Getting Over It: Physical, Psychological and Financial Recovery From Injuries
Let’s face it. None of us are getting any younger. In our youth our attitude to injury is tempered with the unknowing bravado of any young man. We assume that it won’t happen to us because our bodies are fit, healthy and supple. They can take any hit that life dishes out.
Any you know what? It may be true.
But as we get older we find ourselves placed by our work, our commute, our DIY, our sporting activities or our family commitments in more and more hazardous situations. Not only do we court injury more frequently, but as the years go by our bodies become less equipped to just shrug off sprains, knocks and the like.
Moreover, the older we get the more responsibility we take upon our shoulders. A week off work to nurse a torn shoulder ligament may be no skin off our nose as a teenager in the sheltered confines of the parental home, but for a forty year old father of two the consequences could be severe.
Whatever injuries we sustain in life, their causes are more than likely out of our control (assuming we take the usual health and safety precautions at work, in the gym etc.). What we can control, however, is how we recover from these knocks physically, psychologically and, indeed financially.
The Physical Impact
Last year, when doing some deadlifts, I felt a slight twinge in my hip. Little did I know that this would devolve into a nearly crippling muscular injury that would cause me acute pain and render me virtually unable to walk for nearly six months. My boss had to make special concessions for me at work, I gained weight as my lifestyle became more sedentary and a laundry list of stalled DIY projects were left in limbo until I recovered.
Inertia is not good for busy Dads. We’re used to striding around the park with our kids on our shoulders, wrenching open stuck windows, saturday morning kickabouts with sons and galloping around as the trusty steed for our little princesses.
Not only do we have to endure the pain, discomfort and immobility of injury, but the psychological damage too.
The Psychological Impact
I’m just going to say it. Injury can be castrating. The role of an active father is inherently physical and when we’re injured it can lead to feelings of inadequacy, impotence and frustration at our inability to carry out our fatherly duties. Furthermore, there’s evidence that fatherhood changes our psychological makeup and when we’re unable to do the physical activities demanded of our role as a parent it can lead to terrible issues with identity and self-image.
If we’re athletic by nature then injury can be even more damaging. Many of us downplay or deny the impact of our injuries, even to ourselves. Many of us refuse to accept the reality of our injuries because of male pride or unrealistic expectations of ourselves. Of course, in our heads we’re all still 18 years old so it can be jarring when injury gives us a stark reminder of our own fragility and mortality.
If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence at work, dangerous driving then this can lead to intense feelings of anger and resentment.
The Good News…
While there’s no denying the physical and psychological impact that injury can have on busy Dads, the good news is that there are steps you can take to aid the healing process.
Physical Recovery
Firstly, there’s absolutely no substitute for liaising with a qualified physiotherapist and if you’ve injured your back for heaven’s sake see a chiropractor or an osteopath. Whatever the cause of your injury you should seek medical advice straight away however much your male pride may want you to “give it a week and see how you get on”. If you can’t get medical help straight away then it’s a good idea (at least in the case of muscle injuries) to take some anti-inflammatories and apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling. Later you can apply a heat pack or hot water bottle to make the muscles more pliant and reduce seizing.
You can also aid your recovery with the foods you eat. Foods rich in protein and potassium (the normal recovery foods you should be consuming after a good workout) will help with muscle repair while whole grains and omega 3 fatty acids will help reduce inflammation. Vitamin C and zinc are important for collagen protection and to shore up blood vessels.
Psychological / Emotional Recovery
The best way to aid your psychological recovery depends on the circumstances of your injury. If , for example, you are recovering from whiplash as the result of someone else’s negligent driving then there’s a good chance that you’ll be mired in feelings of anger and resentment and seeking some form of retribution. Getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer may help to channel these feelings productively. You can ask them pertinent questions like “How long does it take to get compensation for whiplash” or “What sort of award can I expect”. This will help you to get a feeling of a light at the end of a tunnel which will be especially helpful if your missed time off work will not be paid for by your employer.
If your injuries are likely to be either long-term or life-changing, you may be concerned about your long-term care needs and how you will successfully access the services that you need. Navigating your way through the complexities of injury compensation and proving that you require additional support as a result of your injuries can be both challenging and overwhelming. Contacting a case management service is an effective way to get help with these issues and access the rehabilitation services that you need to help you rebuild your life.
We’ve already discussed the impact that injury can have on your identity and self-esteem and while housebound it’s important to avoid the temptation of slobbing around in your pyjamas. You should dress, wash and present yourself as you would if you were going to work (if a bit more comfortably). Dressing smartly will not only help you feel better about yourself but it will subliminally lessen the psychological effects of change.
You should also try to involve yourself in a project that you can commit to from your armchair or sofa. Better yet, involve the kids too! This will not only give your restless mind something to focus on but it will restore your sense of physical potency and allow you opportunities to bond meaningfully with your children, even if you can’t do the usual sorts of activities.
