Over the past two years we have come to expect a “new normal.” Unfortunately, the “new normal” might have tricked us into thinking that having pain or putting up with discomfort is normal. Recently, I had two friends who have seen up close what they have gotten used to during the past two years. The scary thing is that they did not need to put up with their symptoms. In fact, in one case, the symptoms were actually indicating larger problems. Have you gotten used to compensations, as well?
Friend # 1’s Story
The first story is of a friend who also happens to be a physical therapist. (Yes, I do have friends in the same profession. Not everyone looks at business as a competition). My friend had been in an auto accident several years ago. In that accident, he suffered a strong whiplash force. That caused him to need surgery on his neck. Shortly after the auto accident, he had to have a fusion done.
My friend recovered very well from the fusion surgery. He was able to return to practicing physical therapy without limitations. But as time passed, he began to feel some slight symptoms returning in his arms. For two reasons, he ignored these symptoms. The first reason is that we, as physical therapist, don’t like to think that we can have physical problems. The second reason is that he did not want to consider needing another surgery.
Because of these reasons, he put off having his symptoms checked out by his physician. By the time he finally decided to speak with the doctor, he had weakness in both arms.
There is a big problem with having weakness in your arms that is caused by your neck pain. It is indicating that the nerves are getting a lot of pressure on them. The longer this pressure stays on the nerve, the less likely it is for the nerve to respond normally…even after surgery.
Nerves Are Like Hoses
There is a simple analogy to understand what happens when we have pressure on a nerve. If you think of a nerve like a garden hose you can visualize very well what happens with compression on the nerve. Just like a nerve, the hose works to transmit from one end to the other. The nerve transmits messages for our brain while the hose transmits water from one place to another.
Visualize having the hose laying in your yard with a 2×4 resting across it. After some time of having this two-by-four on the hose, the hose would show a dent in the side. When you remove the two by four you would be able to see the dent. However, after the two by four is removed from the hose, the hose would likely return to its normal shape. This is similar to having a slight compression on a nerve that is quickly removed. In this case, it is unlikely that the nerve will show any permanent deformation.
Now imagine having a cinder block laying on the hose. The cinder block is clearly heavier than the two-by-four and causes a larger dent in the hose. Even after removing the cinder block, the deformation of the hose is obvious. In fact, it is likely that the hose will never return to normal. This is similar to having a stronger compression on the nerve. Like the hose, it is unlikely that the nerve will recover fully from this compression even with surgery.
In my friend’s case, the compression that was causing his weakness was more like the cinder block level of pressure. Even after having another surgery, he is still showing weakness in his arms. He does not know how much strength will return.
Friend # 2’s Story
On another occasion, I had a friend that presented with shoulder pain from swimming. She had not hurt her shoulder while swimming, but rather had taken a fall while running. Since that time though, she was unable to swim without shoulder pain.
While evaluating her, I stepped behind her to watch her raise her arms over head. This allowed me to see how her shoulder blades would move. The only problem was that when I sat behind her, she could not hear my request to raise her arms over head.
At the time, I simply spoke louder.
However, later in the session I noticed that she was having difficulty hearing me ask her to move in other ways as well. It was at this time that I decided I should broach the topic of possible hearing loss.
She did not notice that she was missing some of the words that I was saying. At least, not until I said something about having to repeat myself during the evaluation.
She literally called to have her hearing checked before the her next visit with me. And she found out that she had significant hearing loss that could be improved by using hearing aids.
Her next visit, she thanked me for talking with her about this, even though it had nothing to do with her shoulder pain. She had not even noticed that she had been steadily compensating for her gradual hearing loss.
Two weeks later she had her hearing aids and could not believe what she had been missing in her conversations.
How is Hearing like Movement?
Both the hearing loss and the movement losses cause you to need to compensate. You need to make up for what has been lost.
With hearing, you turn up the volume on phones and TV’s, and ask people to repeat themselves.
With movement, you just figure a way around the pain and keep on going. This is done automatically by your subconscious.
Either way, you figure a way to keep on surviving. These adaptations are truly very basic and designed to help you survive in the world. Imagine if you lived in prehistoric times, when life was as simple as being the predator or the prey.
If you couldn’t hear threats moving toward you while hunting for your food, then it is likely that you would be another animal’s meal. Or perhaps you could hear it, but you couldn’t move quickly because of some injury to get away from the threat. Again, you would be the tender dinner for the predator.
It really is that basic of an instinct for your body to compensate for a loss, especially if it comes on gradually. Your brain would adapt bit-by-bit over time, most likely without your being aware of it.
What Losses Have you Gotten Used To?
The reason that I ask this question and tell you these two stories, is to point out that we all are getting used to something.
You might have started a new workout or just begun a running routine. As it gets easier, you are developing compensations. These are GOOD compensations. These compensations, like losing weight, getting stronger, or getting better aerobic capacity, are exactly why we exercises.
But what about the compensations that we didn’t intend to do?
Like walking up the stairs one step at a time because our knee or hip hurts. Or bending at the waist because we cannot squat because of knee pain.
How about bending your head forward to remove a t-shirt because you can’t get your arms overhead?
All of these are valid compensations to keep you surviving. But let’s face it, we are not often hunting and gathering/foraging for food in the wilderness.
We don’t want to simply survive, but rather, we usually want to thrive.
Get Back to Thriving
So don’t just ignore your pain and movement problems. Often, you can improve these without a lot of inconvenience in your daily life. All it takes is a little knowledge on what to do. Having someone help you determine the next best step can go a long way to getting you back to thriving much more quickly.
If you’re like me, you can Google search with the best of them…but then do nothing with what you learn because of “analysis paralysis.” There is just too much information to sift through to know what is the “right” thing to do.
Don’t go it alone.
Surviving is not the only option…Surviving means simply remaining alive.
Thriving means you can go on flourishing…doing the things you love.
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4 Responses
Hello, Scott ! Love your posts ! You can’t just skim and quickly read them because they are full of anecdotes with comparisons, analyses and solutions to problems whose details I don’t want to miss. Yes, there are a few things I no longer do, ie. cart wheels or racing through physical activities. Your post does point out that pain is a sign something isn’t right and needs a remedy….a stitch in time save nine philosophy. With each passing decade, dedication to endurance and agility (keeping up with the grandchildren) seem to be even more a priority. Guess I better kick up my dedication so that the cinder block scenario doesn’t become mine. Thanks for the reminder !!
Thanks for reading, Carol! Glad to hear that you are going with the long view. Endurance and agility will keep you moving with the grand kiddies!
Hi Scott,
Thanks for sending- I always enjoy. I like to think I’m thriving not just surviving!
Hope your doing well! Please keep me in mind if you hear any developments on CMT drugs! Take care
Jodi Connolly
Hi Scott,
Thanks for sending- I always enjoy. I like to think I’m thriving not just surviving!
Hope your doing well! Please keep me in mind if you hear any developments on CMT drugs! Take care
Jodi Connolly