The renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld told a great story of how we often have a gap in our knowledge about how the things we do affect us. Let’s say we stub our toe on the leg of the table. Previously we didn’t realize that we had to steer clear of that leg, but now, after this pain, we know we have to.
Imagine if you or your significant other suddenly felt like a lumberjack and thought chopping wood for two hours was a good idea. You start out feeling fine but soon notice a little stiffness or ache on certain movements. By the time you finish, sure enough you are pretty sore and tired and need to sit. Then, after you rest a little and get back up, wham! It hits like an explosion. As soon as you are weight-bearing, you feel excruciating pain from your lower back all the way down to…the floor. What helps? Ice, stretch, drugs, rest, massage, acupuncture, or maybe see a Chiropractor. We deal with these overuse injuries all the time. Make an appointment first, then try the ice for 15 minutes at a time, try some stretches, and maybe some over the counter medication like Ibuprofen or Naproxen.
A visit to the Chiropractor will include a short intake form followed by a thorough consultation about this problem and your health in general. Then a physical examination will determine where the tissues have been injured and what can be done to relieve the pain and stiffness. Chiropractic adjustments reduce the irritation on the nerves and lessen the pain down the leg, also known as sciatica. You will be shown some exercises that can help but pay close attention to which exercises should be done and when. In the future, you may see the benefit of doing a few stretches before starting something you haven’t done in a year, and you may want to limit how long you do this new task. Perhaps 30 minutes is long enough to avoid getting yourself so sore.