The following includes general information on the stages and progression of healing after injury or trauma.  Please keep in mind that this is just a guide and general description for the normal healing process.

The time frames listed here apply to the average individual, however may differ for your particular case.  General health, activity level, and the severity of the injury all influence your rate of healing. 

For instance, individuals of younger age, better physical shape, and/or individuals with no other co-morbidities or medical conditions will likely heal at a much faster rate when compared to individuals of older age, poor physical shape and body composition, that are smokers, and/or those that have additional medical conditions such as (but not limited to) high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.  

Secondly, a lower grade injury will likely heal at a faster rate than a higher grade injury.  If you have sustained an injury, please be sure to consult with a licensed healthcare provider that can help individualize your rehabilitation program. 

If surgery was performed, the surgeon will be able to provide more specific information and details regarding expected time frames for healing and return to activity.  Make sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully. 

Phase 1: Acute phase

The acute phase begins immediately after the injury or surgery.  The purpose of this phase is to protect the nerve and avoid placing additional stress onto the nerve.

Splinting, bracing, and immobilization may potentially be required to maximize protection.  This is not common unless there was a severe injury or if surgery was performed.

Certain movements may be permitted, and even beneficial, depending on the extent of the injury and if surgery was performed. 

Specific information regarding appropriate and inappropriate movement will be provided by your licensed healthcare provider.

Convergent Movement and Performance performs a thorough assessment on each individual to determine whether and which specific movements, positions, and postures increase nerve stress and which decrease nerve stress.

This will allow for specific instructions and a detailed home program on exactly which movements to perform and which to avoid. 

Phase 2: Recovery phase

The recovery phase begins when the muscle that is supplied by the nerve is able to contract, and sensation controlled by that nerve has begun to be experienced again.

This phase continues to focus on avoiding movements, positions, and postures that increase excessive nerve stress while continuously performing the movements, positions, and postures that decrease nerve stress. 

Once deemed appropriate by your healthcare provider, gentle movement of the nerve will be introduced.

At Convergent Movement and Performance, we begin by utilizing hands-on manual therapy techniques to glide, or “floss” your nerve in a specialized manner that promotes movement, blood flow, nutrition, and healing to the nerve without stretching or increasing stress.  As the nerve continues to heel and is prepared for increased stress, the gliding techniques will gradually incorporate mild and non-harmful forms of stretching/tensioning to promote mobility of the nerve. 

It is normal and not harmful to reproduce some discomfort while performing activities that gently stress the nerve, however there must not be any lasting or lingering pain afterwards.  It is important to self-assess your pain 2 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after the symptom-reproducing activity.  There should be no lingering symptoms at those points.

If lingering pain did result, than the stress was too great; but not necessarily damaging so please do not be frightened.

It would be appropriate to return to activities performed in the acute stage until these increased lingering symptoms subside.

In addition, there will be a significant emphasis on re-training functional movement patterns in a way that minimize stress onto the nerve.  Specific activities will be introduced that focus on gradually retraining the muscles supplied by the nerve, as well as re-establishing normal sensation within the region supplied by that nerve.

Phase 3: Return to Function phase

The return to function phase begins when normal sensation and strength has returned, and pain has stabilized and is no longer limiting your ability to perform daily activity.  Focus will be placed on optimizing mobility, strength, and sensation.

Fitness, sporting, and other physical and recreational activity will begin to be re-introduced in this phase, with emphasis on maintaining the most optimal technique and movement patterning during activity in order to maintain nerve health.