How I Heal From Chronic Physical Pain

There is nothing that has taught me self-leadership, patience, and a growth mindset like healing from chronic physical pain.

I want to share my journey with you so that you can learn from my lessons.

In January 2022, I sprained my left ankle while hiking in the White Mountains of western Maine.

I damaged some of the ligaments in my left ankle and I didn’t realize the pain and discomfort until after the hike was over.

I went to see a sport medicine doctor who referred me to physical therapy.

I went through physical therapy, and after graduating from it in 3 months, I was back out hiking.

In July 2022, I re-injured my ankle hiking Mt. Katahdin with friends.

Now in October 2024, I am still healing from these injuries.

I have thrown every solution at this problem short of invasive surgery. Three courses of physical therapy across two years, visits to all kinds of medical practitioners, a cortisone short to my ankle joint, sports massage, deep tissue massage, reiki, yin yoga, strength training, stretching, orthopedic insoles, changes in footwear, lifestyle changes around activity types, long periods of rest for my foot and ankle, EFT tapping for emotional release, talk therapy, weight loss.

It has taken me up until now to figure out what is going on and to have reached clarity on my condition.

I have nerve pain in my left foot due to compression of the medial plantar nerve.

Determining this recently and being able to treat the condition from there has been game-changing for me.

Over the years, I suspected I tore ligaments entirely, had plantar fasciitis, strained my abductor hallucis, had stiff calves, tense quads, tight hips, overpronation, a stiff tibialis, metatarsalgia, and Morton’s Neuroma, among other possibilities.

No medical practitioner was able to help me reach clarity on my situation.

I had to find it on my own.

I started to see looks of desperation and despair on my medical practitioners’ faces when I would visit them. “Him again,” I imagine them melancholically thinking.

I never gave up.

I never took “you are going to have to live with that” (which I heard early) as an answer.

Finally, it was through my own research and an extensive process of elimination that I have been able to discern what is going on and to figure out exactly how to treat it: nerve flossing, also called nerve gliding.

So far, the nerve flossing is working. When I do it, my pain and discomfort go away. While I still experience discomfort, I feel the progress.

Over the course of the nearly past three years, I have had days and even weeks of being discomfort free – so I know this is available to me. I know it will happen for me.

What have I learned from this process of leading myself that I want to share with you?

 1)    Mindset matters. My mindset is: “I am healing. I show up for myself. Healing and transformation are possible for me.”

 2)    Show up as a thought partner to your medical practitioner. Do not expect them to provide you with a solution. A doctor is often in a position of making an educated guess. They are human and they can be wrong or totally unsure. With all due respect, I have taken doctors and medical practitioners off the pedestal our society encouraged me to put them on for good.

 3)    Self-education is how you become a thought partner to your medical practitioner. You show up with information, anecdotal and researched, and offer possibilities of what is going on to them. You bring the stories of your situation in ways that illuminate and increase the possibility of clarity and effective solutions. Learn from practitioners and thought leaders people trust and vet their information to ensure its quality.

 4)    Persistence and determination matter. Health issues that emerge over years can take years to improve and heal. Don’t give up – you owe it to yourself, and you will be so grateful. 

5)    Clarity is possible for you. Often, health conditions and issues can be elusive and feel impossible to identify, let alone solve. Pay close attention to your symptoms and learn from your observations of how activities and experiences impact your condition. The more information you gain, the more educated and powerful you are.

6)    You are the expert on your body. No one knows you, better than you. 

7)    Your mental and emotional health make all the difference to your physical health. Taking care of the mind and the heart enables to you show up to your body in the face of persistent pain and discomfort.

8)    You will find a way. No matter how intractable or discouraging the situation may feel, things can get better.

Have you led yourself through a journey of healing from chronic physical pain?

Do my lessons resonate with you?

What have your experiences been?

#healing #pain #selfleadership