Story Time: How Dr Jeunesse Delt With Her Own Injury

Story Time: How I Deal With Injuries as a Chiropractor 🦶✨

In my final semester as a chiropractic student, I learned this lesson the hard way: Just when you feel like you’re at your strongest… life can humble you real quick. I sustained a Grade 3 ATFL rupture (a full ligament tear) and fractured two bones in my foot. Suddenly, I went from being active, strong, and hands-on in the clinic to non–weight bearing for almost four weeks. Cue the moon boot. Cue the crutches. Cue the mental spiral. Rehab wasn’t quick. It wasn’t linear. And it definitely wasn’t easy. Between immobilisation, gradual loading, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and rebuilding trust in my own body, it took almost a full year to regain proper mobility and function in my foot and ankle. And the cherry on top? I was still treating patients… in a moon boot. And despite everything — I still graduated.

I still showed up. I still learned. I still cared for patients. If anything, the injury gave me a deeper understanding that every body and every injury requires a different approach. It was a rough year. But it also changed the way I practice forever

When Injury Hits Hard (and Messes With Your Head)

If you’ve ever been injured, you’ll know this feeling: You’re doing everything right. You feel strong. You feel capable. And then—boom—injury.

Suddenly, your independence is gone. Your routine is disrupted. Your body doesn’t feel like yours anymore. That emotional side of injury doesn’t get talked about enough. The frustration. The fear of re‑injury. The impatience with your own healing timeline. I lived all of that. And because of it, I don’t just treat injuries—I understand them.

Why My Own Injuries Made Me a Better Chiropractor

Over the years, I’ve needed:

● Chiropractic care

● Physiotherapy

● Structured rehabilitation

● Progressive loading

● A whole lot of patience

This is because healing requires support from multiple angles.

That lived experience now allows me to support:

● Athletes

● Desk workers

● Busy parents

● Teens

● Older adults

● Anyone who feels stuck in an injured body

Because I’ve been there.

So… How Can Chiropractic Help During an Acute Injury?

This is one of the most common questions I get. And the answer is: Chiropractic care adapts to where your body is at.

During the Acute Phase, Chiropractic Care Focuses On:

🧠 1. Nervous System Support

Injury creates inflammation, pain, and altered movement patterns. Gentle chiropractic care helps reduce unnecessary stress on the nervous system, supporting better communication between the brain and body during healing.

🦴 2. Protecting What Can Move

When one joint is injured, others often compensate. We focus on maintaining mobility and function in surrounding areas (think hips, spine, opposite limb) to prevent secondary issues.

🤲 3. Gentle, Appropriate Techniques

Acute injury ≠ aggressive treatment. Care is modified, specific, and safe—always respecting tissue healing timelines

🔄 4. Supporting Healing Phases

Chiropractic care works alongside rest, physio, and rehab—helping the body transition from pain management → movement restoration → strength and confidence.

📈 5. Long-Term Function (Not Just Short-Term Relief)

The goal isn’t just to feel better temporarily—it’s to return you to better movement, resilience, and confidence than before the injury.

🤝 6. Collaborative, Team-Based Care

Healing works best when everyone is on the same page. Chiropractic care doesn’t replace other healthcare—it complements it. I regularly work alongside your:

● Physiotherapist

● Massage therapist

● General Practitioner (GP)

This team-based approach allows us to support your recovery from multiple angles, ensuring your care is safe, aligned, and tailored to your specific injury, goals, and stage of healing.

Healing Is a Journey (And You Don’t Have to Do It Alone)

Injury can feel isolating. But healing is rarely a straight line—and it shouldn’t be walked alone. My job as a chiropractor isn’t just to adjust spines or joints.

It’s to:

● Listen

● Adapt care

● Support your nervous system

● Walk with you through every phase of recovery

Because I’ve lived it. And if you’re in the middle of your own injury journey right now—I see you. Your mind & body is capable of healing. And with the right support, it will.