Why Your Recovery Starts Before Surgery | Andrew Macdonald | Beyond the Waiting Room

Waiting months or even years for surgery can feel like wasted time, but it doesn't have to be. In our very first episode, Amy sits down with her husband and business partner, physiotherapist Andrew Macdonald, to talk about how they built Apex Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and why that waiting period matters more than most people realize. They share how prehab can help you come out of surgery stronger, why a collaborative approach between surgeons and rehab teams fills the gaps patients often fall through, and why comparing your recovery to a friend's or coworker's can do more harm than good. They also walk through how physio, massage therapy, myofascial release and athletic therapy work together at Apex, and why they decided to start this podcast for anyone stuck in the waiting room. 0:00 Welcome to Beyond the Waiting Room 0:56 Who owns Apex 1:31 Amy and Andrew's backgrounds 5:26 What makes Apex different 8:50 Why prehab matters 12:23 A collaborative approach to surgical care 14:43 Why surgery feels so scary 16:56 Managing expectations after surgery 18:33 Why you shouldn't compare recoveries 21:03 Physiotherapy at Apex 21:38 Massage therapy after surgery 25:38 Myofascial release 29:15 Athletic therapy and strength training 31:26 Why we started this podcast For general education only, and not a substitute for advice from your own healthcare provider. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes 📸 Instagram: @btwrpodcast #BeyondTheWaitingRoom #CanadianHealthcare #Physiotherapy