Struggling with Chronic Pain? Debilitating pain keeping you from getting on with your daily life? Find yourself really flexible? Andrew walks the path of his EDS diagnosis, and how his chronic pain and many injuries took up the majority of his experience in sport from a young age. We take a peek through Andrew's perspectives on pain, whether or not it makes him want to stop moving, and his experience with his Herniated Disc. With Sciatica pain in both legs, Andrew speaks to how his treatment journey changed and progressed from the time of diagnosis. Andrew dives into some heavy-hitter recommendations to approaching movement with EDS and the importance of gaining control over extreme ranges of motion. Through the ridgid-hypermobile spectrum, he speaks to exploring the happy medium between the two to move the most optimally for you! Finally, he touches base with mindfulness as a main component to navigating pain. Instead of meditation or journaling, Andrew shares his conscious practice of mindfulness. With that, comes permission and a strong meditation to find time to downregulate and enter a true state of play. Tune in!

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4:03 - How Andrew approached having experienced chronic pain since 5

6:57 - What is EDS and is it related to chronic, systemic pain

10:00 - Did Andrew’s pain make him want to stop moving & is the brain becomes less sensitive to pain response

14:03 - Andrew’s Disc Herniation

12:37 - Focusing on the small wins

23:43 - Physical therapy & how Andrew progressed through his exercises

28:44 - Debunking the myths & what Andrew recommends

31:48- Addressing flexibility without control

37:10 -How Andrew defines mindfulness & how it helps his pain experience

44:24 - Whealth

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To learn more about Andrew and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode185/

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