A friend of mine tore her ACL, and one day we were talking about the injury. “When I found out it was actually torn,” she said, “I just thought to myself, ‘if I died right now, it would be ok, because I have nothing to live for right now.’” It was a joke, and we both laughed, but what she said has always stuck with me. Many people don’t realize how frightening and difficult a serious injury can be. And if you are facing an injury that was the fault of someone else, you might have an even more difficult time coming to grips with it. As you prepare for a personal injury case, follow these steps to physically overcome your injury and get your life back on track.
Physical Recovery
See a Doctor as Soon as Possible
When I was in college, I tore my meniscus, and for some unknown reason, I couldn’t tell that there was something seriously wrong with me. The day after it happened I woke up and found that I could barely walk. I stumbled to class holding back tears. Yet I spent the next six months working out, running, and waitressing on my knee without even thinking of seeing a doctor. Don’t be dumb like me! Go see a doctor as soon as you can. Not only will this speed up your recovery process, but it can also help your personal injury case.
Do the Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is one of the most tedious, painful, boring experiences I’ve ever gone through – but not a day goes by that I am not grateful for doing it. If a doctor prescribes physical therapy for you, make sure that you do it! Yes, you will have physical therapy sessions in which you will work with a trainer, but you should also be doing strengthening exercising every day on your own. This will help you physically recover in the safest, fastest way possible.
Consult a Doctor Before Starting Physical Activity
Make sure that you are ready to begin running, weight lifting, or even working a job that is physically demanding before you do so. Talk to your doctor about your recovery process and what you can handle.
Start With Low Impact Activities
If you have a knee or ankle injury, don’t hit the pavement – start by running on an elliptical or biking. If you have an upper body injury, make sure that you are using low weights if you want to weight lift. If something doesn’t feel right, stop and consult your doctor.
Mental Recovery
Give Yourself Time to Recover Mentally
Oftentimes, it takes longer to recover mentally from an injury than it does to recover physically. In my next article, I will discuss some tips to help you recover from an injury mentally. If you have been injured and you’re trying to get past the injury, use these tips for mental recovery.
Embrace Your Emotions
You might be feeling frustrated, angry, or even depressed due to not only the injury you’ve sustained, but also the way that you were hurt. Recognizing your emotions related to the injury will help you accept and move past them.
Find Positive Outlets for Your Frustration
It is important that you understand your emotions and find a constructive outlet for them. It is natural to be upset and angry, but you can find positive outlets for your frustration, such as writing, talking with friends, or taking up a new hobby. Remember that it is important not to wallow in your negative emotions, but to try to work past them throughout this process.
Accept That You’re Healed
When you’ve gone through surgery or physical therapy, your body might be ready for strenuous physical activity, but your mind might not be. In your head, you might be thinking that you’re not ready. However, once you get the green light from your doctor, you should start trying to get back to your normal routine. Start slowly and stop if something doesn’t feel right, but you should challenge yourself to get back to your normal routine even if you are afraid to.
Face Your Fears
Were you in a terrible car accident, and have found that you are afraid to drive since then? Were you injured while playing a sport, and don’t feel comfortable on the field anymore? These fears are completely natural and to be expected. However, when you are physically ready, you should start getting back to your normal routine. Take things slowly, but start working back to your life before your injury.
Continue Building Strength
One great way to feel mentally ready to get back to your life before your accident is to continue strength building through physical therapy exercises. This will help you feel confident in your strength and endurance and it will help you come back stronger.
Healing from an injury is a complex process. To overcome the physical and mental issues that you might undergo when you’re injured, try to follow these tips.
