Whether we realize it or not, we have immediate power over certain aspects of our health. Sure, you’re thinking. Tell THAT one to my doctor. Well, your doctor would agree with you. What we eat, how much we sleep, what kinds of stress we’re under, how much we exercise, all of these things are under our control. If we’re looking for better health, then we have to start the process and be willing to take the initiative and make a commitment to taking better care of our body.
Picture this scenario: if you’re suffering from musculoskeletal pain you’ll go to your doctor, and he or she will make a diagnosis. There are usually four options you’ll get from them: therapy, medication, surgery, or a combination of all three. After the initial diagnosis your doctor will become more of an evaluator, checking up on your progress and deciding whether the treatment should be increased, changed, or stopped.
After you’ve been in treatment for a while, however, the doctor’s assessment of your recovery may not match your own assessment of how you’re doing. They may feel you’ve made improvements, and you may feel that you’re still living in pain and haven’t progressed that much. This is where you and your doctor may hit a crossroads. Although you may not feel like you have control in what happens, you do. You can decide to continue treatment, or to try something new. Your doctor may provide you with new medications, and you must decide whether or not to take them.
Although many people put medications at the top of their list for treatment, much of the time, especially with musculoskeletal pain, it’s not necessary. Medicines are used to control pain, not treat it. If you make the effort with a qualified professional to find the root cause of your pain, many times it can be found and the pain eliminated without you having to jump on the prescription drug bandwagon.
Latching onto the idea that you’re the head coach of your team (your body), can create significant, empowering changes. You’re in charge, and as long as you have a dedicated support staff, which consists of your doctors, therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and so on, you can really start down a road towards better health.
After all, no one knows your body better than you do, right? So it makes sense that you should be in charge of what happens to it. Listen to your support team’s advice, but remember that you’re in charge of the final outcome. It’s your job to manage all of this information, put forth the effort, and win the game against pain.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Anthony Carey, M.A., CSCS
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