There are some conditions that do require a no pain, no gain attitude. But it’s true that many more times this type of approach causes more harm than good. Your rehab specialist will always let you know what works best for the type of problem you’re dealing with.
Unhealthy high-level activity may actually backfire and delay your recovery. The best results seem to come for patients who maintain a steady pace. They don’t go full speed ahead until exhausted and end up in even more pain. If you do this, then need long period of time to recover, your overall progress will be delayed.
A steady state of activity is better than extreme fluctuations. Try to think of replacing the idea of pushing with pacing instead. Focus on going slow and steady.
Work with your therapist to understand how far you can go and how fast. Hold steady to that pace and pay attention to how you feel. Slowing down can actually make it possible to do more with less pain and gain in the long run.