After injuring yourself, the first thing that you want to do is take care of the problem right away. An injury can be a scary experience and leave you feeling worried about your recovery time. Many people don’t know how to properly manage pain after an injury and they make it worse. However, things don’t have to be this way if you know what you’re doing. These tips should help you manage your pain and get back on your feet.

Listen to Your Doctor

First and foremost, it’s important to take your doctor’s advice whenever you’re dealing with an injury. Your doctor knows what’s best for your body, so make sure you follow his or her instructions to the letter. You should also make sure that you are keeping your doctor updated on how you are feeling. Also, if you’re confused about discharge instructions or have questions about medical procedures or medications, don’t be afraid to ask.

Stay Active

When you injure yourself, your first instinct may be to rest and avoid doing anything. You think this will help you to recover quicker, but in reality, it does the opposite. When you are inactive, you tend to build up lactic acids in your muscles, which can lead to pain. Resting can also slow your bone healing down, meaning you’ll be out of action for even longer. When you feel ready, you might want to try holding light stretches every hour you are awake. You should also avoid sitting in the same position for too long.

Get a Solid Night’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is really important when you’re recovering from an injury. The problem is that when you’re injured, your body goes into “fight or flight.” This is where it releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which make it hard to fall asleep. Luckily, there are things that you can do to mitigate this issue. Make sure that your room is quiet and that you have a dark, relaxing space to sleep in. Schedule a “wind-down time” a few hours before bed when you dim your lights and avoid screen time.

See a Chiropractor

A chiropractor can be a great person to help you when you are injured. Chiropractors are trained to help people with pain management after a range of different injuries, from sports injuries to back pain. Regular sessions can also help you to improve your mobility and even help with your recovery time. A chiropractor will be able to adjust your back, neck, or other joints to help relieve your pain. He or she will also be able to advise you on how to control your pain long-term by recommending exercises and stretches that you can do at home.

While you should be confident in your recovery, keep in mind that it won’t happen overnight. It will likely take you several weeks or even months to heal properly, if not longer. You just need to be patient and consistent with your treatment so that you can get back on track the right way.