Wouldn’t it be great to wrap yourself in bubble wrap so that you could never get physically hurt? For those who have experienced a serious injury at some point in their life, this may sound like a desirable option. A bad injury can have lasting consequences, such as missed time at work, an inability to enjoy your favorite activities, and a long recovery period.
Some people, in a rush to return to normalcy, may push beyond their new limits and put themselves in danger of aggravating the injury or getting hurt in another area of their body. Then, the consequences of the original injury are compounded.
The key to getting back to normal is investing in a solid recovery plan. Your body needs time to heal the damaged areas, as well as an extra level of care. Here are a few tips to help you recover from serious injuries.
Rest When Appropriate
Life moves at a fast pace, and the temptation to return to normal routines is strong when you experience a bad injury. However, this pace may be detrimental to your body as it attempts to heal. Rest is going to be important for many injuries so that the body’s response is not interrupted. Cells are being repaired, and they will need all the energy they can get to complete this process. If your doctor tells you to rest and take it easy for a few days, follow their orders and do not push your body beyond what it is capable of handling. This will only increase the chances of a re-injury.
Follow a Specialized Exercise Routine
Often, blunt force injuries require new cells to be created, especially in terms of muscles. While exercise is important for circulation and your heart, it is also crucial for restoring and building muscle. However, if a certain area of your body receives severe damage, you will need to be careful with how you are exercising. Ideally, a physical therapist or doctor has recommended a workout routine to help with your recovery. This regimen is likely to prevent long-term muscle pain and foster the rebuilding of damaged muscles. Follow the routines laid out by healthcare professionals to rebuild and heal your damaged muscles, and be careful not to push your body’s minimized limits for the time being.
Focus on Mental Health as Well
Physical and mental health are inextricably linked. If your mindset is suffering, it could slow down your physical recovery and vice versa. There may be some steps you can take to promote better mental health as you recover from a physical injury. Maybe the injury is service-related, and you are stressed about the financial hardships of your medical care costs. Using a VA disability calculator could help you determine what benefits you are eligible for, which will ease your mind in terms of finances. If you are emotionally traumatized by the incident that caused the injury, it could also help to speak to a therapist about your feelings of fear or isolation. As much as you physically can, try to engage in activities you enjoy, such as reading a book or watching the sunrise. By focusing on mental health, you can improve the body’s recovery rate.
Prioritize Sleep
Resting during the day is important for injury recovery, but so is sleeping well at night. Often, it is difficult to get a good night’s rest when your body is in pain, so you may need to take extra steps to help yourself fall asleep. Avoid drinking too much before bed so you are less likely to wake up and need a bathroom break. Instead of watching TV or looking at your phone before bed, which will trick your brain into staying awake more, read a book to tire out your eyes and mind. Try heading to bed earlier so you have a better chance of getting seven or eight hours each night. The better your sleep patterns, the better your body can recover overnight as it rebuilds and repairs damaged areas.
Balance Your Diet
Another factor in your body’s physical health is nutrient intake. Your cells use nutrients to perform various functions, and when healing is required, they need more resources than ever. An unbalanced diet could be slowing down the recovery process because you are depriving your cells of vital resources that they need to heal. Focus on getting fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and dairy into your diet to ensure nutrient intake is where it needs to be.
Patience is the Key to Injury Recovery
All of these tips can be summarized with one word: patience. You must be patient in your recovery because the body needs time to heal. If you rush it in any way, recovery could be slowed or even reversed due to aggravating the original injury. Following your doctor’s orders about exercising, dieting, and resting may be frustrating, but it is necessary to get back on your feet as soon as possible. Take care of your physical and mental health, rest up, eat a good diet, and prioritize sleep for optimal recovery.