Unless protected by divine intervention or complete dumb luck, it’s likely that we will all have to deal with recovery from a physical injury at least once in our lives. I’m not talking about “minor” annoyances like a stubbed toe or a paper cut. But injuries which (at a minimum) place our daily lives on hold for a somewhat short time, or (worse) seriously alter our activities for an extended period.
Sadly, our injuries rarely come while performing a heroic deed (for example, rushing into an abandoned building that’s on fire in order to save some orphaned kittens). The stories are usually prefaced with comments similar to “I knew it was a bad idea but…” or “You are not gonna believe this…” I heard of a guy who tried to hold in a sneeze while he was brushing his teeth in order to not get toothpaste on the mirror and ended up needing major hernia surgery. Regarding my personal experience, let’s just say that beer and roller skating is a bad combination….
As a runner for more than 30 years, I have generally been blessed to avoid the injury bug. But when a broken ankle sidelined me recently…..
…. I had a lot of time to think. And regardless the level of a person’s pre-injury activity, recovery downtime is slow (and frustrating). Below are just one person’s thoughts during this period.
1. Recognize the important things in your life. It’s OK to miss out on activities/events during recovery. For me these include running with my wife and friends, walking the dog, driving a car, going to concerts, or just having a beer (does not mix well with pain meds). When we miss things, it helps us appreciate them.
2. Consider your blessings. We live at a time where medical intervention can remedy many injuries. Had this happened 100 years ago, a person may have become permanently disabled. Also, if you are lucky to have decent health care insurance, an injury and rehab will not likely lead to financial ruin. Hopefully you have friends and family who rally around and support you during a time of need. Do you have blessings? You do.
3. Show gratitude. Opportunities for gratitude are boundless. Recognize them. Say thanks to your employer who told you to take your time returning to work and that your health was important / To your partner who picked up the slack of maintaining the household (all while maintaining a reasonably cheerful attitude) / To whomever has been helpful…
4. Find patience. The desire to get better and resume our normal life is incredibly strong and you will likely become frustrated. Be patient, and find other outlets and opportunities. With a broken ankle, this felt like a time to strengthen my arms. Even writing this essay was an opportunity to try something new. Whatever it is, use this time to be patient about what you can’t do NOW and find things that you CAN DO.
5. Set goals. They can be big (run a marathon within the next 6 months) or small (I will perform my physical therapy exercises as directed). But having firm goals keeps you looking towards a better future.
6. Above all - Stay positive!
As I am still recovering from my injury, I don’t have a tidy wrap-up or summary as to how this all worked for me. But I know with certainty that had I not maintained positivity and simply drowned in a sea of “woe is me”, the road to recovery would have been bumpier and felt even longer.
Brian Messer is an AARP-qualified “athlete” who is beginning to understand that he is not as fast or young as he used to be – which is to be expected after more than 30 years of running. He lives in Minnesota with his wife Daphne (seen below after a half marathon), a rambunctious dog, and a three legged cat. They used to have three kids, but they turned into adults.