Hey Reader—

I wanted to tell you a story about a client (shared with her permission) who reminded me just how human this whole pain and healing thing really is.

She’s smart. Curious. Hyper-aware. The kind of person who wants to understand exactly what’s happening in her body so she can respond to it. She’s working two jobs, living with ongoing nerve pain, and constantly trying to figure out what’s going to help… and what might make it worse.

She said to me: "I'm a facts girlie. I want to know what nerve is doing what to wreak havoc on my body. Because when I’m all physically messed up, my anxiety shoots up even more. I just want to make sense of it so I can feel in control."

Can you relate?

The truth is: pain trips you up — even when you know the science.

Even when you’ve done all the reading. Even when you help other people with this stuff.

Because here’s the thing: pain messes with your head — even if you know how it all works. Even if you’ve read the books. Even if you help other people with this stuff.

(Ask me how I know. My dog pulled me weird on a walk this summer, and my back freaked out so bad I could barely move for a week. I didn’t even tell anyone — because I felt so embarrassed that I, of all people, was dealing with that.)

And when your body is overwhelmed (from pain, stress, overwork, hormone shifts, or life itself), the brain tries to protect you.

It spirals. It catastrophizes.

It makes the pain feel scarier. Bigger. Like something is seriously wrong. Not because you’re weak. But because you’re human.

That’s why I always say: you can’t logic your way out of pain.

You can’t mindset your way through a nervous system that’s maxed out.

You need a plan that matches your capacity. You need support that helps you zoom out when your brain is zooming in. You need someone to remind you:

In my coaching, we don’t just chase diagnoses or fancy terms. We slow down and ask:

👉 What do you actually want to get back to doing?

👉 What would make this feel worth it?

👉 What would help you feel like YOU again?

Because a diagnosis might give something a name… but it doesn’t give you a clear path forward.

Most pain treatments? Whether it’s for disc issues, nerve pain, or connective tissue disorders? They all fall back on the same core approach:

✔ Safe & effective, progressive movement

✔ Managing your stress + energy

✔ Building strength at a pace that fits your life

✔ Giving your nervous system what it needs to feel safe

Pain is complex. But that doesn’t mean the solution has to be.

If you’re someone who wants to understand your body and feel better in it — not just collect diagnoses and stretch sheets — I want you to know:

There is a path forward. And you don’t have to walk it alone.

With you,

Dr. Shannon

P.S. If you want support that helps you make sense of your pain and build a body that can handle more — apply here.​

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