“Before my injury I was a soccer player. Now, because of my injury, I’m an athlete.” ~KK, professional soccer player …and human being who brilliantly copes with chronic injury I’ve been injured since November 2010–so, nearly a decade–but who’s counting? I’m not. With more than a few setbacks and bonus surgeries along the way, I’ve […]

Does this sound like you? Fueled by Vitamin I (ibuprofen), you go for a run despite nagging pain. You’ve adopted a regimen of ice and more Vitamin I post-run. Eventually, nothing eases the pain, so you rest. Your friends recommend visiting practitioners ranging from traditional MDs to the shrunken-head shaman. After a couple of weeks, […]

Comparison–the inevitable pitfall of injury recovery. Comparison–not to someone else, but to your old, “perfect,” pre-injury self. In part 1 of this blog we reflected on comparison and discussed emotional breakdowns, scraping knobs off mountain bike tires, and tapestries. Further discussion about comparison of your post-injury self to your pre-injury self ranks up there with […]

I love Jesse. I love his philosophy. I love his calm presence. I love how he creates an atmosphere for his clients to be heard, to learn how to move properly, and to heal–both mentally and physically. Until I met Jesse, I’d never connected with a fellow practitioner who approaches injury as an opportunity to […]

Comparison–the inevitable pitfall of injury recovery. Comparison–not to someone else, but to your old, “perfect,” pre-injury self. The comparison to your old self is highly quantifiable. Indeed, the exact percentage by which you currently suck is easy to measure. It’s probably on a graph your workout software automatically generates. Everywhere you go, alarms and screens […]

Last July I was convinced a litany of knee surgeries had come to an end. My knee was as good as a knee with arthrofibrosis can be. Then, out of nowhere, a setback bushwhacked me. At my next visit, Dr. Steadman and I agreed to wait and see if my knee would improve on its […]

Finding your motivation after injury can seem like your own personal Mt. Everest. “I don’t want to hear about creativity and finding other ways to move. Running is my life. It embodies everything I love. I’ve tried cycling and swimming. Nothing makes me feel as good as running. I’m not interested in taking a class […]

Awesome, amazing, spectacular, incredible, the best ever, PR (personal record): demonstrative superlatives infiltrate our vocabulary, thoughts, Facebook status updates and Tweets. Doesn’t it seem like the onslaught of exaggerated happiness leaves little room in our culture for having a really bad day? Pay too much attention to Facebook and you’ll fall into the trap of […]

There’s a coach who can help you with your injury recovery! My injury recovery journey and the services I offer through Injured Athlete’s Toolbox were featured by Pam LeBlanc in the (Austin American-Statesman). You can read the full story on The Statesman’s website here. I’ve also attached the story in print form in this post. […]

This blog is for all the friends and families of injured athletes. Less than a week after my last injury, a good friend invited my best friend and me for a drink. My left leg was bound up in TED hose, wrapped, and braced from ankle to thigh. My knee was in pieces, literally. I […]

When you were 20 and sprained your ankle, a bit of rest, ice and ibuprofen usually did the trick. You were back up and going in short order. As you age, your body responds differently to injury, usually by healing at a seemingly glacial speed. Did you think you’d be better by now? Did you […]

You may notice this blog lacks the snuggly warmth of your favorite fleece PJs. Welcome to the tough love blog; this blog is about making hard choices. Mentally overcoming injury isn’t for sissies. Do you have an injury? Is it healing slower than you thought? Did you decide to run again and now you’re back […]

I know what you are saying: “Heidi, you’re crazy! I don’t have a creative bone in my body. Not even one.” Frankly, I said those words before my injury. Believe me: your creativity does exist. And it’s your most important tool for coping with injury. Recall your childhood. There was a time when you were […]

The right attitude and one arm will beat the wrong attitude and two arms. Every time. —Pete Davis, climber (made the first all-disabled ascent of El Capitan in June 2012) One day you enjoy wind and warm sunshine. The next day you are stuck to the sofa, hungover in a sea of denial. “It’s not […]

Welcome and thank you for stopping by.  Over the months and years this site will evolve into a large body of knowledge, inspiration, humor, and direction for injured athletes worldwide.  Please continue visiting as we grow. Athletes of all levels, healthcare practitioners, and I will share wisdom and experience in the blog section. How it […]