Help! Do I need help?
First, and most importantly, I want you to read this out loud and burn it into your brain:
I am not being dramatic in seeking help.
I am not overreacting in seeking help.
I am not weak in seeking help.
I will advocate for myself.
I only get one body and I will care for as best I can.
Now, obviously things like loss of consciousness or other head injury, severe bleeding or swelling, inability to bear weight, or questionable broken bones etc. need to be seen right away. We can all be in agreement there I think. But, when it comes to seemingly more minor injuries, it can be harder to know what to do. Do I wait it out? Should I seek help now? Keep reading!
Dancers often won’t reach out in a timely manner because they don’t want anyone telling them to stop dancing. I get it! But listen, if you are injured and ignore your symptoms, or hope they’ll just go away, you could create a bigger problem for yourself down the road. That little ankle sprain or tweaked low back from 6 months ago can come back to haunt you if you started even mildly compensating without realizing it. Here are some some general guidelines and maybe not so obvious signs that you need to get evaluated:
Even if it’s starting to feel better, you still have symptoms after 2-3 days.
It doesn’t hurt all day anymore, but it still hurts (even a little bit) during or after class or activity.
It doesn’t hurt anymore, but feels stiff in the morning, or you notice some swelling that may be persistent or fluctuate day to day.
The original pain is gone, but now you’re having discomfort in another body part.
You’re ignoring your symptoms because you don’t have time to deal with an injury.
Ice helps temporarily (But should you even be icing? Please read this).
I will advocate for my profession here. Physical Therapists now have direct access, or limited direct access in most states. This means you do not have to go see a physician first. You do not need a prescription to start physical therapy. PT’s are often easier to get in to see quickly, and can give you a thorough and comprehensive evaluation for musculoskeletal complaints. We are movement experts. Physicians are wonderful and obviously play an important role in keeping you healthy, but PT’s can get you started. We are trained to know when to send you back to your primary physician, and should have no problem doing so if and when necessary. If you have access to someone who specializes in your sport, even better. For you dancers, here’s a great resource for you to find a dance medicine health care professional in your area. Pain when landing a temps levé? No need to explain, we got you.
If you get on top of an injury quickly, you might only need a couple visits and some exercises to do at home for a bit depending on what’s going on. It will save you time and money in the long run if you can be proactive. Get in with your favorite PT or ask around for one ASAP. When in doubt (even just a teeny bit), get checked out. #worthit
To your health,
Dr. Aimee
