Becoming Pain Free is a Process

Egoscue is a process, we all know this… but do we REALLY know it?  We always remind our clients that the onset of pain is rarely instantaneous, and therefore the path to becoming pain free will take time.

Although I discuss the fact that it takes time to become pain free with the majority of our clients, I am completely guilty of having those moments of frustration where I just want a quick fix.  These moments tend to sound something like this:

Me: DAAAAAAAAAVID
David:  Yes?
Me: My hip/knee hurts.
David: Did you do your menu today?

From here, we have two possible scenarios…

Scenario #1

Me: Yes, and I feel better than before I did it, but there’s still some pain.
David:  How long have you been in pain and how many surgeries have you had?
Me: 13 years and 7 surgeries
David: So, your body has been out of alignment for over a decade and you’re currently experiencing some pain, but nothing like before?
Me: Yes… and the pain lessens when I do my menu.  So I should remember that my body has been through a lot and that it’s not going to get better after doing a menu one time.  And whatever pain I’m experiencing is just a part of the process of my body coming back into alignment?
David: YES!

Scenario #2

Me: No.
David: Why not?
Me: Because I’m frustrated.  Because, logically, I get it- my body has been “messed up” for years now and it’s silly for me to think that my body is magically going to be fixed this instant, but I am so sick of being broken and having to do menus everyday…
David: But you aren’t broken and the menus help.  What can you do now, that you couldn’t do a month ago?
Me: I can do lunges the length of the clinic.
David: Right.  And what can you do that you couldn’t do six months ago?
Me: Go on a six mile walk through the city and not be in any pain- during or after.
David: The fact that you can do these things is showing you that the menus help, not matter how frustrated you feel.  Menus mean change and progress, and you KNOW that.
Me: Right.  I’m going to go do my menu now….

I think we all have those moments where we lose our objectivity about our bodies and pure emotion takes over.  Pain is frustrating, and it would be ridiculous for me to pretend otherwise.  But if you can put your pain into the larger context of your life, you’re more likely to see the progress you are making and remember that becoming pain free is a PROCESS!