Unfortunately, these types of pain are often ignored in the early stages. We kid ourselves with a false hope that the pain will be gone by tomorrow, or the next day, or next week, etc. But the problem with that kind of reaction and decision is that a delay can push the level of pain up a few notches, and suddenly it becomes chronic.
Chronic pain, by the way, is much more difficult to treat. Treating the condition with pain-relief gels or tablets can, of course, ease the current symptoms, but it is important to note that when medication is the sole treatment method, the underlying cause isn’t being addressed. And whilst you are ‘free of pain’, it is tempting to continue conducting the same movements as before. What you may not realise is that the condition could be getting worse, but you won’t know this because the pain is masked by the meds.
At Natural Joki Flow (a holistic health system of treatment), we often treat clients who have left it far too long to seek remedial help for pain, and although treatment is still possible, the advantages of seeking help earlier are as follows:
- Easier to control: Mild pain is usually easier and quicker to treat than severe pain.
- Prevents worsening: Early treatment can stop pain from becoming stronger or long-lasting.
- Better recovery: Managing pain early helps the body heal more smoothly and prevents muscles from tightening or compensating.
- Less stress on the body: Severe pain can affect sleep, mood, and energy — early intervention helps to avoid this.
And once clients have sought treatment, we also suggest that they:
- See a therapist regularly: thisallows progress to be monitored, treatment to be adjusted, and future flare-ups prevented.
- Invest their time on therapist-recommended exercises: Consistently doing the exercises improves strength, flexibility, and stability, speeds recovery, and reduces the chance of pain returning.
- Manage expectations for recovery: Early treatment helps set realistic expectations — while recovery may not be instant, steady progress leads to safer, longer-lasting results.
We are pleased to say that some clients have actually avoided surgery by seeking an early treatment intervention. But, of course, they consulted with their surgeon before taking such an important decision. It is important to add that surgery isn’t the ‘big bad wolf’. It can really help in some cases, but it doesn’t always resolve painful conditions as we might hope.
This may seem like a generalisation, but in our experience of working with male clients, men often delay treatment due to fear or the belief they should “push through” pain. But early treatment avoids unnecessary suffering and shows that taking care of your health is actually a strength.
Overall, early treatment combined with regular therapy, consistent exercises, realistic expectations, and timely care can lead to better outcomes.
It is important to state that at Natural Joki Flow, we treat the whole person — not just the pain — by addressing physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors that affect your well-being. For this reason, we suggest that you contact us in advance to discuss your condition and the treatment options.
Also read Paul Jokinen-Carter’s article Why New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep – and what we could do instead
