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Road to Recovery...
by Kyle Farrick
From as far back as I can remember I’ve excelled at every sport I tried my hand at. Football, basketball, karate, swimming, running and most recently Jiu Jitsu... But there is also something else that has been happening as far back as I can remember and that is; I’ve always been injured.
At age ten I started getting pain here and there like in my ankles and feet but it wasn’t until I was sixteen that the serious pains started. Intense back pains caused me to miss many days of school. I was then diagnosed with something called Scheuermann’s disease, something that would go on to haunt me for more than a decade. The mis-alignment in my spine lead to a host of problems including repetitive sprained ankles, jumpers knee, pulled groin, bulge in my spine, partially dislocated shoulder, just to name a few. Prevention would have been ideal and is always the best. But we are where we are and we can only move forward.
Recovery isn’t an easy fix. It varies from person to person and from injury to injury. There is a lot of information out there and trying to sort through it can really be overwhelming. Here are some of the basics you should know;
When you first get an injury remember RICE. Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. This step is very important and will greatly reduce the length of time of your injury.
Rest
Rest and protect the injured or sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.
Ice
The cold will reduce pain and swelling. Apply an ice or cold pack right away to prevent or minimize swelling. Apply for 10 to 20 minutes, three or more times a day. After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat to the area that hurts. Do not apply ice or heat directly to the skin. Place a towel over the cold or heat pack before applying it to the skin.
Compression
Compress or wrap the injured or sore area with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap), this will help decrease swelling. Don't wrap it too tightly, because this can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to use a wrap for longer than 48 to 72 hours; a more serious problem may be present.
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