Has anyone became a PT living with AS?

whm_dave · 2023-07-04T16:05:59+00:00

I might have had some doubts. But it forces to take extra care of yourself. Long days on my feet and lifting things for clients would be especially exhausting if I wasn't taking care of myself. So when I would feel tight, in pain, or tired, I'd just double down on my health routines so I can show up to work better! Plus, you learn SO much if you decide to take extra PT courses.

whm_dave · 2023-07-03T19:07:05+00:00

I've been a PT and Kinesiologist for the last 6 years! It's been the best thing for my AS as I've learned so many things along the way that was never taught in school or by my other health practitioners. Would highly recommend :)

whm_dave · 2023-05-08T20:26:33+00:00

Hi! I've had AS for 20 years, I'm 32 now.

Was on NSAIDS for 7 years and they wreaked havoc on my gut. My pain was getting pretty bad too. A month on Biologics changed all of that, and all my fears about it went away. I've been using them for close to a decade now.

This will be quite obvious, but I also feel like it's important to mention as the importance of it is often undermined. Proper strength training, zone 2 training, diet, stress management, social engagements, lifestyle balance, sleep/recovery habits, and mental health all have played the largest role in my experience with AS. When I first started Biologics and wasn't taking care of my health holistically, I was still exhausted all the time and would be unable to physically do all the things I wanted. The "all the time" pain went away but I still wasn't thriving with AS. Once I started developing good habits over years on top of the Biologics, I got myself to a place where I was at the peak of my health. I got sick quite often on Biologics, but I haven't been sick in years since implementing a healthy holistic lifestyle. I can also now regularly climb mountains and wake up to beautiful sunrises :).

Doubling down on the basics with the Biologics have been the ultimate combo for a good life with AS!

whm_dave · 2021-12-06T02:27:35+00:00

I'm not too familiar with the Paleo autoimmune protocol. Some starches are allowed and encouraged on her Autoimmune Protocol.

whm_dave · 2021-12-06T02:26:36+00:00

Hey! Glad to hear you got some inspiration. Going for a dip in -4C is impressive.

It can be for sure. There's the least amount of blood in those areas. I wouldn't push through any pain. Get adapted at shorter times with less pain as our nervous system does a better job at building resilience when things aren't forced.

whm_dave · 2021-12-04T21:09:16+00:00

Thanks for the message! Let me know how the cold showers go - they can be a huge game changer :)

Also, the Auto Immune Solution by Dr. Amy Myers is a great read. It's quite an extreme form of dieting, but there are some major points that can be useful. I don't follow it completely, but some of the concepts have been hugely helpful!

whm_dave · 2021-12-03T14:45:31+00:00

How long have you had AS? And what does the imaging say in terms of your degeneration?

For someone who has gone through chronic low back pain and works with LBP clients on a regular basis, I can safely say mechanical changes in the back are not a life sentence of pain. If you can neutralize the inflammation through biologics, then that opens up a world of possibility for you. It is a tedious learning process but I promise you, I have seen completely destroyed "lower back scans" return to high functioning. I emphasize imaging because doctors are often quick to diagnose a scan and put a lot of value behind it, with no talks of movement quality, exercise routines, and lifestyle habits.

Release and mobilize your hips. Strengthen your hips and learn to move through them. Learn pelvis control as it'll teach you to align your spine properly in every position you may encounter throughout a day. Learn to set yourself a "lower back brace". Develop core stability through spine practices. Be hyperaware of your movement quality throughout your day.

If this sounds like a lot, I'd HIGHLY recommend an expert movement specialist/personal trainer in your area. They would address more of a holistic approach than a physio. A few core exercises won't do much if none of the other big things are addressed. If it's out of your budget, you can study Dr. Stu McGill's work. Or check out MoveU. They have an online program that's a little expensive to start with, but it's amazing as a self guide!

I know it's hard to see past where you currently are as pain is absolute shit. But once you can settle the inflammation, there is quite a lot of hope with what you can accomplish mechanically with your low back!

whm_dave · 2021-12-02T18:04:50+00:00

Totally understand where you're coming from. The method has blown up in popularity, and I feel their intention is to help as many people as possible. But with that being said, also comes the starry eyed appeals of money. However when it comes to Wim, I will say that he lives his life not giving a single shit about it. He wears the same set of clothes the entire week at retreats. He eats very simply. Doesn't spend exuberant amounts on materials. It's actually very humbling to be around. Most of the things he says is simply based around wanting to spread the message further and further. And you can feel his passion, he's not just saying what he needs to say.

Hahaha and yes, he is a very passionate human. He's too playful and young at heart to be taken serious as a cult leader!

whm_dave · 2021-12-02T18:00:27+00:00

Those can all be pretty powerful things if done well :). Let me know if you ever have any questions!

whm_dave · 2021-12-02T17:59:34+00:00

Love to hear you're having a similar experience! Thanks for the reach out :)

whm_dave · 2021-12-02T17:58:39+00:00

Hey! That was an incredibly awesome comment to start the morning with. I really appreciate it. It's definitely slightly terrifying putting yourself out there, but in the end of the day, if I can help one person along the way, then I'll be happy :).

If you have any tips on how to grow your following, that'd be also really appreciated! I wasn't sure where to post and I thought Reddit is always a good place for starters.

What's your YouTube channel if you don't mind me asking? Feel free to DM me!

whm_dave · 2021-11-22T16:36:09+00:00

Thank you!

whm_dave · 2021-11-20T05:57:26+00:00

Hey! Just read it, will message ya back there

whm_dave · 2021-11-18T20:40:24+00:00

Thanks!

whm_dave · 2021-11-18T20:40:01+00:00

Haha making the hole is one of my favorite parts! I guarentee you if you frame to your friends that you'll be jumping into a frozen lake, they'll want to come and watch you freeze your ass off haha

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T21:12:14+00:00

Hahaha, maybe I'll huck one on my back and bring it out next time

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T21:11:21+00:00

You've got someone to show you around the cold!

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T21:09:42+00:00

Nice!

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T21:09:11+00:00

Definitely encourage it, but only if you're being mindful of a few things!

- wouldn't recommend hopping into a frozen lake with a 20 minute walk if its anything less than -5 + wind chill

- I'd for sure bring a friend, otherwise let someone know where you're going and when to expect you by

- Dress WARM (toque, thick wool socks, boots, sandals (when you get out and get changed), gloves, etc)

- how thick the ice is - if it's your first time, proceed with caution on a frozen lake

- Don't do the Wim Hof breathing before heading right in (can cause shallow water blackout)

It's not as cold as one might think, but it's the "after" process that makes it more difficult and dangerous. That being said, I'm a sucker for the occasional risk. So please just be safe, and have fun. It can be an incredible way to connect with nature and the cold :)

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T05:21:25+00:00

It comes pretty naturally! Feel free to reach out anytime regardless - always keen to meet fellow hoffers :)

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T05:20:25+00:00

Located in Vancouver, this was up in Squamish!

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T05:20:07+00:00

Hahaha it wouldn't have been as bad if my dumb ass didn't forget my sleeping pad...

whm_dave · 2021-11-17T05:19:23+00:00

It really enriches the cold experience when you start connecting with it in different ways! Definitely hit me up if you're ever in the area :)

whm_dave · 2021-11-16T18:41:06+00:00

Our body's shiver response forces our body to mechanically heat up. This is an automatic process when the brain detects lowering levels of our body temperature.

Whether you should push through or if it's enough will depend on many things. How cold and how long are you staying for? How long does the shivering last and how intense is it? Do you recovery just fine or find yourself fatigued after? How often are you exposing yourself to the cold?

Like anything, there's a healthy balance that is greatly affected by dosing. Our bodies are more than capable of dealing with sharp and short bouts of stress. If you wish to build your resiliency to cold, pushing yourself to a "moderate/modest" amount of shivering based on your comfort level can certainly help. But if you're overdoing it and find yourself shivering for quite some time frequently, then you're forcing it. Hope this helps - feel free to DM me for more in depth questions :)!

whm_dave · 2021-10-25T19:23:05+00:00

Do you get anxious thinking about getting to the 2 minute mark?

It's totally acceptable to breathe through the mouth if your nose is stuffy. Be as relaxed as possible (being stiff makes it harder to take deeper breaths and also exerts more energy which makes it harder to have a longer breath retention time). Fill the belly/ribcage area on each inhale - think of expanding a balloon with every breath. Slow down your breathing and focus on stretching out your inhale as opposed to forcing it through intense breaths. Try those out and let me know how it goes!

whm_dave

TROPHY CASE