04/16/2026
We’re honored to share this powerful patient experience from Kate, whose journey highlights the impact of compassionate, collaborative care at Appleton Area Health and Big Stone Therapies.
"I want to publicly share my experience with the team at Appleton Area Health and Big Stone Therapies — because this level of care deserves to be recognized. After a preventative double mastectomy for BRCA1+ gene, that was complicated by a large hematoma left untreated for three weeks — and a subsequent bedside reopening with overly tight staple closure — I was left with severe scar adhesions tethered to my chest wall. My incision had pulled inward, my mobility was restricted, and I was living with daily discomfort and the fear that the damage might be permanent.
What made the turning point possible was the physician I saw at Appleton Area Health. For the first time in this process, I felt truly heard. Instead of dismissing my concerns or minimizing what I was feeling, this doctor genuinely listened — to the physical limitations, the pain, and the emotional toll it was taking on me. That appointment resulted in a referral to physical therapy, and it changed the trajectory of my recovery.
Walking into therapy, I didn’t just need treatment — I needed hope. My care plan at Big Stone Therapies has been comprehensive and highly specialized. Treatment has included manual therapy with focused myofascial release and bodywork techniques, movement re-education, desensitization, and the Graston Technique to address dense fascial adhesions and restore tissue mobility. Each session has been intentional and responsive to how my body presented and progressed.
What has made the greatest difference is that this has truly been a team effort. My providers didn’t just “work on me” — they educated me, equipped me, and empowered me, every single visit. I committed to the prescribed home exercises, applied the movement education principles, and followed through between sessions. Healing has been collaborative.
The results have been measurable and meaningful:
• Improved scar mobility
• Decreased adhesion to the chest wall
• Increased range of motion
• Reduced pain
• Restoration of functional movement
What once felt tight, restrictive, and permanently damaged is now progressively improving through skilled, evidence-informed care and consistent teamwork. If you are struggling with post-surgical scar adhesions, fascial restriction, or complex soft tissue complications, this level of specialized and compassionate care is available through Appleton Area Health in conjunction with Big Stone Therapies.
I am deeply grateful for providers who listen, who take concerns seriously, and who partner with their patients in recovery.
Healing is possible — especially when you’re not doing it alone." -Kate, AAH/BST patient
