Why Some People Heal More Quickly and Completely Than Others

There are four factors that determine how quickly and completely a person heals from injury and pain. They are, in no particular order:

1. Genetic tendencies.

2. Nutritional status.

3. Exercise status.

4. The amount of stress the person is feeling relative to the condition itself.

Genetic tendencies are a minor factor in the healing process and can be easily offset by the other factors on this list. However, there are some people who have a genetic tendency toward inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or arthritis. Others may have a susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The presence of any of these conditions will make healing more of a challenge.

Nutrition has an effect on the tendency to develop pain conditions and also effects how quickly and completely a person heals. If a person with chronic pain has a diet that is high in refined sugar and flour and processed foods, then there is likely to be chronic inflammation inside the body. It is also likely that this person does not have an adequate intake of healthy nutrition. The result is that the body is overwhelmed with high calorie "food" that has very little nutritional value while lacking in adequate amounts of the proper nutrients. Healing is a dynamic process and requires certain nutrients in order to have it occur efficiently.

A person who is used to exercise has an easier time participating in the physical rehabilitation required for healing to occur than someone who isn't used to it. Also, a body that is in good condition because of regular exercise prior to the onset of pain has a better chance of healing.

I have seen people who do everything right in terms of diet and exercise who still have difficulty healing from their pain. The reason, in my opinion, is that they are obsessively focused on the pain itself and think almost constantly about how the pain has effected their lives. They think about all of the activities they used to do but no longer can. They think about worsening pain and disability as they get older. They obsess about the cause of the pain and wish it never happened. There are many more that I have heard people talk about. While all of these reactions are perfectly understandable, the question is do they serve the person's goal of healing and resolving their pain. The answer is a resounding no. In the next blog, I will address this issue and discuss how to mitigate it.