Tag Archives: #NervousSystemSupport

Why Injured Teens Need More Than Just Physical Therapy

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

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

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