Blog
Karen Morgan
Recent Blog Posts
On Relinquishing
There’s this ritual I do when I release an object that has held a meaningful place in my heart. First, I pause and recognize that while it may be a small thing to those around me, this moment is significant to me, and I need to visit with the why. And then second, I...
An Arthritic Knee: Jan’s Story
Thanks to Nathan Dumlao for his photo A Visit This past weekend longtime friends from south of Seattle visited us. Jan and I have been dear friends since college days at CSULB in California and I am very familiar with her arthritic woes. But as she...
Lessons Learned: a New Chapter
New chapter? Wait? What? Was there a book? Before you get excited, no. When I go through something big, something that takes up a lot of headspace and energy, I look at that as a new chapter. These are usually unexpected or unwanted. As we’re rolling into...
Sara’s Story: Hope’s Role in Healing Body and Soul
Sara burst through the door of my clinic one recent morning and exclaimed, “I’ve been working on a testimonial for your website and the Google reviews, but there’s so much I want to say.” She paused for a breath. “How long am I allowed to make it?” I laughed. I knew...
How to Listen to Our Bodies
In J. Barrie Shepherd’s book, Faces at the Manger, he offers that perhaps one of the reasons the holy family was visited by a ragtag group of shepherds, and not more important sophisticated guests, was because the shepherds were the only ones who listened and...
Can We Re-Design the Healthcare Setting?
“Do you serve dinner?” My last patient of the day enjoyed her evaluation experience at the clinic so much she was reluctant to leave. "I had to ask. I mean, this is so great." THAT is what you want in a clinic setting. Recently, I've been invited into a lively...
On Being a Good Patient
Having practiced physical therapy now for 32 years, with a Bachelor of Science and a doctorate of Physical Therapy under my belt, one would think I know a thing or two about what it means to be a good patient. But recently, after having been hospitalized for nearly 5...
When the Healer Needs Healing
It’s been a moment. A whole lot of moments. I am writing to let you know I am still here😊. My writing focus has changed slightly, as this very active, very healthy PT has become the patient. And great news! My advice on health and healing works well for me too. You...
Angelica’s Story – How Stress & Anxiety Affect Physical Pain
This week I have created a guest blog entry at https://well-woman-blog.com . The topic is the effects of stress and anxiety on our experience of pain. Visit Gena's site to read my latest blog and to even read some of Gena's other blog entries. Be well.
John’s Story – Back Pain, Prayer and Treating a Loved One
There are good reasons medical professionals don’t treat those closest to them. Ego, relational dynamics, and just deep caring can obscure the objectivity of both provider and loved one, especially the more that is at stake. As you have learned by now, I care very...
Justin’s Story – The Tension between Frustration and Gratitude
With the holidays past, and a new year rolling along, thoughts on gratitude are not really in season. Still, my thoughts linger there, especially since I had a recent little “aha” moment: I learned it is impossible to be frustrated while simultaneously being grateful....
Jose’s Story – When Things Break…Healing Can Happen
Sitting on the living room sofa, I heard the crash in the kitchen. Something was now in a million little pieces. “That didn’t sound good,” I teased my husband. “I’m sorry, and it’s irreparable too,” John said remorsefully. And he would know, as he is the master of...
Better Conversations: Pontificating or Being a Pontoon
At the end of the evening, I asked John “So I ‘pontificate'?”, repeating back the word he had used with our friends earlier in the evening. He described a recent conversation to them that we'd had with some folks, who had shared their opinions on vaccinations and the...
A Little Bit about Me (Cuz You Asked)
I was asked to share more about myself. “But what do you love? What are you like? Please share that!” Oh, golly. I love lots. 😀 I love laughing. Especially the kind where you’re doubled over, or the tears are streaming down your face. And you’re gasping for air....
Denise’s Story – Physical Pain: Who to Turn to?
Denise’s sharp leg pain, which was produced by a nerve in her low back, was 100% improved from the previous week. Yet, she was fuming. But not at me. She was frustrated with her medical doctor. “I wish he had sent me to you first.” This was a dramatic change of tune...
How NOT To Be Bitten By A Dog
I was midway to the gate, hurrying to the barrier between me and the snarling dog that was straining against its chain. But then it broke free, hurtling towards me like a rocket. Its sidekick, an annoying Pomeranian that fancied itself bigger than it could ever hope to be, was already nipping at my heels. I didn’t mind that as much as the pitbull-German shepherd mix that was wanting a piece of me.
You Have a High Butt
Or, How Strong Glutes Help Us I was sitting on my Uplift stool, wobbling away on its rounded base while documenting my patient's progress. Her sense of humor was delightful. Nevertheless, I wasn't prepared for her amusing exclamation, “You have a high butt!” Insert...
Kickboxing and Anger Management
Is your anger a Volcano or a Balloon? I took up kickboxing the week or two before Lockdown March 2020. It would prove to be an effective method for caring for myself on several levels. It released my frustration, my mental fatigue, and allowed me to kick the crap...
Marci’s Story – When Healthcare Is Collaborative, Healing Can Happen
What if the healing within a patient wasn’t all about the patient? What if successful outcomes occur, in part, because we providers get our eyes opened to the bigger picture of the journey traveled by our patient? What if this enhanced awareness of the person we...
Jonell’s Story – Abused and Imprisoned
A difficult journey. The sexual abuse began when she was six and lasted for a horrible decade. Her mother chose poorly, turned a blind eye to the character of the men she brought home, and in doing so, obliterated little Jonell’s sense of safety, her self-confidence...
Physical Therapy Is Essential
And we need it now more than ever What makes PT essential? If you ever had to deal with debilitating pain or struggled to function following an injury, you would probably agree a wholistic physical therapy service is essential. As the owner of a solo outpatient...
Remembering
Memorial Day Weekend For me, Memorial Day weekend has become the time that I recall my last hours enjoying time with Mom. It was the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend of 2017. We didn’t know it would be our last time together, but I think she had an inkling. John and I...
Tracy’s Story – On Fascia and Forgiveness
by Karen Morgan | Jun 7, 2021 | Pain Management On Fascia and Forgiveness Tracy was a healthy, active woman of fifty, who unexpectedly twisted her knee and fell on the concrete floor of the restaurant where she worked. The impact on her knee was so severe that the...
Eunice and Jim’s Stories – When Aging Makes You Feel Old
Our mindset, coupled with pain, steals our energy and youth. It’s ironic to me that our culture spends millions of dollars seeking to evade the aging process, while not truly understanding what aging and youthfulness actually are. The body is designed to age; we die...
Claire’s Story – Your Body Has Feelings Too
An approach to health and healing from inside and outside the Western Medicine box Claire was seeing me for what I determined to be a frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis. Her condition was apparently instigated by a flu vaccine. In her case, a severe...
COVID-19 UPDATE
COVID-19 UPDATE Like us all, I have questions. But first, I am not an immunology or epidemiology expert, or a public policymaker for that matter. I appreciate the efforts all of those who are the above. I respect them deeply. I don’t want to go on a rant. What I do...
Three Things, and Then Some: Practical Advice During Social Distancing
What to do during COVID-19-agedden? My husband insists that the apple fritter and fried chicken he just brought home from the grocery store will help while we binge watch our favorite movies tonight. Hmm. We normally eat healthy. I can imagine you have your own...