We all overdo ourselves from time to time. Maybe we were on vacation and we were hiking and it turned out to be more strenuous than we expected. Maybe we were trying to impress that cute person in the gym and we lifted more than was good for us. Maybe it was just one of those days. Now everything hurts. What do we do?
First, we need to decide if we’re sore or actually injured. If we think we might have an injury, we want to seek qualified medical advice. (I am not a doctor, a physical therapist, or anything like it, so I do not diagnose or prescribe treatment; get real help when needed!)
If we’re just really darn sore, I can make some suggestions that might help. Pain, while useful in keeping us from doing too many dumb things, is not a fun thing to experience.
Take ibuprofen or your favorite OTC pain reliever as appropriate. This is not being wimpy. Pain relief is a good thing. We are nicer when we don’t hurt.
Use ice or heat. Ice is particularly good for anything that feels inflamed or swollen. Heat soothes when things feel tense. Bonus points for heat in the form of a soak in Epsom salts, which will add to the soothing.
Move a little. This one may sound counterintuitive. We got this way from moving too much! But a little gentle movement really will help the body heal by keeping everything from stiffening up.
Rest. Duh. We need to stop doing what made us sore until we feel better. A good night of sleep or two will also help.
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