Show Links

Chad’s Links

Connect with Chad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadwillia1
Get Your Doing Hard Things My Way Gear: https://doinghardthingsmyway.com/
Contribute to the Doing Hard Things My Way, Adaptive Athlete Scholarship Fund: https://bold.org/funds/doing-hard-things-my-way-adaptive-athlete-scholarship-fund

Daryl’s Links

Connect with Daryl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daryltperry/
For ALL things Your Level Fitness: https://yourlevelfitness.com/

Pain management is one of those topics that every person with cerebral palsy understands, but it can be hard to talk about without it turning into a clinical checklist. In this episode of The Cerebral Palsy Perspective, Chad Williams and Daryl Perry share a real world conversation about what pain management looks like in daily life, what has helped them, and why every plan has to be personal.

We start with an important reminder. We are not medical professionals. We are sharing what we have tried, what we still use, and what we have learned through lived experience. If you have a medical team, physical therapy, orthopedics, and other providers, talk with them, and bring ideas to them. The goal is to give you options you can explore, not to give you a one size fits all protocol.

Chad shares how pain became more noticeable when life got more sedentary, especially after starting an office job. He talks about using physical therapy, muscle relaxers, and eventually the gym as a tool for managing tightness and staying functional. He also explains the reality that even helpful movement can wake things up, so listening to your body and adjusting matters.

Daryl shares how his approach has evolved over time, especially with injuries over the last year. He breaks down how morning stretching, small touch points throughout the day, and post workout recovery routines can make a big difference. He also talks about reducing reliance on anti inflammatories when possible, and focusing on strategies that support the long game.

You will also hear both Chad and Daryl talk about tools and techniques that have been game changers for them. Trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and practical recovery gear like wearable heat and massage support. Chad shares a few favorite devices that help him manage hips, lower back, and hamstring tightness, plus the importance of advocating for yourself, researching options, and bringing those ideas to your PT or doctor.

Finally, we talk about pacing. Not just during workouts, but in the entire approach to movement. The goal is to stay active, preserve your body, and keep showing up. Going all out might feel productive in the moment, but if it knocks you out for a week, it is not a win. Calm progress, steady pacing, and consistent support strategies add up.

If you find even one idea in this conversation that helps you or someone you love, it is worth it. And if you have something that works for you, share it in the comments, and include a link if you can. This community gets better when we trade real tools, real experiences, and real solutions.

Please share this episode with anyone you think would be interested in listening to it.

Visit yourlevelfitness.com/cerebral-palsy-perspective for links to the show page on each of the major podcast directories. From there, you can subscribe and share this pod.

Show Links

Chad’s Links
Connect with Chad on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/chadwillia1
Get Your Doing Hard Things My Way Gear. https://doinghardthingsmyway.com/
Contribute to the Doing Hard Things My Way Adaptive Athlete Scholarship Fund. https://bold.org/funds/doing-hard-things-my-way-adaptive-athlete-scholarship-fund

Daryl’s Links
Connect with Daryl on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/daryltperry/
For ALL things Your Level Fitness. https://yourlevelfitness.com/

Episode Description

In this episode of The Cerebral Palsy Perspective, Chad Williams and cohost Daryl Perry talk about what adulthood with cerebral palsy actually looks like, and why it is less about decline and more about adaptation.

Cerebral palsy is not degenerative, but carrying imbalances and compensations for decades can take a toll. Chad shares what preservation looks like for him as he navigates hip dysplasia, a torn labrum, and arthritis, and Daryl talks about the mindset shift that happens when you realize you cannot just force your body through everything forever. They get into the drop off many people experience after childhood resources fade, how self advocacy becomes a daily skill, and how hard it can be to balance trusting doctors with trusting what you know about your own body.

They also talk about the trial and error of building routines, what active recovery can look like when resting too much leads to stiffness, and how weather, pain, and limited mobility can impact headspace. From shoes and orthotics to yard work and pacing yourself in public, Chad and Daryl share the real life adaptations that help them stay independent and keep moving forward.

If you are an adult with CP, a parent thinking about your child’s future, or someone who wants a more honest look at life with CP beyond the highlight reels, this episode is for you. Drop your experiences and questions in the comments, because your story might help shape future episodes.

Please share this episode with anyone you think would be interested in listening to it.

Visit yourlevelfitness.com/cerebral-palsy-perspective for links to the show page on each of the major podcast directories. From there, you can subscribe and share this pod.

Show Links

Chad’s Links

Connect with Chad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadwillia1
Get Your Doing Hard Things My Way Gear: https://doinghardthingsmyway.com/
Contribute to the Doing Hard Things My Way Adaptive Athlete Scholarship Fund:
https://bold.org/funds/doing-hard-things-my-way-adaptive-athlete-scholarship-fund

Daryl’s Links

Connect with Daryl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daryltperry/
For ALL things Your Level Fitness: https://yourlevelfitness.com/

It is episode two of The Cerebral Palsy Perspective, and Chad Williams and Daryl Perry go deeper into the realities of growing up with CP in the eighties and nineties, and how different the world feels today.

This conversation is about perspective, the kind that comes from living it. Chad shares a childhood story that still sticks with him decades later, a moment that highlights how authority figures and school systems used to treat disability, and how those moments could shape confidence, identity, and belonging. Daryl reflects on how isolation felt back then, how few people they knew who shared similar experiences, and how much the internet and community connection have changed what is possible now.

They also talk about the evolution of adaptive equipment and care, from orthopedic shoes and outdated options, to custom orthotics, better footwear choices, and resources that actually support being active. The conversation moves into adulthood realities, running, training, injury management, stretching, physical therapy experiences, and the challenge of finding the right support now that one on one care can be harder to access through traditional channels.

Most importantly, this episode reinforces the heart of the show. Cerebral palsy is part of the story, but it is not the whole story. There is frustration, there are struggles, and there is also persistence, optimism, and learning how to find a way forward. This episode is a reminder that progress is real, community matters, and the way you look at your experience can shape how you live it.

Please share this episode with anyone you think would be interested in listening to it.

Visit yourlevelfitness.com/cerebral-palsy-perspective for links to the show page on each of the major podcast directories. From there, you can subscribe and share this pod.