Category Archives: Health/Wellness

The Hidden Reasons Injured Workers Don’t Fully Recover

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

If you’ve ever heard an injured worker say, “The doctor cleared me, but I’m still in pain,” you’re not alone. In fact, this is one of the most common frustrations I hear in my practice. Despite surgeries, physical therapy, and even medications, many individuals never return to how they felt before the injury. Why? Because traditional care often stops at the surface, and that’s where Functional Medicine steps in.

As a Functional Medicine Nurse and Case Manager, I’ve worked with countless injured workers who were told their injury had healed, yet they still couldn’t sleep, concentrate, or move without pain. When we looked deeper, we found the real reasons behind their lingering symptoms:

  1. Chronic Inflammation That Was Never Addressed
    Injuries trigger inflammation—your body’s natural defense system. But when inflammation becomes chronic due to poor diet, stress, or gut dysfunction, it delays tissue repair and amplifies pain. While medication can dull the symptoms, it doesn’t correct the cause. Functional Medicine looks at what you’re eating, how your gut is functioning, and whether you’re getting the nutrients needed for recovery.
  2. Hormonal Imbalances from Stress and Trauma
    An accident—especially one that involves surgery or disability—can be a traumatic event. It sends stress signals to the brain and disrupts your body’s natural hormone cycles. Elevated cortisol levels can cause fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and even weight gain. Functional lab testing helps us detect adrenal dysfunction and hormone imbalances that traditional providers often overlook.
  3. Underlying Gut Dysfunction
    Pain meds, antibiotics, and stress can wreak havoc on the gut lining. This leads to leaky gut, poor nutrient absorption, and immune imbalances—all of which delay healing. A compromised gut also impacts brain function and mood, which many injured workers struggle with silently. In Functional Medicine, we focus on rebuilding the gut so that the whole body can function better.
  4. Nervous System Dysregulation After Trauma
    The body stores trauma—not just physically, but neurologically. Even if your X-rays or MRIs are clear, your nervous system may still be in a state of fight-or-flight. This leads to ongoing tension, poor sleep, and heightened pain sensitivity. Through nervous system support and targeted calming protocols, we help clients reset the healing response.
  5. Lack of a Personalized Recovery Plan
    Cookie-cutter advice like “rest and take this pill” doesn’t work for complex recoveries. Every injured worker has a unique health history, lifestyle, and set of challenges. Functional Medicine offers a personalized, whole-person plan to help the body heal from the inside out. This includes nutrition, lifestyle, stress management, supplementation, and coaching.

You Don’t Have to Settle for “Living With It”
If you or a loved one has been told you’re fine—but you still feel broken—there is hope. We help injured workers uncover the real reasons they aren’t healing and walk with them toward lasting recovery.

Initial Functional Health Consultation: $25.00
Click here to book your session

Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and surrounding areas
407-760-1662 | rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
jrmnurseconsultants.com

Why Injured Workers Need More Than Pain Meds: The Functional Medicine Approach

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

When someone is injured on the job, the typical medical response often focuses heavily on managing pain—usually through medication—and recommending rest. While pain relief is important, this approach frequently leaves injured workers without the comprehensive support needed to fully heal and regain function. As a Functional Health Nurse and case manager, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this narrow focus can prolong suffering and delay recovery.

The Limits of Conventional Care for Injured Workers

Traditional treatment often prioritizes symptom management rather than addressing the underlying causes that prevent healing. Pain medications may mask discomfort temporarily, but do not resolve the biological or emotional factors fueling chronic pain or delayed recovery. Meanwhile, injured workers may be advised to rest extensively, which can lead to muscle weakness, reduced mobility, and even increased pain over time.

Unfortunately, this cycle can leave workers feeling stuck, frustrated, and concerned about their ability to return to work and everyday life.

How Functional Medicine Bridges the Gap

Functional Medicine is a whole-person approach that considers the complex interactions between nutrition, inflammation, hormones, nervous system function, and emotional health. It’s especially valuable for injured workers because it helps identify and address the root causes of slow healing and persistent pain.

Here’s how Functional Medicine can transform recovery:

  1. Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Support

Chronic inflammation is a major barrier to healing after injury. Certain foods can either fuel or fight inflammation. Through personalized nutritional guidance, we help injured workers reduce inflammatory triggers and incorporate nutrient-dense, healing foods that support tissue repair and overall wellness.

  1. Gut Healing Protocols

The gut plays a surprisingly powerful role in recovery. Poor gut health can contribute to systemic inflammation and impair nutrient absorption, both of which slow healing. Functional Medicine addresses gut imbalances with targeted protocols to restore balance, support the immune system, and optimize digestion.

  1. Functional Lab Testing for Hormone and Adrenal Health

Stress from injury can disrupt hormone balance and adrenal function, which impacts energy levels, pain perception, and tissue repair. Functional lab testing provides deeper insights beyond conventional labs, allowing for tailored interventions to rebalance these critical systems and support recovery.

  1. Nervous System Care After Trauma

Physical injury is often accompanied by nervous system dysregulation, especially after trauma or chronic pain. Techniques to calm the nervous system—including breathing exercises, mindfulness, and gentle movement—can reduce pain sensitivity and improve overall function.

Why This Matters for Injured Workers

Injured workers deserve more than just medication and rest. They need a comprehensive roadmap that empowers them to take control of their healing journey and rebuild their health, function, and quality of life.

By integrating Functional Medicine into recovery plans, injured workers can experience:

  • Reduced pain and inflammation
  • Improved energy and stamina
  • Better sleep and mood
  • Enhanced ability to return to work safely and confidently

Ready to Build Your Roadmap to Recovery?

If you or someone you love is caught in the cycle of pain and frustration after a work injury, Functional Medicine may be the missing piece. I’m here to help you explore your unique situation and design a personalized recovery plan.

Initial Functional Health Consultation: $25.00
Click here to book your session

Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and surrounding areas
407-760-1662 | rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
jrmnurseconsultants.com

PROMIS — Listening to What the Patient Tells Us

By Dr. Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LNC, LEHP, BC-FMP

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is transforming how healthcare providers understand recovery. Instead of focusing solely on lab values, imaging, or physical assessments, PROMIS centers on what patients themselves report about their health, symptoms, and function.

Developed through rigorous research and widely validated across many medical specialties, PROMIS tools measure important aspects of health, including:

  • Fatigue and energy levels

  • Pain intensity and pain interference in daily life

  • Physical function, such as mobility and strength

  • Emotional health and the ability to cope with stress

As a functional medicine nurse consultant supporting injured workers, I use PROMIS questionnaires to bring the patient’s voice into the center of care. These insights go beyond what clinical exams can show. For example, two people with the same back injury may have very different experiences of pain, resilience, and functional recovery. PROMIS helps capture those differences so treatment plans are tailored to the individual.

Listening with intention matters. When patients feel heard, they are more engaged in their own recovery. When providers have reliable patient-reported data, they can make better decisions about work accommodations, rehabilitation strategies, and ongoing care.

At JRM Nurse Consultants, our approach combines medical expertise with tools like PROMIS to ensure a whole-person view of recovery. Whether it’s guiding injured workers through the workers’ compensation process, supporting providers with functional assessments, or helping employers plan safe return-to-work pathways, patient-reported outcomes give us the missing piece of the puzzle: how recovery truly feels.

Recovery is more than what we see on paper. It is also what the patient tells us.


Need help navigating injury recovery, workers’ compensation, or case management support?
JRM Nurse Consultants offers compassionate, expert guidance for injured workers, providers, employers, and insurers.

Phone: 407-760-1662
Email: rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
Website: www.jrmnurseconsultants.com

From Burnout to Balance: Functional Medicine for Stress and Fatigue

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

If you wake up tired, depend on coffee to get through the day, or feel like your body is stuck in survival mode, you are likely experiencing stress-related fatigue—sometimes called burnout. Unlike ordinary tiredness, burnout impacts your body, mind, and emotions deeply and can linger for weeks, months, or even years if left unaddressed.

Why Does Burnout Happen?

Burnout results from chronic, unresolved stress that overwhelms your body’s natural ability to adapt and recover. The adrenal glands—small organs that produce cortisol and other hormones—can become overworked, leading to adrenal fatigue or dysregulation. This, in turn, disrupts your hormonal balance and nervous system function, leaving you feeling drained, irritable, and unable to focus.

At the same time, stress impacts your blood sugar regulation, digestion, and sleep quality, creating a vicious cycle that makes recovery challenging.

What Functional Medicine Offers That Conventional Care Often Misses

Traditional approaches tend to focus on managing symptoms with medications or advising rest. While helpful in some cases, these do not address the root causes of burnout.

Functional Medicine looks at the whole person—your lifestyle, environment, nutrition, genetics, and emotional well-being—to design a personalized recovery plan. The goal is to support your body’s natural healing pathways so you can regain energy, clarity, and emotional balance.

Key Areas We Address Together

  • Adrenal Health: Supporting healthy cortisol rhythms through targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes to restore energy and resilience.
  • Blood Sugar Balance: Stabilizing blood sugar to prevent energy crashes and mood swings with diet and supplementation.
  • Gut-Brain Axis: Healing your digestive system to reduce inflammation and improve mental clarity and mood.
  • Nervous System Regulation: Incorporating mind-body practices such as breathing techniques, meditation, or gentle movement to calm the stress response.
  • Adaptogenic Herbs: Using natural plant-based supplements like ashwagandha, rhodiola, or holy basil to help your body adapt to stress.

The Road to Recovery

Recovery from burnout is a journey, not a quick fix. Many clients find that making gradual, sustainable changes under guidance yields the best results—feeling less overwhelmed and more empowered every step of the way.

If you’re tired of pushing through exhaustion and ready to reclaim your life, I invite you to begin your healing journey today.

Your Next Step: Personalized Support

Schedule your Initial Functional Health Consultation for only $25.00. We’ll take a detailed look at your unique health picture, including your stressors, symptoms, and lifestyle, to develop a plan tailored to your needs.

Click here to book your session

Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and surrounding areas
407-760-1662 | rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
jrmnurseconsultants.com

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Healing Your Gut Can Lift the Fog

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

Do you ever feel like you’re living in a fog? Trouble focusing, frequent mood swings, low energy, anxiety—or just feeling “off”? You’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

As a Functional Health Nurse, I work with individuals every week who’ve been told their symptoms are “just stress” or “all in their head.” But in many cases, those vague but frustrating symptoms are actually connected to something deeper: your gut health.

What Does Your Gut Have to Do with Your Brain?

It turns out, a lot.
Your gut and brain are in constant communication via the gut-brain axis—a powerful two-way highway that links your enteric nervous system (in the gut) with your central nervous system (in the brain).

Think of your gut as your body’s second brain. It houses over 100 million nerve cells and is home to trillions of microbes that influence not only digestion but also mood, memory, focus, and behavior.

When your gut is healthy and balanced, neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA flow more easily—helping you feel calmer, clearer, and more emotionally stable. In fact, about 90% of your body’s serotonin is produced in the gut!

When the Gut-Brain Connection Gets Disrupted

Here’s where things can go off track.
When your gut microbiome becomes imbalanced—due to factors like:

  • Processed food or sugar-heavy diets
  • Frequent antibiotic use
  • Chronic stress or trauma
  • Environmental toxins
  • Food sensitivities

… it can lead to leaky gut, inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and an overloaded immune system. And that often translates into:

  • Brain fog
  • Mood swings or irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Trouble concentrating

You might feel like your brain is “glitching” or that your emotions are on a rollercoaster—but really, your gut is sending distress signals.

The Good News: Your Body Wants to Heal

The best part? Your gut is resilient.
When we start working to heal the gut, many clients are amazed at how quickly their brain fog lifts, energy returns, and mood becomes more balanced. Even small steps like:

  • Adding probiotic-rich foods (fermented veggies, kefir, yogurt)
  • Reducing sugar and processed foods
  • Getting better sleep
  • Managing stress with calming techniques
  • Taking targeted supplements or healing herbs

… can help restore harmony between your brain and your belly.

How I Can Help

If you’re tired of feeling off and ready to uncover the root cause of your symptoms, I invite you to schedule a Functional Health Session with me.
We’ll take a personalized, whole-person approach—looking at your lifestyle, labs, nutrition, gut health, hormones, and emotional stressors—to design a plan that helps you finally feel like yourself again.

🩺 Initial Discovery Session: just $25
👉 Click here to book now

Let’s listen to what your gut has been trying to tell you—and start your healing journey from the inside out.

Dr. Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
📍 Serving Central Florida & Nationwide (Virtual Options Available)
📞 407-760-1662
📧 rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
🔗 www.jrmnurseconsultants.com