Pain-Free Overview
To be pain free, one must change one’s mindset about pain. The mindset is a practical understanding of what pain is, what it is for, and how to use it. This leads to specific actions that change a life of pain to pain-free, fully functional, and in control. Used correctly, pain is a superpower. Used incorrectly, pain is kryptonite.
The challenge is separating from the old way of thinking, which is not helping you but you are very familiar with. It yields poor results.
OLD WAY:
Pain is bad
Pain is caused by age, genetics, or activity
Routine pain is part of life
Pain should be ignored
Advil and steroids are acceptable to mitigate pain
Medications like Advil and steroids provide short term relief at a price much greater than their benefit and should be avoided whenever possible.
NEW WAY:
- Pain protects you
- When you respond appropriately to pain, it stops
- When you notice pain, take immediate corrective action
- A pain-free life can be achieved through alignment
- You can self align with specific stretches performed twice daily with perfect form
Remember, your journey to a pain-free life is within reach—stay proactive in your self-care! Pain medications and traditional medical interventions cause degeneration, thus, the best way to start transferring over to regenerative medicine is to get out of pain!
TO BE PAIN FREE:
Step One: Professional Pain Treatment
Seek treatment from an osteopath or another qualified bodywork provider.
Step Two: How Much Better Are You?
Keep track of your improvement and how long it lasts after each appointment (e.g., 70% better for 48 hours).
Note: Track any pain or symptom that improved for more than 24 hours after treatment (e.g., headaches, neck pain, lower back pain, numbness, vertigo, and discomfort in the knee, shoulder, foot, ankle, elbow, or hand).
Step Three: Maintain It
To maintain the progress you’ve tracked, self-align twice per day.
Perform stretches twice daily with perfect form to align your pelvis.
These stretches are simple yet precise.
Step Four (if needed): Corrective Action
If you notice any signs they aren’t working, revisit the instructions and focus on perfect form. By maintaining alignment twice daily, you can enjoy life without the burden of pain.
WHAT IF I’M STILL IN PAIN?
These are the four main reasons pain comes back:
Inconsistent Stretching
Ensure you are performing your stretches twice a day. Review your form regularly.
Imperfect Form
While the stretches are simple, they are very precise. Pay close attention to the details, as they are crucial for their effectiveness. If you notice any increase in symptoms, revisit your form immediately.
Recent Physical Injury
If you’ve experienced any physical injury since your last alignment, it’s essential to recognize that many regular activities—like bending, lifting, or even sleeping—can exacerbate misalignment. Often, it’s not the activity itself that causes pain, but rather the existing misalignment that is aggravated by movement.
Upslip of the Pelvis
An upslip occurs when the pelvis is lifted abnormally high at the sacroiliac joints, a common issue affecting many. This misalignment will require additional corrective action beyond our stretches.
