My Journey with Pain and Physical Therapy

Experiencing a recurring injury and recovering from surgery has profoundly influenced how I work with people. I understand the frustration of being unable to do what you love or perform at your best.

Getting Injured

My elbow pain began intermittently in middle school, especially when throwing. I followed the usual treatments: short rest periods and physical therapy focused on strengthening my elbow. While this helped temporarily, the pain always returned.

During my freshman year of college baseball, I felt a pop in my elbow while playing catch, followed by significant pain. The guy next to me even heard it. Though the pain subsided after a few days, tests indicated a partial ligament tear.

Normal movements were fine, and I could work out, but throwing was painful and felt wrong. After months of daily rehab and gradually resuming throwing, things seemed to improve. However, nearing the end of my throwing program, I felt another pop and knew something was seriously wrong.

Surgery

I underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the torn ligament during the offseason, beginning a 9-12 month recovery process. This meant missing my second college baseball season, which was a huge disappointment.

Recovery

The rehab process was long and tedious, particularly during the first 3-4 months. I spent every day in the training room working on mobility and shoulder strength. Around 3-4 months post-surgery, I started throwing a ball again, slowly building up over the next six months.

Recovery had many ups and downs. Some days felt great, while others were discouraging and painful. Doubts crept in about whether I would ever be the same or if the surgery was successful. Even with my background in Athletic Training and understanding of the rehab process, setbacks were still scary.

Once I resumed playing, the pain diminished, but throwing didn’t feel right. Almost exactly two years after surgery, I made a throw during a game that felt normal again. That was a pivotal moment when I stopped worrying about my elbow with each throw.

Rehabilitation is a long journey with many challenges. Sticking to the process and making small adjustments is key. Returning to high performance differs from merely recovering from an injury.

My Passion for Helping People Return to Performance

This experience shaped how I assist people in Lake Country in returning to their favorite activities. Despite playing on a college team, I lacked direction post-surgery. There was little focus on how everything worked together or what to do after “passing” the return-to-throwing protocol.

At Resilience RX, we consider the entire body and the whole person. Creating a comprehensive physical therapy plan allows for necessary adjustments while keeping our goals in sight.

Physical Therapy in Lake Country

If you’re dealing with an injury or recovering from surgery and aren’t performing as you should, reach out! We understand the process and love helping others develop a plan to get back to where they want to be.