, especially that sort of functional foot and knee pain that age has bestowed on me. In my younger days I hardly even slowed down for a broken foot or sprained ankle (crutches? No thanks!).

Not silly heroics - I just can't stand wasting a weekend and want to stay mentally healthy!

 

[Artex]

I also believe in working/walking through the pain, especially that sort of functional foot and knee pain that age has bestowed on me. In my younger days I hardly even slowed down for a broken foot or sprained ankle (crutches? No thanks!).

That's what I'm talkin' about! Obviously some injuries are more severe than others, but if I stopped all activity for every little nagging pain I felt, I'd be a fat slug sitting on the couch watching TV all day. At the same time, don't try to be a hero! It's a fine line sometimes, and highly variable depending on the type of injury and also the individual.

 

[Mad Townie]

Well I guess I'm the contrarian in the group! On those very rare occasions when I've gotten injured (not just aches and pains, but actual injuries), my method is to shut down for a brief period and give my body a chance to focus completely on mending. I do NOTHING with that part of my body (if I can get away with that).

Once the healing has been jump started that way for a few days, I start conditioning and work the pain away.

Oh, and I also ignore little stuff. Right now I'm typing with a well cut finger, thanks to a stupid move with a knife on Saturday. Wrapped it tightly with gauze and tape to stop the bleeding and continued to load my truck with construction debris to take to the dump. I kept it clean and protected it with wrapping, but that didn't stop me from doing the work I had to do. That's not an injury, it's just a pain in the whatever.

 

[MadRiver]

This topic is especially timely given I just injured my right knee somehow. I did a short walk yesterday as I always do after work and everything seemed fine. During the night, I noticed a slight pain in my right knee. This morning I can not walk without limping. Each time I get up from my desk I flex the knee to loosen it up before walking. I’m hoping it corrects itself before the weekend because I’m slated to go skiing. If, however, it still hurts on Saturday morning, I might forgo the skiing since I do not want to aggravate the injury especially given hiking season is just around the corner. Although I have had knee pain on and off for the past several years, this pain seems different and I do not wish to temp fate by just ignoring it. If it persists, I will see my Doc.

 

[Gris]

What Kevin & Townie said. As a former athlete (w/ emphasis on former) & former daredevil/fool, I have have five major knee surgeries, broken my neck, had a brain injury (that explains a lot), have herniated discs in my back and a recently reconstructed/ruined shoulder. If it is more than sore muscles or arthritic pain, only a FOOL fails to listen to his/her body and makes it worse by continuing painful activity. FWIW, I would strongly encourage anyone with persisent knee pain to submit to an athroscopic procedure. If it's just damaged cartilage and/or rough surfaces in there, which it usually is, it will make the pain disappear and you'll be better than new in no time.

 

[DougPaul]

Depends on the kind of injury.

With wear-and-tear injuries (eg tendonitis, chondromalacia patella), pushing on them frequently means that you just get to enjoy them that much longer...

Doug

 

[timmus]

I try not to push myself when injured, but it's impossible. Right now, my ankle is sprained, and the doctor said that I can't walk on it. I am walking on it anyway, and it does hurt, but hey, life goes on. I'm probably not «injured», maybe just «hurted».

My knees, each time they hurt I just go hiking more and they do fine after. What I understand from that is if my legs muscles are in better shape, my knees get less work to do. Works for me.

 

[Mike P.]

Knees have been pretty good overall, ankles on the other hand have been through a lot

Last break was 11 years ago, too 11 days off a chip fracture, wrapped it, bought bigger boots & did Franocinia Loop. so sore it took 10 hours & at that time I was almost thin & almost in shape.

Don't recommend it for smart people, after a long day hiking it still hurts. X-ray showed it had been broken before, thought they had been sprains.

Right shoulder fatigue from playing 3 VB leagues, two Raquetball leagues & 1 Wallyball league (really there were other reasons behind the divorce )
got me to stop Wallyball & switch one of the Raquetball leagues to C level which I then played lefthanded. Pick up Volleyball I got pretty good serving lefthanded too.

 

[GeorgeFitch]

Hans Kraus

I am currently reading, "Into the Unknown, The Remarkable Life of Hans Kraus" by Susan Schwartz.

This book is a must read for any bodyworker, physical therapist, orthopedic doctor or mountain climber.

Hans was a pioneering rock climber with many first ascents in the Shawangunks. He was also an expert on injuries, pain relief, and was the personal physician to President John F. Kennedy.

One of the things Hans stressed was the importance of exercise to speed recovery from injury and reduce pain.

The book is quite interesting.

 

[Dugan]

As with other medical questions, this is an issue best discussed with your doctor and/or physical therapist.

With that said, I know from rehabbing a couple of injuries with the help of a therapist that I tend to push harder than the average patient. I'm also careful to keep within what I believe are reasonable bounds for myself.

I agree with those that have said it before, the more fit you are going in, the more quickly you'll heal.

 

[JohnL]

I too am not an advocate of working through the pain. But you have to be able to ascertain what is pain and what is discomfort. There is a fine line but there definitely is a difference. Working through pain can damage you but working through discomfort will merely inconvenience you.

JohnL

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I too am not an advocate of working through the pain. But you have to be able to ascertain what is pain and what is discomfort. There is a fine line but there definitely is a difference. Working through pain can damage you but working through discomfort will merely inconvenience you.

JohnL

I agree with this approach. I often hike with minor aches and pains, and nearly always they subside or get no worse during the hike. It's when they get worse or persist for an unusual period of time that I back off. I have no desire for joint replacements.

 

[focusonbalance]

Hey, I didn't know you injured your knee on Carrigain , sorry to hear it.
When I was young and foolish I pushed through knee pain and got myself some serious trouble for it. Ended up blowing my knees out because I was stubborn. My philosophy now is that if the knees hurt badly ie. trauma, then wrap, ice, drug and lay off until the boo boo repairs. I would keep it supported to prevent more injury and keep it feeling stronger but don't lull yourself into doing too much because of the false sense of support.
All my opinion but I have suffered many years of knee problems to know not to mess with them anymore. I would rather be patient and miss a little time out there than have to endure nasty pain and then miss more time later on. Good luck to ya. I think Bob kicked you when we weren't looking.

Steph

 

[trailbiscuit]

With wear-and-tear injuries (eg tendonitis, chondromalacia patella), pushing on them frequently means that you just get to enjoy them that much longer...

This might end up being my epitaph. So, don't take any advice from me in this area.
That being said, I think it totally depends on the extent of the injury and how often it reoccurs (constantly if it's my IT band). Get a pro to check you out. Do it yourself is fine for light construction, but I wouldn't want to shop at Body Depot. "You can heal. We can help."

 

[una_dogger]

Itb

My approach has been to nurse injuries and use PT to keep compensatory injuries at bay.
If I stopped hiking and biking because if my knees I'd have quit long ago, some of us just have drive and heart but less than perfect structure.
My knees will always cause me discomfort, but keeping other parts of me (ITB in particular) in good repair through stretching,icing and PT deep tissue massage when needed; will hopefully keep my hips going forever.
Sabrina

 

[Jasonst]

Depends on the kind of injury.

With wear-and-tear injuries (eg tendonitis, chondromalacia patella), pushing on them frequently means that you just get to enjoy them that much longer...

Doug

Ain't that the truth. I have put off dealing with my Chondro... patella problem for several years. Finally broke down after a serious flare up and went to PT. It's done wonders. Can't recommend it enough - with the right Physical therapist, of course. For me, if it's an acute injury then a little rest and it will probably go away. If it's been there for a while, it's time to get it looked at.

J