The Hidden Hormone Barrier: Why Some People Struggle to Heal—And What You Can Do About It

by Dr. Grove Higgins

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right—showing up to therapy, stretching, working out, eating well—yet your pain lingers, your motivation crashes, and recovery feels out of reach?

I see it in my clinic every day. Patients come to me with stories of failure to resolve pain and rehabilitation issues, time after time, despite seeing the best doctors and therapists, gurus, and world-class experts. The missing link might not be your effort, the quality of your therapist, or even your diagnosis. It might be your hormones.

When Hormones Block Healing

When a patient is struggling to recover or responds poorly to their therapies, I always suspect they may have low testosterone, high estrogen, or dysregulated cortisol. They:

• Experience persistent or widespread pain

• Sleep poorly

• Feel emotionally flat and unmotivated

• Don't bounce back from exercise or manual therapy like others

• They receive massage, chiropractic, and physical therapy, but don’t respond as they should.

Why? Hormones play a central role in neurological regulation, tissue healing, inflammation control, and maintaining mood stability.

🔬 What the Research Says:

• Testosterone has anti-inflammatory effects, enhances muscle regeneration, and reduces pain sensitivity via opioid receptor modulation and central nervous system regulation.

  👉 Basaria, S. (2014). Testosterone therapy in older men with low testosterone levels. NEJM.

  👉 Craft, R.M. et al. (2004). Sex differences in pain and analgesia: the role of gonadal hormones. Pain, 109(1-2), 173–190.

  
  

• Estrogen, while crucial in proper amounts, may amplify pain signals when elevated or unbalanced, due to its effects on nociceptive pathways and neuroinflammation.

  👉 Smith, Y.R. et al. (2006). Estrogen modulation of pain perception. Pain, 124(1-2), 5–7.

  
  

• DHEA supports immune function, mood, and tissue repair, especially in chronic illness or stress-related conditions.

  👉 Bentley C, Hazeldine J, Greig C, Lord J, Foster M. Dehydroepiandrosterone: a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment and rehabilitation of the traumatically injured patient. Burns Trauma. 2019 Aug 2;7:26

  
  

• Cortisol, our primary stress hormone, when chronically elevated, inhibits healing, increases central pain sensitization, and depletes anabolic reserves like testosterone and DHEA.

  👉 Yaribeygi, H. et al. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI Journal, 16, 1057–1072.

  
  

This Isn’t Just About Testosterone

While testosterone gets the spotlight, your healing potential depends on a harmonized hormonal symphony. When even one instrument is out of tune—say, excess cortisol or low DHEA—your progress stalls.

In practical terms, this shows up as:

• Poor response to otherwise excellent physical therapy

• Increased soreness or muscle breakdown after exercise

• Emotional burnout and decreased motivation

• A chronic, low-grade inflammatory state

My Patients Confirm It

Many of my patients who feel “stuck” in recovery have underlying hormonal issues. After optimizing their hormones—especially testosterone and cortisol—the improvements are clear and fast:

“I didn’t realize how off I was until I started feeling like myself again. I was suddenly sleeping better, my pain decreased, and I actually wanted to move again.”

I can even feel it in their bodies as soon as I put my hands on their usually tight and painful muscles, and they are relaxed and respond the way I know a healthy person should. I have experienced it so many times that it is one of the first questions I ask when I sense that change.

This isn't placebo… It’s biology catching up.

Expert Confirmation: Dr. Lee Moorer on the Hormone–Recovery Link

Dr. Moorer

To validate these clinical experiences, I reached out to Dr. Lee Moorer, a hormone optimization specialist at Castle Rock Hormone Health.

Dr. Moorer has served over 3,500 patients across Colorado, utilizing a concierge-style approach to hormone optimization and in-house testing. He confirms:

“When hormone systems are optimized, pain perception goes down, inflammation is regulated, and recovery becomes efficient. It’s often the difference between someone treading water in therapy versus someone making real progress.” - Dr. Lee Moorer

Dr. Moorer’s team examines the entire hormonal profile—not just a single number—offering personalized treatment plans designed to help the person’s whole system function optimally.

⚠️ Don't Let Hormonal Imbalance Sabotage Your Recovery

Many patients fail at rehab not because they're lazy or broken, but because their biochemical foundation is unstable.

“You can’t out-stretch, out-strengthen, or out-adjust a hormonal imbalance.” – Dr. Grove Higgins

✅ What You Can Do

If you resonate with what you’ve read, take the next step:

• Contact my clinic and we’ll discuss whether hormone evaluation is right for your case.

• Or reach out to Castle Rock Hormone Health in Colorado Springs. Ask for Blake, the clinic owner, and mention this article.

Let’s make sure your body has everything it needs to truly heal.