Being injured SUCKS!!!

It is difficult getting injured. Things change a lot more than you expected. When your body goes through something that is unexpected and limiting it takes time to process what has happened. Not only does the initial incident hurt but there is ongoing pain, discomfort, weakness, instability and just a nagging feeling for “not feeling right”. Things become more tiring and if it persists it can really start TO PLAY WITH YOUR MIND. The amount of processing, understanding and patience that is needed for recovery can be overwhelming.

It’s kind of like you are going through a grief like process.  We have all heard of these 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. But I don’t think that we ever think that these stages can be applied to something like injury.

I’m sure you have gone through something like this. You were doing something like playing a sport or walking your dog or just an everyday task and then you slip, and something happens to your ankle. The first thing that comes to mind is to deny the issue. Oh, it’s nothing just a little roll, nothing to worry about, I can still go on and continue what I’m doing. You try to brush it off but then you notice that with every step there is pain, and you then you notice that you can’t move around the same without feeling something and it does not feel good. You continue to try to walk it off and go on with your day like nothing is wrong, but you can’t. Then you start to get angry. You start thinking and searching for reasons why? Why that foolish player get in my way? or why are there always so many hidden holes in the grass? or why doesn’t the city fix these cracks in the sidewalk? or why did I wear these stupid shoes? Then the reasons just make you feel angry. Trying to find someone or something to blame and your tolerance, patience and understanding drops. Now you feel bad inside and out.

You begin to search for a way to take control of the situation. You decide that if you do something it should make the pain better. So, you jump on your phone to search for home remedies. Maybe the tried-and-true ice will work. Put a little ice on it and it will be better and back to normal or it’s nothing that a little heat and Advil can’t fix. And before you know it, the negotiation begins. Prayers start, all the tinctures are out, and you’ve searched all the possible outcomes. At this point you might even call a doctor or Physiotherapist.

This next part kind of sneaks up on you. That gloom that just starts to hang around, a feeling that nothing will make it get better. That weight you start to feel because you feel bad about not being able to do things because something is off. It feels like any little thing just sets off the pain. You try to do the minimum amount of things you normally do and then the pain comes on and you immediately feel bad. Uncertainty sets in. Not sure what to call it, you feel low, grumpy, tired and over it.  Depression is looming because you feel stuck and like there is no change or way out.

The last stage is Acceptance. Hopefully you all have managed to reach the final stage. But honestly, many don’t. Acceptance is tricky. Can you accept being injured? Can you accept that it may or may not be painful? Can you accept that it is a process? Can you accept that it may affect you physically and emotionally? Can you accept that your recovery might not be what you expected? Can you accept that it may change your life? Can you accept that you may need help?

1. Check in with your health care professionals

2. Health Connect Ontario

3. Injury recovery or support groups