Your Body Knows How to Heal But Sometimes It Gets Stuck
The human body is remarkable. It’s designed to process physical and emotional stress and trauma and return to balance on its own. But sometimes, that healing process gets interrupted — especially after surgery or major medical procedures.
Whether it’s a C-section, back or neck surgery, joint replacement, or even oral surgery, each of these experiences affects more than just the muscles or skin. They also affect the body’s fascia — the connective tissue web that supports and connects everything inside you.
A while back, I shared a story on Facebook about shaking during childbirth and was amazed by how many people resonated with it.
The author described how, during her C-section, her body began to shake uncontrollably.
She wrote:
“After receiving a spinal block and lying down on the table, I began to feel cold — like polar-vortex cold… Before I could say anything else, the shakes set in, and this time they were uncontrollable.”
This shaking isn’t random — it’s actually a healthy and natural part of the body’s healing response.
When we experience stress or trauma, our nervous system enters fight, flight, or freeze mode. Once the body feels safe again, it often “thaws” by shaking or trembling. This is how the body releases built-up energy and resets itself.
What We Can Learn from Animals
This concept was explored by trauma expert Dr. Peter Levine, who studied how animals recover after life-threatening events.
When an animal escapes danger, it doesn’t carry the trauma forever — it literally shakes it off, releasing tension and energy so it can return to a calm, balanced state.
You can see it in action, here on this YouTube video of a polar bear:
Humans are built the same way but the body has shut down the normal process of healing due to medication or as a response to its environment, it creates a hold or restriction indefinitely — unless relief is provided to these tensions. This holding leads to long-term myofascial restrictions — in other words, chronic pain, stiffness and tightness.
How This Leads to Fascial Restrictions and Chronic Pain
When the natural process of release is interrupted, the body compensates by tightening and holding — often indefinitely.
That holding pattern creates restrictions in the fascia, which can show up later as chronic pain, stiffness, limited mobility, or recurring discomfort that doesn’t seem to have a clear cause.
This is where Myofascial Release can help. By applying gentle, sustained pressure to these restrictions, we allow the body to resume the healing process it was trying to complete in the first place.
What Clients Often Experience During Myofascial Release
In my practice at North Shore Myofascial Release in Marblehead, clients often notice their body begin to respond as we work through old restrictions.
They may feel:
- Gentle shaking or trembling
- Waves of warmth or coolness
- Spontaneous deep breaths or sighs
- A sense of emotional or physical release
These are all signs that the body is unwinding old tension and returning to balance. Once that happens, we often see significant improvements in mobility, pain levels, and overall sense of ease.
Your Body Has the Wisdom to Heal
If you’ve experienced shaking after surgery or trauma or if you’re living with chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments — know that your body isn’t broken. It’s communicating.
With the right support, it can finish what it started and move toward healing again.
Ready to Support Your Body’s Healing?
At North Shore Myofascial Release, I help clients gently release old patterns of tension and trauma so they can live pain-free, active, and connected to their bodies again.
👉 Book your session at www.northshoremfr.com.
Your body already knows how to heal, let’s help it get there.
Jessica Kaloutas, LMT, is an expert Myofascial Release therapist and teacher for those suffering from chronic pain, acute injury and trauma. It’s her calling to facilitate the body’s natural ability to heal. She’s known for blending the ancient wisdom of Myofascial Release with empathy and compassion to offer powerful, mind/body education and treatment, resulting in personal empowerment, long-lasting pain relief and an amazing, joyful life. North Shore Myofascial Release is here to help you.