About
My Journey: From Injury to Recovery—And Back Again
Eight years ago, just as I was finishing my physiotherapy studies and preparing to launch my career, I suffered a catastrophic shoulder injury while climbing.
Terrible timing—I was supposed to start my first job in a week, yet I couldn’t even lift my arm above the shoulder.
I was fit, active, and had my career and life plans laid out. And just like that, everything changed.
Physiotherapist Turned Patient
As a newly qualified physiotherapist, I approached my injury with professional curiosity—running every clinical test I knew on myself, analyzing every symptom.
When I first sought professional help, I was expecting clear answers and a structured recovery plan. Instead, I was met with gaps in care—delays in referrals, imaging, and a system tangled in administrative red tape.
Left to self-assess early on, my physiotherapy background became both a tool and a source of frustration. Staying objective, diagnosing without emotional bias, and silencing the spiral of negative thoughts was a challenge, to say the least.
The Challenges of Recovery
The months following my injury were some of the toughest I’ve faced—both physically and emotionally.
- My shoulder remained painful and stiff.
- Every time I lifted my sore shoulder to demonstrate exercises to patients, I wondered if I was making things worse.
- Sleeping became difficult—any pressure on my shoulder was unbearable.
- I constantly worried: Will my shoulder ever regain full function? Should I stop working to recover? But how would I manage financially?
- I had to give up climbing and weightlifting—two things that were core to my identity.
- I withdrew from social sports and interactions.
And the hardest part? No one truly understood the extent of the impact on work and my personal life.
“Oh, your shoulder looks fine now!” people would say. But it wasn’t.
Finding My Way Back
Eventually, when things fell into place, I gained access to top specialists.
Earlier on, I attempted rehab on my own—relying on textbook knowledge, trial and error. But progress was slow, frustrating, and filled with uncertainty.
Things started to turn around when I finally received professional guidance.
Making progress wasn’t about the gruelling exercise which i made myself complete earlier on —rather it’s about the right choice of exercises at the right time. Minor adjustments provided significant improvement to my symptoms.
I also realized something else: the burden of navigating recovery alone can be overwhelming. Having someone to guide, reassure, and validate your experience is just as powerful as the rehab itself.
When I walked out of the initial consultation feeling optimistic for the first time in months, I wasn’t sure if it was the hands-on treatment, adjustment in the exercises or simply the relief of not having to figure it all out on my own. Maybe it was all of these.
Why I Started Melbourne Shoulder Rehab?
Through my own lived-experience with shoulder injuries, I developed a deep passion for working with people facing similar challenges.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors, collaborate with upper limb surgeons, GPs, and sports doctors, and refine my approach to treating complex shoulder conditions.
Now, things have come full circle.
Melbourne Shoulder Rehab is my way of giving back—sharing my clinical knowledge, helping people move better, and making recovery less confusing and frustrating.