I’ve been having issues with my left hip so I  started seeing a chiropractor. During my last visit she did some fascia work from my lower hip all the way up to my shoulder on the same side. Fascia is the thin layer of connective tissue that supports the structures of the body. It can help with the functional movement of the body by reducing friction between structures. I have had a lot of body work done throughout my lifetime. I’ve had serious sports injuries and the older I get the more seems to go wrong with my body but the fascia work that she did to me was by far one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. There was not a single moment when I had the sensation that the pain was easing up. It was about five minutes of pure agony until she finally took pity on me and stopped. I was covered in sweat and we had to take several minutes so that my nerves could regulate and go back to normal. As the day went on I could feel a difference in my body and it showed in my walk and in the amount of pain I felt throughout the day. I was experiencing less discomfort and I was able to do more physically without the pain of my actions reminding me that all is not well with my body. 

I had to experience extreme discomfort to get to a place that was healthier and ultimately better for me. I am not done with my treatments and I know the pain will return at some point. My chiropractor can only do so much and there is no silver bullet to maintaining less pain from my daily activities. It’s on me to do the exercises and the stretches that have been prescribed to me so that the next time I have fascia work done it might not hurt as much. There is a part of me that’s absolutely dreading it. But there’s also that part that knows it will ultimately lead to me feeling and doing better. My intellectual side knows that sometimes you have to experience levels of discomfort to heal from injuries and poor habits. As the discomfort dissipates I know that I am on the right track. I just have to keep doing the work.

When I hear people, who hold privileged positions in our society (white people, men, CIS gendered, able-bodied, neurotypical, etc.) talk about the discomfort they felt when something they said or did insulted or harmed another person I will remember the pain of this fascia work. When I misstep and cause harm as a result of my own privileges and lack of knowledge I will remember this fascia work. I will resist the impulse to make excuses or respond with anger and frustration. I will take a deep breath and I will remember that sometimes you have to experience discomfort to get to a better place.