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Physical Therapy Blog
When Slow Post-Surgery Progress Is Normal in Winter – Troutdale, OR
By late January, many post-surgery patients in Troutdale begin to worry that recovery has stalled. The early excitement of improvement has faded, winter feels endless, and progress seems slower than expected. Movements may feel heavier, energy lower, and gains less obvious than they were …Read More »
Why Damp Winter Weather Can Increase Post-Surgery Pain – Clackamas, OR
Many post-surgery patients in Clackamas notice a frustrating pattern during winter. On damp, overcast days, pain feels sharper, joints feel heavier, and movement feels harder than it did just days before. This change can be confusing, especially when recovery had seemed to be moving in …Read More »
Preventing Winter Slips That Set Back Surgical Recovery – Happy Valley, OR
Winter brings a specific kind of stress for post-surgery patients in Happy Valley. Steep driveways, shaded sidewalks, early-morning frost, and damp conditions can turn routine movement into a real risk. For someone still healing, even a minor slip can feel frightening, not just because of …Read More »
Regaining Strength After Holiday Setbacks – Gresham, OR
If your recovery felt smoother in November and early December but suddenly feels harder in January, you are not alone. Many post-surgery patients in Gresham notice a dip in strength, confidence, or consistency after the holidays. This does not mean your recovery failed or that …Read More »
Why Post-Surgery Stiffness Feels Worse in January – Portland, OR
January often catches post-surgery patients off guard. You may have been making steady progress through the fall, managing discomfort reasonably well in December, and then suddenly the new year arrives and everything feels tighter, stiffer, and harder to move. For many people recovering from …Read More »
Why Pain Feels Worse at Night — Especially After Surgery
Nighttime Pain Is a Common Part of Recovery If you are recovering from surgery in Happy Valley OR, you may notice something frustrating: your pain often feels more intense at night. Many patients report that evenings bring more stiffness, more sensitivity, and more difficulty getting …Read More »
Shoveling, Slipping, and Stairs: Staying Safe at Home After Surgery This Winter
Winter Safety Starts at Home If you are recovering from surgery in Clackamas OR, winter can introduce challenges that you may not have worried about before. Tasks like stepping outside to check the mail, navigating slick driveways, or climbing indoor stairs can feel very different …Read More »
Is It OK to Skip PT During the Holidays? Here’s What You Should Know
Why Holiday Disruptions Matter for Post-Surgical Recovery If you live in Gresham OR and are recovering from surgery this winter, the holiday season can feel like a major test of your commitment to physical therapy. Schedules change, family events pile up, and the weather makes …Read More »
Why Does Cold Weather Make My Surgical Site Hurt?
Understanding Why Winter Can Increase Post-Surgical Discomfort For many people in Portland OR, colder weather brings more than just chilly mornings and early sunsets. If you are recovering from surgery, you may notice that your surgical site feels stiffer, more sensitive, or achier during the …Read More »
Can I Travel for Thanksgiving If I Just Had Surgery?
Thanksgiving often means traveling — by car, plane, or train — to reconnect with family and friends. But if you’ve recently had surgery, the idea of sitting for hours or navigating airports can bring anxiety. Is it safe? Will swelling get worse? How can you …Read More »
The Holiday Trap: Why People Quit PT Too Soon (and What It Costs Them)
As the holidays approach, life gets busier. Shopping lists grow, family visits start, and it’s tempting to skip a few physical therapy sessions to make time for everything else. For many patients in Portland and Gresham, this pattern starts innocently enough — “I’ll reschedule next …Read More »
Still Swelling Months After Surgery? Here’s What It Might Mean
You’ve followed every post-op instruction, gone to physical therapy, and done your exercises — but the swelling around your surgical site just won’t go away. Sound familiar? Persistent swelling weeks or even months after surgery is more common than you might think. For patients in …Read More »
Why Is My Balance Worse in Crowds and Grocery Stores?
Many patients recovering from surgery notice something unexpected when they start returning to normal routines: their balance feels fine at home but suddenly unstable in crowded places like grocery stores or shopping centers. The rush of movement, noise, and bright lighting can make simple errands …Read More »
Use It Before You Lose It: Maximize PT Benefits Before Your Deductible Resets
As the year winds down, many patients in Portland and Happy Valley don’t realize they may be leaving valuable health benefits on the table. If you’ve been putting off physical therapy, now is the time to act. Most insurance plans reset deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums …Read More »
When Scar Tissue Gets in the Way: Why You’re Still Tight Weeks Later
Recovering from surgery isn’t always straightforward. For many patients in Gresham and Clackamas, one of the biggest frustrations comes a few weeks into healing: ongoing tightness that doesn’t seem to go away. Even when the incision looks healed, mobility feels restricted. At Renew Physical Therapy, …Read More »Fall Risk Season Is Here: What to Watch for After Surgery
Fall in Portland and Clackamas means crisp mornings, colorful leaves, and unfortunately, new hazards for those recovering from surgery. Whether you’ve had a joint replacement, back procedure, or another operation, the fall season can increase your risk of slips, trips, and instability. At Renew Physical …Read More »
Are You Walking Differently Without Realizing It? Signs Your Gait Is Off
After surgery or an injury, most people are eager to get back on their feet. But what happens when you start walking again isn’t always what you expect. Without realizing it, you may develop compensatory walking patterns — subtle shifts in how you move that …Read More »
Why Is My Surgical Site Suddenly Aching Again in the Cold?
Recovering from surgery is rarely a straight line. Many patients notice that when fall weather cools down, the area around their surgical site or an old injury suddenly feels stiffer, tighter, or more achy. If you’ve ever wondered why the change in seasons seems to …Read More »
Why Am I Off-Balance on Wet Sidewalks? Your Fall Reflexes Might Need Retraining
Do you ever step outside after a fall rainstorm and feel like the ground is suddenly more treacherous than it used to be? You’re not imagining it. And if you’re recovering from surgery or injury, that unsteadiness might be your body’s warning sign. At Renew Physical …Read More »
I Thought This Would Go Away By Now — Why Lingering Summer Pain Gets Worse in Fall
You thought it was just a tweak. A sore knee after that hike in July. An achy back after hauling patio furniture. Some swelling in your foot after that long road trip. But now it’s September — and that pain is still here. If you’re still feeling stiff, …Read More »Is It Normal to Still Feel Swollen After Surgery?
Swelling after surgery is expected—but how much is too much? And how long is it supposed to last? If you’ve recently undergone a joint replacement, spinal procedure, or soft-tissue surgery and you’re still seeing puffiness in your leg, ankle, or incision site weeks later, you’re …Read More »How Long Until I Can Walk Comfortably After Surgery?
For patients recovering from surgery — whether a knee replacement, foot procedure, or spinal operation — one of the most pressing and emotional questions is: “How long until I can walk again without pain or fear?” At Renew Physical Therapy, we hear this question every day …Read More »
When Summer Pain Becomes a Fall Problem: Act Now
As summer winds down across Portland and the surrounding areas of Clackamas, Gresham, and Happy Valley, it’s tempting to ride out those small aches and twinges with the hope they’ll disappear on their own. But seasonal transitions are exactly when unresolved pain turns into long-term …Read More »
Back to Your Routine Without Back Pain
As the carefree pace of summer gives way to the structure of back-to-school and back-to-work routines, many Portland-area residents find themselves trading movement for more time at desks, in cars, or at kitchen counters. And while fall structure can be productive, it often comes at …Read More »
Late Summer Shoulder Pain? How to Recover Before Fall
August brings a final burst of summer activity throughout Portland, Clackamas, and Happy Valley. From competitive recreational leagues to late-season gardening and DIY projects, many people are pushing their bodies before the routines of fall return. One of the most common complaints we see this …Read More »
From Camp to Classroom: Preventing Backpack and School-Related Injuries
Summer in Oregon is winding down. As kids trade in sleeping bags for school bags, and parents get ready for earlier mornings, the shift back to school routines brings more than just supply lists and schedules — it often introduces a whole new set of …Read More »
Don’t Wait for Fall: Fix That Lingering Pain Now
It’s easy to ignore nagging pain in the middle of summer. You’ve got plans, the weather’s great, and maybe that sore knee or tight shoulder isn’t that bad… yet. But by the time fall rolls around, that same discomfort could become a full-blown problem — just …Read More »
Weekend Warrior Woes: Recovering from Summer Overexertion
It starts with good intentions: a hike in the Gorge, a game of pickup basketball, or tackling that backyard landscaping project. But by Sunday evening, you’re sore, stiff, and asking yourself, “Why did I think that was a good idea?” If this sounds familiar, you’re …Read More »
Back Pain on the Road: How PT Can Help Frequent Drivers and Travelers
Long drives. Summer road trips. Sitting in beach traffic. While summer offers more freedom to explore, it often comes at a price — back pain. Whether you’re commuting between Clackamas and Portland, taking a weekend road trip to the coast, or logging serious hours behind the …Read More »Shoulder Pain Season: Why Summer Activities Aggravate Your Rotator Cuff
From swimming in the Columbia River Gorge to weeding your garden in Clackamas, summer is prime time for shoulder pain. If you’ve noticed increased soreness, stiffness, or a clicking sensation in your shoulder during July, you’re not alone. At Renew Physical Therapy, we see a …Read More »
Hot Weather, High Risk: Protect Your Joints This July
July is when Portlanders fully embrace the season — from long hikes in Forest Park to gardening in Clackamas and paddleboarding on the Willamette. But with rising temperatures comes a surprising side effect many people overlook: joint pain. If you’re dealing with arthritis, past injuries, or …Read More »
Is Your Old Injury Acting Up Again? Time to Get It Checked
It happens all the time. You’re enjoying your summer — hiking, traveling, maybe tackling a few long-postponed projects — and suddenly, that old injury flares up again. The same knee that sidelined you last year is swelling. Your lower back twinges when you get out of …Read More »
Travel Ready: Get Your Body Prepped for Summer Trips
Summer travel season is in full swing across Oregon. Whether you’re packing up the car for a weekend getaway in the Gorge, flying out of PDX for a long-awaited vacation, or road-tripping through the Pacific Northwest, one thing is clear: travel takes a toll on …Read More »Gardening Without Pain: PT Tips for Oregon Green Thumbs
There’s nothing like digging into your garden on a sunny June morning. Whether you’re planting vegetables in Clackamas or pruning rose bushes in Happy Valley, gardening is one of Oregon’s most rewarding summer activities. But if you’ve ever finished a weekend of yard work with …Read More »Prevent Summer Setbacks: How PT Keeps You in the Game
Summer is here in Oregon — and with it comes the itch to move. Whether you’re hitting the trails in Happy Valley, gardening in your Clackamas backyard, or joining a rec league in Portland, you’re probably planning to be more active over the next few …Read More »
