Howdy folks, 

I had a client come through the other day who has been nursing a hamstring issue for over a year now. Over that time she's been to me a few times, seen at least a couple of physical therapists regularly, tried working it out, tried resting it out, and nothing has solved it.  The last time I saw her she mentioned that another professional had told her that a steroid shot might well fix it quickly and efficiently.  She was thinking she might do that, but was still reluctant.  She said she would rather work it out naturally.  

I understand that.  After years of trouble with insomnia, I have finally gotten to the point where I will occasionally take a Benadryl.   Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but I don't want to take anything stronger or more regularly.  I'm hoping someday me and my body will work it out.    

So the question is: is there any reason to avoid the quick medical fix?  Are we just being stubborn?  If there is a reason, when is enough enough? 

Probably part of the answer is yes, we are a bit stubborn.  If we think we live in an over-medicated society, then it takes some effort to resist, and sometimes that effort might make us hold out beyond reasonable logic.  But why hold out at all against something that will allow us to be comfortable again?

I think the answer is the question itself.  If we weren’t having trouble we would miss out on asking all these questions.   Nothing generates self-reflection quite like discomfort, and nothing generates knowledge quite like self-reflection.  When you pull a hamstring, you become aware of the connections in your leg in a way you never did before.  In all of your motions, the injury is going to be sending you all sorts of signals, sometimes in very loud tones.  If you pay attention to it, the injury can teach you all kinds of things about the way your leg and hip muscles interact, and so on.  Neither me,  or your doctor, or your physical therapist, or even that amazing guy in Tribeca that invented the Golden Chakra Hoola-Hoops will ever get  anywhere near the same feedback about your body that you can get yourself.  That information may in time lead you to the creative tools you need to solve your own problem.  In any case, the awareness you develop will stick with you after the injury is healed.  And the process will give you philosophical insight that will carry through all aspects of your life.   

As for when enough is enough, I have no idea.  Sometimes it just is.  So if you decide you've gotten about all the information you care to get from that particular problem, don't worry about it.  No doubt another learning opportunity will show up soon enough.

Have a good month.

cam 

Cameron Aiken

www.cameronaiken.com