Working with you, so far has taught me a lot and has made me reflect upon my injury and my future. My main concern after surgery was that the compartment syndrome that I have dealt with since my freshman year at college would come back. After a few months of therapy and a delay of getting off my crutches, I was back to where I was, back to being diagnosed with compartment syndrome for the third time. I have been to at least 7 or 8 doctors, which includes one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City. My goal of playing soccer again was going further and further away. Even though you torture the hell out of my body with different pressure points, you have really given me much more confidence than I ever had since having compartment syndrome. I had a legitimate fear of running and playing again because of my legs getting numb and the pain that I experience after exercise. But after the five visits I’ve been able to run 12 laps and doing stop and start running. Doctors told me that I would’ve needed to reconsider my soccer career, but you taught me that it’s up to ME, not some white coats. In order for me to play again, I need to want to play and have a structure that will help me get there. In regards to my symptoms, I have been able to rationalize them. You have taught me that my legs being numb after running and exercise actually isn’t a bad thing, because it is an absence of pain, and an absence of pain is better than being in pain. Another thing that I have learned while working with you is dedication. I have really been working hard on implementing changes when it comes to doing my homework that has been assigned like doing my 100 steps and writing down my food that I eat everyday. Another thing that you
have taught me over the past 5 sessions together is calming down whenever I am in pain. I always try to breathe when I am in pain instead of hyperventilating and crying in anxiety. This has really been helping a lot. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for me and I can’t wait to continue working on my injury and hopefully be able to get back on the field next year.

 

G. Donelly