Abby Dunkin, 2 Legs to 2 Wheels to Gold Medal

Abby shares her story of suddenly using the loss of her legs with CRPS, this led her to joining the Gold Medal winning Team USA as a Paralympian in 2016 in wheelchair basketball. But her story didn't stop there, she eventually regained the use of her legs and experienced a health transformation.

Show Notes

In This Episode: 

• CRPS stands for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
• Despite being diagnosed at age 13 with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a brain disorder that causes abnormal pain, Dunkin grew up playing sports including basketball, track and martial arts. 
• Midway through her junior year, complications from a rare nervous system disorder left her unable to walk and needing to use a wheelchair on a daily basis. 
• She was re-diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope Dysautonomia with Small Fiber Neuropathy and discovered wheelchair basketball after watching videos of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
• Abby unpacks the rehab process, it was basically an all day recovery starting at 5 AM and adjusting the ankle brace along the way. 
• After she played USA ball she was named to the 2020 Tokyo team, but the pandemic hit and she took it as a sign, she retired, became a personal trainer and moved to North Carolina.
• Abby works at Redline Athletics and works with youth ages 8-18, multiple sports and work on speed, agility, and weight training. They start with the basics.
• Top three pieces of advice
  • Get outside, get your body moving for at least 30 minutes
  • Check your diet
  • Do what makes you happy

Quotes from This Episode: 

• Going from two feet to two wheels is no easy transition, especially as a teenage girl. ~Abby

Links To Things I Talk About: 

• Rethinking Pain video from Tame the Beast (with the wolf)
• Abby's Team USA profile
• Redline Athletics

Episode Sponsor: 

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