What Happens When A Physical Therapist Gets Injured?
As many of you know, the road to recovery from an injury is often more of a marathon than a sprint. Although I wish I could wave a magic wand to make you feel better immediately, unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Over the past few months, I’ve been hoping for a magical cure to some foot pain I’ve been dealing with because believe it or not, we physical therapists get injured too! I’ve found myself having to follow all of the advice I frequently share with patients during long rehabilitation journeys, which I’ll admit has been more difficult than I thought. I’ve dealt with impatience and frustration, setbacks and breakthroughs and many other emotions throughout this journey.
Despite having the knowledge about healing, insight on the proper treatment protocol and time to implement it, my rehab process is taking longer than I’d hoped it would. Now, I’m not saying this for anyone to feel sorry for me, but rather to share some advice and words of encouragement for others who may be going through the same thing.
The most difficult part of any rehabilitation journey can be trusting the process, especially when things are not going as planned. In these situations, I like to look at the small improvements we make that can sometimes be more difficult to see. For example, you may still have pain while running; however, you are now able to walk without pain. That may seem insignificant, but it’s a big step in the right direction and something to help ease your mind when you have doubts that you are actually getting better. Setting realistic and achievable short term and long term goals can help you continue your forward momentum and positivity. Breaking down the overarching goal of full recovery into smaller milestones can also do wonders for your mental health. Celebrating these victories, no matter how small, can instill confidence in yourself and help you see the progress you are making.
As you count up your small victories, be sure to understand that every person is different and every body is different. That said, a treatment plan that worked perfectly for your friend in four weeks may not provide you with the same results in the same time frame. As best you can, avoid the comparison game and accept that your program may have to be adapted to best fit your needs. I know it can be tough to be adaptable in regular life, and especially tough when dealing with a long-term recovery from an injury. Injuries can test your mental and emotional resilience, causing you to feel stressed and anxious. Mindfulness, stress management techniques and exercise (in a way that is safe during your recovery) can be tools you can use to help you feel more like yourself, especially in the face of uncertainty.
I’ve personally had to use all of these tools over the past few months as I’ve continually reminded myself to trust the process. I’ve found alternative sources of exercise to keep myself healthy both physically and mentally while I heal. I’ve also shifted my schedule to ensure I can do my physical therapy exercises, get adequate rest and nutrition and keep moving towards my goals.
If you too are dealing with a long-term recovery process, I hope you find some solace in knowing you are not doing it alone. Stick with it, work hard on the things that you can control and accept that there will be a lot that you can’t control. If you need any encouragement feel free to reach out!
Until next time,
Meg
