Holding Something Deeper November 2025

Can you circle where it hurts?

Ever have days when you could circle the entire picture? Achy shoulders, jaw aching, headache, hips aching, calves sore.

Why?

Is something “off?”

I spent a lot of the beginning of my career seeking clear answers. Was something off, was one muscle that is very weak throwing everything out of whack?

Wanna know how my experience was?

Exhausting.

The longer I do this work, the clearer it becomes: the answers are almost always more complex than “a pelvis slipped up,” “just stress,” or “one very tight muscle.”

I have a little tender story to share. If you are already feeling tender you are absolutely more than welcome to skip onto the next section.

Many of you know I lost my mother when I was young almost 13. In early December. And every year around every Thanksgiving, I find myself a little perplexed, suddenly achy. Pain all over. Tired. The anniversary is coming 💡. I may not even put the pieces together until my head starts hurting and my rib feels like it is sticking right into my flowy sweater.

I am someone with chronic pain. It started around the time I graduated from PT school (maybe sooner but I was too busy to notice). In the beginning it kind of catapulted me to find an answer, complex or simple. It got me thinking about was my rib “out” was my hip driving my back pain (its always been clicky), maybe my gait was off, maybe maybe maybe…

I tried all sorts of exercises I was giving my patients. I learned all sorts of tricks to help me get my rib back “in.” Everything I did helped just a little. Even now I sometimes crave an easy fix, it really can be such a bugger.

Wanna know when it started really feeling better? When I said out loud to someone- “I am really sad my mom died.” 17 years later. Excuse me, but what a messy feeling after learning all the ways I can help people, physically.

I can’t say you only have to utter some magic words to make your pain go away, and I also won’t tell you (because it isn’t true) that my pain is gone for good. But in 9–10 years of practice, I can’t think of many clients with long-term pain whose bodies weren’t holding something deeper than a tight muscle.

I’m not your mental-health provider. But I am someone who can help you figure out what your body is asking for—stretching, slowing down, lifting, moving differently, or finding the right provider to join your team. Because nobody with chronic pain wants to hear, “Yep, that’s forever now.”

I think about mine like my little barometer (instead of a punishment). It gets all achy and I get a headache. And next thing I know I am putting my hand on my heart. I might cry a little when I realize it’s almost December. I might nap a little, stretch, or go to the gym. It might not go away completely but it eases. It’s my rib is tapping me on the shoulder saying: “Hey BUDDY you deserve care too.”

I had a patient tell me this “ The only reason anyone screams is when they think they are not heard at a lower level” and I can’t help but think our bodies are the same.

I wonder as we all head into this tender season, what kinds of things is your body whispering? (Or shouting)

And for those of you that I have worked with, I hope I have given you some tools to help you listen.

The information provided on this blog—including text, graphics, images, and other material—is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, physical therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or symptom. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.