Phoebe Burgess has suffered from chronic back pain ever since a horrific ski accident in 2012 ‘changed [her] spine forever’.
And after having surgery in December, the former NRL WAG revealed on Wednesday she was recovering with the help of at-home rehabilitation exercises.
The 31-year-old shared a video to Instagram Stories of herself lying on her back while using a leg band, as instructed by her physiotherapist.
Rehab: After having back surgery in December, former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess revealed on Wednesday she was recovering with the help of at-home rehabilitation exercises
However, she wasn’t able to concentrate because her son Billy kept interrupting her.
‘Billy crashed my back rehab tonight… and it’s so cute I don’t even care how many chins this angle gives me,’ she captioned the post.
Phoebe revealed on December 6 she had undergone day surgery to alleviate her chronic back pain stemming from her skiing accident eight years earlier.
Too cute: However, she wasn’t able to concentrate because her son Billy kept interrupting her
On the mend: Phoebe revealed on December 6 she had undergone day surgery to alleviate her chronic back pain stemming from her skiing accident eight years earlier. After returning from hospital, she shared this photo to Instagram of herself at her family’s estate near Bowral
After returning from hospital, she shared a photo to Instagram of herself posing in front of a mirror at her family’s estate near Bowral.
Remaining upbeat, the mother of two wrote in the caption: ‘It’s day two following yet another procedure to get some relief from the muscle spasms associated with spinal injuries (in time for the heavy lifting of holiday season).’
Referencing her mother Sarah Hooke’s lavish floral decorations, she added: ‘Thought I’d share mum’s roses brightening up the view on my camera roll while I sneak in some major rest and recover.’
Day surgery: At the time, Phoebe also shared a photo to Instagram Stories from her surgery
At the time, Phoebe also shared a photo to Instagram Stories from her surgery.
The lifestyle entrepreneur wore a hospital gown and cap, and appeared in a positive frame of mind as she smiled for the camera.
In October, Phoebe admitted it had taken her ‘years’ to accept her diagnosis, and felt a responsibility to offer advice to other women living with chronic pain.
Candid: In October, Phoebe admitted it had taken her ‘years’ to accept her diagnosis, and felt a responsibility to offer advice to other women living with chronic pain
‘I don’t know if it’s social responsibility, female responsibility. The responsibility of being [a] “mum”,’ she said.
Phoebe’s first surgery was in 2012, shortly after the skiing accident ‘that changed [her] spine forever’.
Post-surgery, she ‘didn’t listen’ to her body or follow her doctors’ advice; instead she continued to play tennis, ski and run ‘every morning on concrete’.
Mistake: After her first surgery in 2012, Phoebe ‘didn’t listen’ to her body or follow her doctors’ advice; instead she continued to play tennis, ski and run ‘every morning on concrete’
Because of this, Phoebe ended up spending ‘weeks in hospital, unable to move’.
‘Two children and countless procedures, injections, scans and surgeries later, I live in chronic pain. It’s taken me years to acknowledge and accept my diagnosis,’ she said.
She has since learned to adapt to her back problems and has found a support system ‘away from my family’ who offer help.
Support: She has since learned to adapt to her back problems and has found a support system ‘away from my family’ who offer help
Ex-husband: Phoebe is the ex-wife of retired South Sydney Rabbitohs player Sam Burgess
Phoebe is the ex-wife of retired South Sydney Rabbitohs player Sam Burgess, 32.
The former couple finalised their divorce in December.
They share two children, daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, two.
Mummy’s angels: The former couple, who finalised their divorce in December, share two children, daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, two (pictured)