Good Healthcare Requires Treatment of Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Don't Let Fear Control Your Spine Rehabilitation Therapy

24 June 2019 by Hugh Larson

Successful rehabilitation after a spine injury requires a skilled team of medical professionals. It also requires your cooperation. An injury of the spine comes with serious consequences, so it's only natural that injury victims want to do everything in their power to avoid reinjury or failure. However, when this fear takes over, it can stifle the rehabilitation process. Don't let fear hinder your path to recovery. 

Real World Expectations

A spine injury will forever change your life; there is no question about this reality. Yet, this type of injury does not have to diminish your view on life. However, it's critical you have a real-world expectation about your life going forward. Depending on the severity of your injury, your rehabilitation regimen might involve a combination of muscle and flexibility training to help return you to the same level of motion you had pre-injury, or it might involve techniques that help you learn how to maneuver given your new limitations. 

It's essential you know what the goal of your rehabilitation program is so that you can have real-world expectations and minimize the fear of failure. 

Progress Tracking

There is something to be said when a person knows they are doing better, which is why it's so important to record your progress. A large part of a fear of failure or re-injury is a concern that you are not doing what you're supposed to. However, when you record your progress, you are offered a visual representation of the advancements that you've made during the rehabilitation process. 

For example, range of motion exercises, such as shoulder abductions, are common in many rehabilitation regimens. Tracking your progress on these exercises so that you can look back and see how many more of these exercises you're able to complete over time can minimize your fears that you're not advancing. 

Emotionally Neutral Support

Some rehabilitation programs encourage the support of family members during the process. The support of family is an excellent motivating tool and can be helpful if your recovery program involves at-home therapy. However, to keep your fears at bay, ask your family to be emotionally neutral during the process. For example, consider a family member that is always scared every time you move that you will hurt yourself. 

This type of reaction will wear off on you and also make you feel concerned. Let your loved ones know that you are just as concerned, but that you'd rather they keep their feelings inside than to be overly emotionally reactionary to keep from upsetting you further. 

If you have concerns about your rehabilitation process, don't hesitate to speak up to your medical team. Whether it's further clarification about what to expect or specific information about your reinjury risk, these professionals can calm your fears. 

For more information, contact a local clinic like Florida Pain Center. 

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