My first major setback on the road to the World Cup came at a time when I needed my training the most. An operation put me out of action, but I refuse to let it stop me – I will come back stronger!
When life puts you on pause – but I'll come back stronger
Sinus problems for years – without answers
Have you ever experienced sinus problems that affect your daily life, leave you exhausted, and prevent you from living a normal life? I have too – until I discovered that the problem was in my teeth.
Three years ago, I started to feel constant tightness, pressure in my head, and a feeling of never quite getting better. Every morning I woke up with a heaviness in my head that never let go, and the days became a struggle to function normally. The lessons felt more strenuous, the dance required more energy than before, and the training became a battle between will and exhaustion. Still, I pushed on, convinced that it would pass with time. I tried everything: nose drops, allergy medicine, antibiotic courses – nothing helped.
Nevertheless, I continued as usual, teaching, dancing, training, but my body increasingly gave out.
Have you ever ignored your body's signals because you thought it would pass?
Finally an answer – but not the one I expected
A year ago I decided enough was enough. I went to my GP, was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist, had x-rays and tried several treatments. Nothing helped.
Only after a thorough examination at the hospital did I finally get an answer: The sinus on the right side was completely blocked, and the left side was half blocked. The biggest surprise?
After so many examinations and tests, I had almost given up hope of finding an explanation. But then, during the final review of the X-rays, the doctor stopped. He examined the images one more time, before looking at me with a serious look in his eyes.
They found that a dental crown on the right side went all the way up to the sinus. The doctors told me to contact the dentist – maybe that was where the problem lay.
Have you ever received an unexpected explanation for a health problem?
Can dental problems cause sinus problems?
The upper molars are located close to the sinuses, and dental problems such as root canals, infections or misplaced crowns can cause persistent sinusitis.
Do you have sinus problems that never let up?
Check your teeth!
Surgery was the only solution
At the dentist I confirmed what the hospital had said.
The crown went all the way into the sinus cavity and caused constant inflammation. The tooth had to be surgically removed.
I've always had a fear of the dentist, so just the thought of having a tooth extracted was a huge mental challenge. My heart beat faster every time I thought about it, and I dreaded it for days before the appointment.
To deal with the fear, I had to consciously work on my breathing, visualize a positive outcome, and remind myself why this was necessary. Still, it was a struggle to keep my nerves in check.
The last week before the surgery, I considered whether to postpone it. I was going to the World Championships in Mexico and didn't want to lose valuable training time. But deep down I knew this had to be done. If I wanted to be strong enough for the World Championships, I had to start by taking care of my body.
How do you deal with fear of something you know is necessary?
More surprises during the operation
Then the day came. While I was lying on the operating table, the dentist discovered that another tooth also needed to be removed. On the left side, a tooth was sitting close to the sinus, and to avoid future complications, she chose to operate on it as well. I was not prepared for this, but had to trust her judgment.
But it didn't stop there. During the operation, the dentist found something I hadn't expected - a hole between the sinus and the mouth on the right side! The pain was intense, a stabbing sensation that spread from the sinus and through the head. I could feel my body tense reflexively, but I knew there was no going back. This had to be done. When they told me to blow, air came out of the hole. When they sprayed water there, it ran out of my nose. Absolutely absurd! They had to sew it up again, which meant a lot of stitches and a much bigger procedure than I had prepared for. The other tooth was surgically removed without any major complications, only a few stitches were sewn and I can see a big difference in hindsight on the right and left sides.
Have you ever experienced a setback that forced you to stop? How did you get through it?
Not being able to exercise – a mental and physical blow
I was in an incredibly good flow with the training. I felt stronger, more agile, more resilient than I had in a long time. To suddenly have to stop everything – it's brutal.
Training isn't just physical for me, it's part of who I am.
It's my way of letting go of stress, finding balance in a hectic everyday life, and a source of strength both physically and mentally. It's joy, energy, and mental balance. It's working towards a goal, feeling my body getting stronger, and knowing that I'm moving in the right direction. When I don't get to exercise, it feels like I'm losing a part of myself.
How would you cope with having to put something important to you on hold?
When the silence becomes too loud – and thoughts take over
It's strange how everything feels different when I'm suddenly sitting still in a sick state. When energy is low and the days go slowly, thoughts take up more space. You become more vulnerable.
I'm used to being social, active, exercising, having a goal, a direction.
But now I'm sitting here, unable to do either, with low energy and far too much time to think. Will I get back on track quickly enough? Will I lose the shape I've worked so hard to achieve? Should I have done things differently?
The silence intensifies everything. The loneliness feels greater. My thoughts become heavier. I have always been a person who finds strength in movement, but now I am forced to face myself and deal with the facts. It takes a different kind of strength – a mental stamina I don’t need and use normally in everyday life. It takes mental strength to remind myself that this is just a phase. That my body is healing, and that I will be back. But right now it feels like an eternity.
How do you handle silence when thoughts become overwhelming?
Ready to come back stronger
Right now I'm trying to stay focused on what I can do.
Bring me in. Rest. Let the body heal.
I'm looking forward to putting this behind me. To getting my energy back.
To dance and train again, strengthen my body and prepare for the World Championships. I know I will come back stronger, not only physically, but also mentally – with a new understanding of what it means to truly take care of yourself.
- When life puts you on hold – don’t give up. Every day I remind myself why I started this journey. I visualize my goal, write down small victories, watch good movies and listen to music that gives me energy.
- Even the smallest movements, like light stretching exercises or a short meditation, help me stay motivated.
Sometimes we have to take a step back in order to move forward.
And when I'm back on the dance floor, I'll dance even harder!
"Fall seven times, stand up eight." – Japanese proverb
What do you do to stay motivated during a tough period?
Do you know someone who struggles with sinus problems?
Share this story – it might give them some answers they didn't know they needed. Maybe the teeth are the cause. I wish someone had told me this sooner.
