Healing takes time. Stages of Tissue Healing are listed below.
Einstein said: “If a young man sits on a hot stove for 3 seconds, it seems like 30 minutes. But if he sits in the moonlight with his girl for 30 minutes, it seems like 3 seconds.”
So it is when you are sick–in pain & discomfort–that 3 hours seems like 3 days.
The road to recovery may seem endless.
But remember, just as the cause of sickness usually doesn’t strike overnight (though the symptoms may), healing doesn’t happen in a day. It takes time.
Video link: check out this video (fantastic electron microscope images at 4 to 6 min mark) of Dr. Warren Hammer offering patient-friendly explanation of the anatomy and physiology of fascia at the Fascial Manipulation workshop in Dallas, Nov, 2011
How much time and effort depends on several factors:
*How severe are the structural dysfunctions that caused the problem?
Naturally the worse they are, the longer it will take to correct them.
*How long have you had them?
As time goes by, not only does the original problem become more firmly entrenched, but more often than not, secondary problems develop.
For instance, when a muscles and joints aren’t moving properly or become “tight or stuck” the body will attempt to balance itself, and may gradually adapt so that one or more dysfunctions develop to compensate. And to make matters worse other areas of the body become weakened.
One will develop improper movement patterns and compensatory reactions throughout the body.
3ish min video explanation of Why Discs hurt. Way to Go Dr. Snell at FixYourOwnBack.com!
3ish min fun animation on how your spine and discs function: Motion is Lotion.
Stages of Tissue Healing
Stage 1-Active Swelling (12-72 hours)- Motion is lost and pain increases
Treatment: Rest & Support of injured area. Ice for swelling, pain, and spasm.
Stage 2-Passive Congestion (begins by 2nd to 4th days)-Fluid trapped in tissues restricts motion, causes pain, & delays healing. Treatment: Continued ice, maybe some heat, controlled motion exercises, Chiropractic adjustments to restore motion, physiotherapy modalities.
Stage 3-Repair (beginning 5 days after injury, scar tissue is made for up to 6 weeks)
Lack of motion causes excess scar tissue in dense patterns disrupting normal function causing: Excess scarring, chronic stiffness, limited ROM (range of motion), poor biomechanics, chronic pain, weak muscles and ligaments, loss of normal sensation, poor soft tissue nutrition, increased risk of re-injury, accelerated degeneration.
Dense Random Scarring of Connective Tissue
Treatment: Restore normal motion, sensation, promote full healing, relieve pain.
Normal Tissue
Stage 4-Remodeling (This often takes 3 to 14 weeks, but may take up to 1 year with severe injury) Treatment: Improve and maintain motion and flexibility, restore & maintain function, reduce chronic pain, reduce risk of re-injury and degeneration.
Interesting article on: Fibroblast cells in Healing
Chiropractic Treatment should be continued throughout the repair stage. It takes longer for tissues to heal & normal function to be restored than it takes for pain relief.
Pain relief is not the only goal.
Treatment Goals
1. Restore Normal motion, function & biomechanics
2. Improve alignment of new connective tissue
3. Prevent shortening of scar tissue & chronic stiffness
4. Restore & maintain flexibility of ligaments and muscles
5. Restore normal muscle tone, coordination, and proprioception
6. Promote quicker, more effective healing
7. Restore & maintain normal sensations
8. Reduce the risk of re-injury and degeneration
Interesting articles on:
Back Pain-Insider Secrets revealed-San Fran Gate 2012
Continuous Passive Motion (CPM)-Motion Assisted Adjusting-Leander Technique
Exercise and Chiropractic-part of the anti aging strategy.
Spinal Rehabilitation and Chiropractic
If you are suffering from: Sports Injuries, Sprains, Strains, Car accident, Herniated Disc, Disc Bulge, Degenerative Disc Disease, Neck pain, Headaches, Low back pain, of just want to feel better and have better life performance– please call our office in Irvine, California- at 949.857.1888 or visit our website at ADJUST2IT to learn more about Functional Fitness Chiropractic, Sports massage, Myofascial Release, Corrective Exercise, Non Surgical Spinal Decompression, Class IV laser, and Functional Nutrition.
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