My Story
Hello. My name is Dr. James Grace and I’ve always been fascinated by machines and thought the human body was the ultimate machine. This coupled with the desire to spend my professional life helping people and doing meaningful and fulfilling work led me to physical therapy. After physical therapy school, clinical internships, and a residency; I was well prepared to help people with acute pain, following injuries, and after surgeries. However, I met so many people experiencing persistent and perplexing pain that didn’t respond to the therapy approaches I’d been taught.
The timing couldn’t have been better. At that time and since, there’s been an explosion of discovery in the science of pain. Technological breakthroughs coupled with brilliant people breaking down the silos of their educations, titles, and labels, began to work together. Major advancements in brain imaging machinery and the cooperation of neurobiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and physical therapists, led to better understanding of what pain is and how to better relieve it.
I couldn’t get enough. I read every scientific article, watched every video, and read every book I could metaphorically get my hands on. I took every course I could afford. Finally I was able to help people with intense and debilitating chronic pain. Nothing has been as satisfying as seeing the person who’s “tried everything” and “nothing has helped” and felt like “this is my last hope” gradually experience meaningful relief or even complete resolution of their pain.
Expertise and Specializations
I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Exercise and Sports Science (BESS)/Pre-Physical Therapy from Texas State University in 2005. Then a Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) also from Texas State in 2007. I completed a transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from A.T. Still University in 2009. I also completed a residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and earned the credential of Manual Physical Therapy Certified (MPTC)–both from Evidence In Motion. I have been a board certified orthopaedic specialist (OCS) since 2011. I have over 14 years experience treating chronic pain, and I’ve guest lectured on the science of pain at University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University.
Your Journey to Healing and Relief
I’m both sorry and grateful you’re here reading all this. Living with chronic pain is awful to say the least and seeking help can be daunting. As a part of our current medical industrial complex, I also want to apologize for your experience thus far. You’ve likely been given several, and often contradictory, diagnoses and explanations for your pain. Every human is unfathomably complex AND each of us are different. I won’t pretend to know the exact origin or cause of your pain, but I know what we can do about it.
There is no magic pill, surgery, or hack for complex, chronic pain. You and I will work together and with your psychotherapist, primary care physician, and perhaps even some other specialists. That said, you will have to do the most. You will have to trust the process and do the work, but we’ll start where you are and it will never be more than you can handle or a pace you cannot sustain.
Significant relief or resolution of your pain is going to be your Mount Everest. As with anything, the fastest and surest way to fail is to quit; and there may be times when you feel like quitting. I’ll be there with you and offer guidance, reassurance, and encouragement. I am an expert in the route, weather, and climbing; but I cannot carry you or your pack up the mountain. There will likely be delays and setbacks, but if you persist you can reach the summit.