Tag Archive for chronic pain

Meet the Therapists – Kathy Hess, PT

August 26, 2011 Clear Passage Physical Therapy 2 comments

Kathy is an accomplished equestrian

What is your name?

Kathy Hess

How long have you been a physical therapist?

31 years

How long have you been practicing the Wurn Technique?

I have been certified in the Wurn Technique for six months, but I have been doing most of the hands-on techniques for over 15 yrs.

Which Clear Passage clinic location do you work at?

I am the clinic director for the Northern Virginia location.

How did you first become interested in this work?

I felt like I was missing something with my treatments. I started taking Myofascial Release classes, then became interested in treating women’s health issues. I then started taking additional classes in this area.

Kathy with her family

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Philadelphia area, specifically Norristown, PA.

What’s your favorite food?

Potato chips

Where did you receive your education?

Univerisity of Pittsburgh

What is your philosophy on continuing education?

I believe it is very important to expand your knowledge base.   I take about 2-3 continuing education classes every year.

What conditions do you have experience in treating?

I have treated patients with chronic pain, adhesions, women’s health issues, orthopedic issues, neurological issues, and amputees.

Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?

My favorite location is Sedona, Arizonia. Going camping anywhere is great to me. I love being outside in the fresh air.

What is your favorite part about treating patients?

Kathy treating a Clear Passage patient

I enjoy helping patients get there life back without pain or limitations

What do you hear patients say most often after receiving treatment?

“I can’t believe I am feeling better.”

What three words describes you best?

Intense, Motivated, and Caring

What drives you every day?

Knowing that I can help people

Have a question or comment for Kathy? Post a reply below.

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Video: Reclaiming Life After Surgery and Bowel Obstruction

August 23, 2011 Clear Passage Physical Therapy No comments

This place is saving lives.

I thought, you know, I do have a chance at a quality of life again, and I know that these people have saved my life.

I thought it was very important that I share some of the things that I have gone through in my life that are directly related to many surgeries that I have had that have caused me to have bowel obstructions and many, many surgeries.


At the age of 38, I entered the hospital and was given a 20 percent chance to live in the emergency room. Immediately, I was taken upstairs to the intensive care unit. My mother and my wife sat next to my bed and watched me for 69 days hoping and praying that I would eventually heal.

They were told that the best thing they could do was that I would at best be in a wheel chair and at best I would have brain damage. After the 69 days, I came out of a coma. I was very miserable and weighed about 100 pounds. At that point I looked at myself, at all the tubes, and wondered, how am I going to get through this.

I finally got out of the hospital and little did I know how important physical therapy would become in my life.

One day, I’m sitting on the sofa with my wife and start experiencing some severe pain. She suggested that we go to the hospital so we go to the hospital. They had diagnosed me with a bowel obstruction. I had no idea what a bowel obstruction was or that I could get a bowel obstruction from my first surgery. They repaired the bowel obstruction, and what I mean by repair is they remove nine inches of what they call a twisted bowel and I remained in the hospital for 32 days.

The most annerving thing I ever heard was, “There’s nothing we can do about this, you’re probably going to get another bowel obstruction, and we will see you again.” I was flored at that point and very confused, very hurt. I did not know what I was going to do.

I started my search. I did not know where to start, I did not know what I was doing, and didn’t really know what a bowel obstruction was. Later I found out that actually it is the adhesion that actually closes off the bowel which could cause a partial and sometimes even a complete obstruction. There’s nothing they can do about these adhesions, which once again, was very upsetting.

I started first by looking on the internet. I searched for weeks looking for something. By the grace of God, I clicked on a site that speaks about an incredible system that has been developed by Larry and Belinda Wurn. This process is actually called the Wurn Technique.

You do not have to go through the painful process of the NG tube and the healing and the pain that goes along with that. There is someone out there that can put you in a situation where it will not happen again. This technology is out there, this technique is out here.

This place is saving lives. There’s no other way I can put it. They are saving lives. That is why I am sitting right here, right now, telling my story.

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The Invisible Disease: Chronic Pain

August 4, 2011 Clear Passage Physical Therapy 2 comments

Chronic Pain: The Invisible Disease

You awake in the morning with Pain.

Pain tells your body that it would be easier to stay in bed. You ignore Pain and push back the covers, wincing with the seemingly simple motion. Pain accompanies you as you prepare for the day, tugging and pulling at your joints and muscles with each movement.

Pain travels with you to yet another doctor’s appointment and nods as you describe him with painstaking detail as the doctor scribbles on his notepad.

But when the doctor runs tests, takes x-rays, and orders a CT scan, Pain hides. Despite the doctors attempts to catch a glimpse by prodding and poking, Pain makes no appearance.

The doctor explains that there is nothing there – that Pain is merely in your head like an child’s imaginary friend. You are filled with rage and frustration at Pain as you try to explain his physical presence, but your attempts merely furrow the doctor’s brow as he scribbles a prescription on his notepad. “You’ll just have to learn to live with it,” he says, “But in the meantime, try this.” He hands you the chicken scratched note on his way out the door.

You leave the office defeated, disempowered, and depressed.

Chronic pain leaves thousands of people searching for answers to a pain that seems invisible. Treatments and drug prescriptions often mask the symptoms but provide no relief for the root cause. This pain is given many names: endometriosis, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, to name a few. However, the true cause often goes by the name adhesions.

Adhesions form as a natural part of the healing process. Much like thick nylon ropes, they form wherever the body heals from a trauma, surgery, infection or inflammation. Unfortunately, as these adhesions grow and attach to nearby tissues and organs, they can also cause a myriad of health problems.

Adhesions are often the underlying cause of chronic pain, infertility, endometriosis pain, and bowel obstructions.  Because these thick internal scars are invisible on traditional medical tests, such as x rays and CT scans, they often go undiagnosed by physicians and health care professionals.

The Wurn Technique is a hands-on physical therapy designed specifically to treat adhesions. The therapy feels much like a deep massage as highly skilled therapists use their hands to discover and treat areas that are restricted by adhesions.

Educate and Empower Yourself, Learn More About Adhesions…

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New Clear Passage Clinic in Virginia

July 29, 2011 Clear Passage Physical Therapy One comment

Relief for chronic pain and natural treatment for infertility will soon be available in Northern Virginia, just south of Washington D.C. Clear Passage Physical Therapy welcomes physical therapist, Kathy Hess, to their newest clinic, opening on August 1, 2011.

With over 1,000 babies born to women diagnosed infertile, and research published in major medical journals, Clear Passage Physical Therapy is expanding its pioneering hands-on treatment for infertility and pain to Northern Virginia. Opening August 1, 2011 south of Washington, D.C., the new clinic will provide a natural alternative to surgery for complex conditions including infertility, chronic pain, adhesions, endometriosis, and small bowel obstruction.

“Due to its central East Coast location, this clinic will allow patients from Boston to Savannah the option to travel to the clinic by car, train, or by air to the three nearby airports,” said Belinda Wurn, PT, and National Director for the group.

Clinic Director Kathy Hess, PT, has over 20 years of hands-on therapy skills. While her experience spans many areas of rehabilitation, Kathy has a strong focus on treating chronic pain and dysfunction over the last two decades. Her expanded role with Clear Passage now includes treatment of female infertility, post-surgical adhesion pain, and small bowel obstruction – a common life-threatening condition.



The therapy she will provide, the Wurn Technique®, has been featured in major medical journals for its ability to improve fertility, decrease pain and open blocked fallopian tubes. Her certification will allow the merger of her extensive experience with the pioneering work of the Wurns in their continuing efforts to research uncharted areas of non-surgical therapy. Recent clinical data shows the therapy’s success in clearing small bowel obstruction, a condition previously treatable only by surgery.

About Clear Passage Physical Therapy

Clear Passage Physical Therapy is a network of high quality physical therapy clinics specializing in hands-on treatment of women’s health conditions, adhesions, and chronic pain. Clear Passage treats patients from all over the world. “About 20 percent of our patients are healthcare professionals,” Wurn said.

Clear Passage was co-founded by therapists Larry and Belinda Wurn, a husband and wife team. It was born from Belinda’s own personal experiences and quest for relief from debilitating adhesion pain after surgery to remove cancer.

About the Wurn Technique

The Wurn Technique is a hands-on soft tissue manual therapy developed to treat adhesions, female infertility, pain, endometriosis, and small bowel obstruction. This therapy is practiced exclusively at Clear Passage Physical Therapy clinics.

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Why Do I Have Chronic Pain After Surgery?

July 6, 2011 Clear Passage Physical Therapy 2 comments

Surgery can be a necessary and lifesaving procedure.

However, surgery often results in side effects in the months and years after the procedure. Infection, inflammation, chronic pain and even bowel obstruction can occur after a surgical procedure as a result of adhesion formation.

Adhesions form as the bodies natural response to a trauma, surgery, infection or inflammation. They act as internal scars binding and covering tissues and organs throughout the body.

Unfortunately, these adhesions remain in the body long after the body has healed. This can result in pain after surgery, reduced range of motion, and dysfunction. In essence, these adhesions act as a strong glue restricting the body’s normal function.

Common surgeries that result in adhesion formation include:

  • Abdominal or pelvic surgery
  • C-section or Episiotomy
  • Laparotomy or Laparoscopy
  • Back or Hip Surgery
  • Gastric Bypass
  • Hysterectomy
  • Appendectomy
  • Mastectomy
  • Lysis of adhesions
  • Bowel Obstruction repair

The Wurn Technique is a natural treatment option for pain after surgery. This treatment uses over 200 hands on techniques to reduce the restriction and pain caused by adhesions.

Do you experience pain after surgery? What treatments have you tried?

We’d love to hear your comments.

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