Acute pain is generally caused by infection, soft tissue damage and/or inflammation. Commonly treated with short-term analgesics, acute pain serves as the initial signal of a malfunction or injury in the body. Failure to treat acute pain correctly can ultimately lead to chronic pain. The inflammatory response is the body’s natural response that occurs immediately following tissue damage. Its main functions are to defend the body against harmful substances, dispose of dead or dying tissue and to promote the renewal of normal tissue.
During a state of injury, healing tissue requires an increased number of macro and micronutrients. Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are critically important in wound healing and immune function. They enable the body to maintain a positive state of repair, which is needed to create a positive internal environment needed for recovery. A positive environment for recovery requires: vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C, D, E and K, as well as several minerals. Many trace metals, including Zinc, Magnesium, Copper, Sodium, Potassium, Iron, Selenium, Manganese and Calcium are cofactors in collagen production, and deficiencies impair collagen synthesis and therefore healing.
Particular vitamins and minerals will chemically assist in enhancing the healing of an injury, while their deficiency will hinder it. Vitamin A, when deficient, will negatively impact the state of healing by impairing the physiological process to repair damaged tissue. In general, the B vitamins will stimulate neural tissue responses required for re-educating muscles and movement patterns during rehabilitation. Many B vitamins are also involved in metabolizing other vitamins and minerals needed to assist in the repair phases. Additionally, most B vitamins are used for energy production and metabolism of macronutrients. (Protein, Carbs and Fats).
Vitamin C is a major contributor to tissue healing, as it is involved in the formation of Collagen, Elastin, and Neurotransmitters. As previously mentioned regarding vitamin A, vitamin C deficiency will also slow the tissue maturation, delaying healing. In instances where soft tissue healing isn’t the only concern to rapid recovery, vitamin D works to increase absorption of nutrients and co-factors needed for general bone health. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects neurologically stable tissues, delaying fatigue and muscle weakness. Lastly, vitamin K controls bleeding and initiates proteins required for bone and muscle health.
While micronutrients are important, tissue healing requires a great amount of macronutrients: proteins, carbohydrates and fats, particularly proteins, to aide in the rebuilding of damaged tissues. These macronutrients require micronutrients and their co-products to chemically enable tissue to break down and rebuild rapidly. In most aspects of recovery, it is important to not only include these nutrients in supplementation form, but also consume them via natural food products such as meats, fruits and vegetables to promote recovery.
During this time frame it is important to maintain a healthy diet, limiting fatty fast food and food without nutrient value.