You are not a Hero if you play or work through pain...you are just dumb

It is a theme:  "It doesn't hurt that much..."  "I can play through this..." 

We see it in the media with professional athletes.  Scoring the winning goal in the Stanley Cup with a broken foot, or getting knocked out, and 3 plays later catching a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.

We see these people as Heros!  We want to emulate them.  If someone can play hurt, then why shouldn't I be able to go to work even though I can't lift my right arm over my head?

Here is a better question:  Why not find out what the problem is, and deal with it?  Why not get the treatment it need and get better before you return to work and/or play?

I have seen the shift in sport over the last decade.  With the implementation of concussion protocols in professional and amateur leagues, the increased reliance on medical staff with decisions relating to return to sport, and advancements in technology to help with a proper diagnosis, people are starting to realize that injuries are serious and should be taken seriously.

"No pain, no gain" was from the 1980's.  That doesn't hold up anymore.  If it hurts, if you can't do the things that you need to do for work or sport, get it taken care of and don't return until you are recovered.  

Choose the Blue Pill and continue on with your blissful ignorance, or Choose the Red Pill and find out how far down the Rabbit Hole you will really go???

"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." (Morpheus speaking to Neo in the Matrix movie)

One of my favorite lines from the movie "the Matrix" where Neo has the choice to return to his "normal" life, or to find out what "the truth" really is.

As I see advertisement after advertisement for a variety of pain medications, gels and creams claiming to stop pain and allow you to return to your regular activities, it makes me wonder how many of us would choose to ignore the actual cause of the pain/problem.

I, for one, have always been curious about the truth behind what pain generators are, how poor mechanics and movements can be a cause or influence pain, and why we experience pain.  It is one of the reasons I went through all the education I did.  I am finding "how deep the Rabbit Hole goes" as I am always learning something new.  The more I work on good functional movement, the more I realize that I have a lot to learn.  I realize that I have colleagues and mentors that know a lot more than I do, and they are always learning something new. 

So it makes me wonder...what would you do?  Would you rather treat symptoms with pills, creams and gels while you go on with your life?  Or would you like to find out what the real causes of your symptoms are.  If you choose the later, realize that it may require some of your time and patience.  It may require you to get some treatment to help alleviate symptoms.  It may require you to spend some time to do rehabilitation, exercises, or to put some effort towards being healthier.  It may require effort on your part, but I can assure you that it will benefit you. 

So what would you choose, the Blue Pill? Or the Red Pill???