Can You Still Stay Active with a Dominant Side Muscle Sprain?

My response is a mix of affirmative and negative. Being a Virgo, I tend to be quite resistant to seeking assistance in various aspects of my life. I first felt the discomfort on Tuesday, September 10th, and simply endured it throughout the day. However, it was only at night when I realized that the pain was more severe as I tried to lie down. Struggling to get up, I had to let out a yelp to rise from the bed. I had to lie on the couch at an angle, and today is September 25 as I am writing this - two weeks later. I had to determine how I injured or strained the muscle or tendon under my breast/back.

Reflecting on the situation, I pondered if I had inadvertently caused the injury by bumping into a wall or by carrying heavy groceries from the store. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I had indeed been to the store. Although I had not believed the weight of the groceries to be significant enough to result in this discomfort, it evidently was. Perhaps I had twisted my body in some way. The unpredictable weather, transitioning from summer to fall, had brought about unusual conditions. One chilly night, I found myself entangled in my comforter, and in my haste to extricate myself, I heard a concerning crunch in my side. Pausing, I realized that the sound was not a good sign – I had exacerbated the injury further.

Afterwards, I decided to search online for the duration of the recovery process, and the results were discouraging, indicating a timeframe of 3-6 weeks. I didn't react dramatically, though. I had some appointments to attend at food banks and wasn't keen on disclosing my injury to anyone, but I did share some snaps of my injury. That's how I update people about my life.

To stay active despite a sprain, it is important to heed your body's signals. You may have to adjust your pace or switch sides to prevent further strain on the injured area. Avoid carrying items on the dominant side and refrain from using the hurt side. For instance, even lifting a tea cup can cause discomfort, so it's best to avoid such activities.

As I enter the third week of recovery, I would rate the pain at a 7 out of 10. I am considering creating a sling to avoid using the injured side. I will return once I have fully healed to provide an update on my progress. We are expecting a family friend to visit in the fourth week, and I am uncertain about how active we will be. I hope to be sufficiently healed by then as she will be using my couch to sleep on, and I want to be able to comfortably lay down in my bed when she arrives.

Until next time,