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Tag Archives: #FunctionalMedicine

September 09 2025

Why Injured Teens Need More Than Just Physical Therapy

Author jrmnurse Posted on Categories Health/Wellness, Pediatric and Adolescent Health

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

When a teen gets injured, the first line of treatment often involves physical therapy, rest, and sometimes medication. While these interventions are important, many parents find themselves frustrated when their child’s recovery is slower or more complicated than expected. Why does this happen?

The answer lies in understanding that teen bodies are not just smaller versions of adults. Adolescence is a time of rapid growth, hormonal shifts, and brain development—all of which influence how the body responds to injury and heals.

The Unique Challenges of Teen Recovery

  1. Hormonal Fluctuations Affect Healing
    During puberty, hormone levels such as estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol fluctuate widely. These hormones play a key role in regulating inflammation and tissue repair. Imbalances or stress-induced disruptions can delay healing or increase pain sensitivity.
  2. Stress Levels Can Be Overlooked
    Teens face significant stressors—from school demands and social pressures to the emotional toll of injury itself. Chronic stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight system, leading to elevated cortisol that can suppress immune function and increase inflammation, slowing recovery.
  3. Nutritional Needs Are Critical and Often Missed
    Growing bodies require ample nutrients—especially protein, vitamins D and B-complex, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids—to rebuild tissues and support brain function. Poor diet or undiagnosed absorption issues can undermine healing efforts.
  4. Nervous System Sensitivity and Pain Processing
    Teens may experience heightened nervous system sensitivity after trauma. This can manifest as increased pain perception, muscle tension, or sleep disturbances, which are not always addressed by physical therapy alone.
  5. Emotional and Psychological Factors
    The psychological impact of injury on teens is often underestimated. Anxiety, frustration, or fear about recovery can influence pain levels and motivation for rehabilitation. Addressing emotional health is essential for full healing.

How Functional Medicine Supports Teen Recovery

Functional Medicine looks beyond just the injury site. It considers the whole person—biochemistry, lifestyle, emotional health, and environment—to create a personalized healing plan. For teens, this means:

  • Hormone balancing through nutrition, lifestyle, and when needed, lab testing
  • Stress management techniques including mindfulness, breathing exercises, and gentle movement
  • Nutritional optimization to fill gaps and support tissue repair
  • Nervous system support to calm hypersensitivity and improve sleep
  • Emotional coaching to help teens cope with the mental strain of injury

Together with you and your teen, I work to identify hidden barriers to healing and provide practical tools that empower faster, safer recovery.

Your Teen Deserves More Than a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

If your child’s recovery feels stuck or they are struggling with lingering pain, fatigue, or mood changes, it’s time to explore a deeper level of care. Early intervention can prevent chronic issues and set your teen on a healthier path—not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well.

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

Contact Info:
Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and Central Florida
Phone: 407-760-1662
Email: rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
Website: www.jrmnurseconsultants.com

September 09 2025

How Stress Can Stall Your Healing (and What to Do About It)

Author jrmnurse Posted on Categories Health/Wellness, Mental Health and Wellness.

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

You’ve been through a lot—an injury, surgery, or a chronic condition that just won’t go away. You’re trying to rest, eat right, follow physical therapy, and take your medications, but something still feels off.

You’re exhausted, your pain flares up randomly, and sleep is a nightly struggle.

This isn’t just in your head—it could be your stress response working against your body’s ability to heal.

The Stress-Healing Connection

Stress is not just an emotion—it’s a physiological event that activates your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In short bursts, stress helps your body respond to threats. But when stress becomes chronic—whether from pain, trauma, work, or emotional strain—it keeps your body in a fight-or-flight mode that directly interferes with healing.

Here’s how stress can sabotage your recovery:

  • Elevated cortisol suppresses your immune system and increases inflammation
  • Sleep disruption prevents your tissues from regenerating overnight
  • Muscle tension and nerve hypersensitivity increase your perception of pain
  • Digestive slowdown affects nutrient absorption critical for healing
  • Mood imbalances (like anxiety or depression) further slow progress

Even if you’re doing “everything right” physically, your nervous system may still be stuck in a hypervigilant state—blocking recovery at the root.

Signs That Stress Is Impacting Your Recovery

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Pain that worsens at night or during stressful periods
  • Brain fog, forgetfulness, or trouble concentrating
  • Frequent illnesses or longer time to heal
  • Anxiety, irritability, or low mood
  • Blood pressure swings or digestive issues

How Functional Medicine Helps You Reset

In functional medicine, we don’t just look at where it hurts—we look at why your body isn’t healing. If chronic stress is interfering, we address the entire stress response system and restore balance. That may include:

  • Cortisol rhythm testing (via saliva or urine)
  • Adrenal and nervous system support using herbs, nutrients, and lifestyle tools
  • Gentle movement therapies that calm the vagus nerve
  • Sleep and circadian rhythm restoration protocols
  • Mind-body interventions like breathwork, journaling, or trauma release

It’s not all in your head—but the healing starts with your brain-body connection.

Your Next Step: Calm the Storm

If this sounds like you, I invite you to take the first step toward restoring your nervous system and getting back to life.

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

Contact Info:
Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and Central Florida
Phone: 407-760-1662
Email: rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
Website: www.jrmnurseconsultants.com

 

September 09 2025

“Is It Nerve Damage or Something Else?”

Author jrmnurse Posted on Categories Pain Management and Relief

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant

You’re feeling tingling, weakness, numbness, or maybe even burning pain. Your arm or leg “gives out” unexpectedly. The symptoms are persistent and frustrating.

You go to your doctor, and they run a nerve conduction study (NCS) and EMG. The results come back: normal.

And yet—you still don’t feel normal. You’re still struggling.

This is one of the most common complaints I hear from my patients. They’ve been told, “There’s nothing wrong with you,” even though their symptoms clearly suggest something is off. They leave the doctor’s office with no plan, no answers, and often no validation that what they’re experiencing is real.

But here’s the truth: a normal EMG/NCS does not rule out nerve dysfunction. It simply means there was no detectable damage to the large motor nerves at the time of the test. It doesn’t measure nerve inflammation, chemical irritation, nutrient deficiencies, or small-fiber nerve involvement.

That’s where functional medicine comes in.

Why Functional Medicine Looks Deeper
Functional medicine doesn’t just look at your nerves—it looks at what’s affecting them.

If your nerves are struggling to perform, there’s usually an upstream issue that traditional tests aren’t designed to detect. That might include:

  • Chronic inflammation that’s irritating nerve endings
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies (especially B12, folate, magnesium, or D3)
  • Blood sugar dysregulation that can mimic neuropathy—even in non-diabetics
  • Gut dysfunction limiting nutrient absorption or contributing to autoimmune attacks
  • Toxic exposures from mold, heavy metals, or medications
  • Adrenal dysfunction due to chronic stress
  • Hidden infections such as Lyme or Epstein-Barr
  • Trauma and emotional stress locked in the nervous system, disrupting healing

Most of these factors don’t show up on conventional nerve tests—but they absolutely can impair nerve function.

Real Answers for Ongoing Symptoms
I work with patients who have been told nothing is wrong with them—only to later discover deep imbalances driving their pain, weakness, or numbness. Some are injured workers trying to return to a job but feel physically limited. Others are parents, professionals, or caregivers simply trying to get their life back.

Together, we build a personalized plan to reduce inflammation, restore nerve nutrition, support the stress response, and repair function.

If your nerves feel “off” but your tests say otherwise—let’s talk.
For just $25, you can book a 1-on-1 Functional Recovery Consult with me and get a clear next step forward.

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

Contact Info:
Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and Central Florida
407-760-1662 | rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
www.jrmnurseconsultants.com

September 09 2025

Ozempic vs. Natural Weight Loss for Hormonal Balance and Injury Recovery

Author jrmnurse Posted on Categories Health/Wellness, Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Health

By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Introduction

During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen and progesterone can affect metabolism, joint health, muscle mass, and inflammation, making weight management and injury recovery more challenging.

Ozempic (semaglutide) has gained attention for weight loss, but it’s important to understand its proper use, potential side effects, and how natural strategies remain the foundation for safe recovery and hormonal balance.

Hormonal Changes and Injury Recovery

Hormonal changes in menopause can:

  • Slow metabolism
  • Increase abdominal fat
  • Reduce muscle mass
  • Elevate inflammation
  • Delay recovery from injuries

Weight gain can also increase stress on joints, ligaments, and muscles, making sustainable weight and hormone management essential for injury prevention and healing.

Reference: Mayo Clinic, Menopause Symptoms & Management

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally approved for type 2 diabetes. It works by:

  • Slowing gastric emptying
  • Reducing appetite
  • Helping with blood sugar control

Important: Ozempic is not a magic weight-loss solution for healthy women and should never replace lifestyle strategies for injury recovery or hormone balance.

Potential side effects:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
  • Rare: pancreatitis, gallbladder disease
  • Requires ongoing medical supervision

Emerging Research: Ozempic and Injury Management

Some studies suggest that semaglutide may benefit certain joint injuries, particularly knee osteoarthritis in individuals with obesity.

Findings include:

  • Greater weight loss than placebo
  • Reduced knee pain
  • Improved physical function

Mechanisms may include joint stress reduction via weight loss and anti-inflammatory effects.

References:

Note: These benefits are specific to medical cases like obesity-related osteoarthritis, not general cosmetic weight loss.

Natural Strategies for Weight, Hormones, and Injury Recovery

Whether or not medications are involved, foundational strategies are critical:

Nutrition (Anti-inflammatory & Hormone-Supportive)

  • Healthy fats: olive oil, avocado, fatty fish
  • Protein: chicken, eggs, tofu, Greek yogurt
  • Fiber-rich carbs: quinoa, oats, vegetables
  • Supplements for joints & tissue repair: collagen, magnesium

Sample 1-Day Meal Plan:

Meal Foods
Breakfast Spinach & mushroom omelet with avocado
Snack Greek yogurt + berries + chia seeds
Lunch Grilled salmon salad with walnuts and olive oil
Snack Carrot sticks & hummus
Dinner Baked chicken, roasted sweet potato, broccoli

Exercise & Recovery

  • Strength training: 2–3x/week to maintain muscle and protect joints
  • Cardio: 3–5x/week for metabolism and cardiovascular health
  • Mobility & stretching: Prevent injuries and improve recovery

Lifestyle

  • Sleep: 7–9 hours for hormone regulation and tissue repair
  • Stress management: Meditation, journaling, or breathing exercises
  • Gut health: Fiber, probiotics, and balanced nutrition

Reference: Harvard Health, Menopause and Weight Gain

Ozempic vs. Natural Strategies

Factor Ozempic (Semaglutide) Natural Approaches
Purpose Blood sugar management, weight loss in obesity/diabetes Hormone balance, injury recovery, sustainable weight management
Benefits Can reduce appetite, promote weight loss, and improve joint pain in OA Supports metabolism, joint health, muscle mass, and hormone regulation
Risks Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and gallbladder issues Minimal if done correctly
Sustainability Requires ongoing injections, medical supervision Lifelong skills support overall health
Best Use Medically indicated obesity or diabetes; obesity-related osteoarthritis Everyone, especially injury recovery & menopause support

Safety and Legal Considerations

  • Medical supervision is essential
  • Side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pancreatitis
  • Not for cosmetic weight loss in otherwise healthy individuals

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any medication, particularly when recovering from injuries or managing hormonal changes.

Conclusion

Ozempic may be helpful for specific medical scenarios, such as obesity-related knee osteoarthritis, but it is not a replacement for natural, foundational strategies.

Focus on:

  • Nutrition
  • Strength and mobility training
  • Sleep and stress management
  • Hormone-supportive practices

These steps improve injury recovery, joint health, and sustainable weight management safely and effectively.

References

  1. Mayo Clinic. Menopause Symptoms & Management
  2. NEJM, 2024. Semaglutide and Knee Osteoarthritis
  3. PMC, 2022. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Anti-Inflammatory Effects
  4. Harvard Health. Menopause and Weight Gain

“To receive your free handout with meal plans, exercise charts, and a comparison of Ozempic vs. natural strategies, contact me at jrmnurseconsultants.com.”

September 09 2025

Inflammation: The Invisible Barrier to Healing

Author jrmnurse Posted on Categories Health/Wellness

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

You’ve followed every instruction, completed your physical therapy, and taken the medications—but the pain still lingers. Maybe it’s joint stiffness, nerve irritation, or just that deep ache that never really went away. If you feel like something’s still wrong but no one can tell you what it is, there may be one hidden culprit: inflammation.

What Is Inflammation—and Why Does It Matter?

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury, stress, or toxins. In small doses, it helps with healing. But when inflammation becomes chronic, it actually prevents healing. It keeps your tissues irritated, your nerves overreactive, and your immune system exhausted.

This invisible force can stall your recovery long after the original injury has healed—especially if it’s never addressed at the root.

Clues That Inflammation Is Slowing You Down

As a Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant, I see this often in clients who say:

  • “I’m still in pain even though my MRI looks fine.”
  • “I was cleared by ortho but don’t feel like myself.”
  • “I can’t sleep, my energy is low, and everything feels inflamed.”

These aren’t just symptoms to medicate. They’re signals that your body is trying to say:
“Help me heal at the source.”

How We Address Inflammation Functionally

At JRM Nurse Consultants, we take a deeper, root-cause approach. We focus on:

  • Personalized anti-inflammatory nutrition
  • Gut health restoration (since 70% of your immune system lives there)
  • Functional lab testing to identify hidden imbalances
  • Stress reduction protocols that calm the nervous system

When we lower inflammation naturally, the body can do what it was designed to do—heal.

“If you’ve been frustrated by slow recovery or vague diagnoses, don’t settle. There is another way.”

Let’s Build Your Recovery Plan

A one-time injury should not lead to a lifetime of pain.

Click here to book your session
Schedule your $25 Functional Recovery Assessment and let’s look beyond the surface together.

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

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