This is a big dance injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An awkward landing following by gut-wrenching pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe it’s when after hoping that those weeks\/months of pain will eventually go away, it
hasn’t. Or the time when your medical provider examines you with that look on their face or hands you a box of tissue before explaining your MRI report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Either a long time off the dance floor, surgery, or both are in your immediate future.
At this time, your mind is probably turning non-stop pirouettes. You probably aren’t thinking about school, sleep, mobility, pain, food and mood. You should be, if you want to take some of the pain out of your injury recovery. In fact, if you are a dancer with a major injury, one should not schedule surgery or commit to a major rehab program without reading and sharing the information in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s start with the “pre-op” evaluation (also applies to the “post-injury” evaluation
Back in medical school, there was this. basic “pre-operative physical” format. Prepare
patients by reviewing medications, looking for any illnesses that could affect surgery or
anesthesia, and getting important lab work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For most otherwise healthy dancers, there is a better pre-op or post-injury evaluation.
Yes, we need to review that past medical and medication stuff, but to really make those
upcoming weeks easier, we need to share some key tips. For most of these, you can thank your fellow performers who had misfortune of getting hurt before you. They have been my teachers with many “wish I would have known” moments. Thanks to them, we are all better prepared to handle injuries and surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n