Kurt Gilbertson, PT, DPT, XPS
Theres more to pain than feeling it.
How does it make you feel about your ability to contribute to the world? How does it make your life feel? How does it make you feel about sharing your pain and struggles with others? …How many more times can I say feel?
When I worked at EXOS, I quickly learned that theres a-lot more to this thing we call the body than biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neurology, and cardiology. Theres a human inside of it that runs it. This complicates pain so much more, but so much more beautifully. Whats beautiful about you is that you only know you, intimately. This means the pain experience you are having is dependent on your own experiences.
This is likely why you’re here, reading this, searching for more options.
That important fact likely has never been addressed for you, which is why you’re stuck. I’m here to tell you there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It is possible to run, jump, squat, lift, do whatever the heck you want to do at whatever age you want to do it. The only thing age has on you is efficiency. As we age, we get less efficient at dealing with trauma, stress, injury, whatever we want to call it. This means, our body deserves more grace. Not more truth. Not more condescending thought virus’ that blanket our body in shame.
phew.
I love this stuff. Sorry, I went on a “rid the world of shame” rant. When you meet me, you’ll see how so much medical education is based on fear blanketed with shame. Now back to my story…
This philosophy was born in my time at EXOS, incubated when I finished my post-doctorate residency at Kaiser Los Angeles, and further deepened as I worked various PT jobs in all types of settings. The kicker for me, honestly, was teaching undergraduate university and seeing the education that students come into healthcare with. It all began to make sense on how our system is the way it is. We are a product of the system, so how do we change the system?
First, get out of it. Second, create something better.
My ultimate goal is to make you a fierce independent person who no matter the pain can fight through the noise of this world and matriculate a plan that you believe in, follow through with it, and overcome the pain. We can’t abolish pain because it serves a purpose, to teach.
But the question remains…