How a homekeeping influencer manages chronic pain through physical therapy

Marilyn Foster had fibromyalgia since 1989, chronic pain, a physically demanding job, and an out-of-control home that was too cluttered to function.

Then she got out of her pajamas.

Literally. A friend gave her this brilliant idea: “Try getting dressed every day.” And that’s how Marilyn’s Way was born. It’s “a simple approach to decluttering, homekeeping, and intentional living,” as stated on her website—a destination for anyone discouraged by the overwhelm of modern life. And it’s an approach that jibes with physical therapy.

Manageable steps to recovery feel rewarding

Getting dressed became step number one in the eye-opening Marilyn’s Way “9 Daily Habits to Keep Your Home Clean.” And it grew into a second-act career as a trusted decluttering influencer. It’s all about taking action in manageable increments. Read our previous post here.

This approach helped Marilyn get her home back. Now she shares what she’s learned with thousands of internet followers.

The Marilyn’s Way website, social media, e-books, and worksheets offer practical guidance and therapeutic insights for anyone feeling out of control because of clutter, life’s ups and downs, or even disabling chronic pain.

Setbacks happen: “the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt”

Marilyn’s physical pain became much more manageable with her dedication to intentional homekeeping; still, it remained a constant part of her life. Then, in January 2026, there was an even more painful setback.

At 67, Marilyn had a relatively minor fall with surprisingly big consequences: a fractured femur.

“It was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt,” Marilyn says. “I was supposed to go into surgery right away, and then somebody else came in who had broken bones and was bleeding. So, then they put me in traction, and I just cried all night long until I got into surgery.”

“Now, I’ve got the rod inside my leg, and I’ve got the screws on my hip, and then where it’s broken, and then down by my knee is where my screws are to hold it in place.”

The “fixed” fracture compounded Marilyn’s pain, possibly exacerbated by a doctor’s recommendation that healing could happen through her normal routines—even her physically demanding work as head of housekeeping at a hotel. “I needed to get into physical therapy right away, but I had a doctor who was just interested in fixing the leg, and he did a great job, but he wasn’t interested in physical therapy,” Marilyn says. “He thought because I work out anyway, I could probably recover by myself.”

You don’t need a referral for physical therapy

South Dakota, where Marilyn lives, and North Carolina both have “direct access,” which means you don’t need a physician’s referral to see a physical therapist. If you feel like you can benefit from physical therapy, don’t hesitate to make an appointment as soon as possible.

A DIY recommendation was a bum steer

Going it alone, Marilyn quickly began to lose ground in her own Marilyn’s Way practice.

“After Home Health left, I got complacent, and pretty soon it was 10 o’clock before I got dressed,” she says.

Post-surgery discomfort required a pain patch and regular doses of Tylenol. The Tylenol affected Marilyn’s stomach; eating became a problem, and she experienced alarming weight loss.

Fortunately, Marilyn’s general practitioner agreed with her about physical therapy, which she began. Starting sooner would have been ideal.

On the other hand, it’s usually never too late for physical therapy to help. And that was the case for Marilyn.

“Marilyn’s way” includes very regular physical therapy

As she approaches a year since the fracture, she’s feeling much better. Her PT regimen calls for consistency and intentionality.

Her more functional, decluttered home gives her space for the specific exercises her physical therapist recommends, and she sees her weekly.

“The exercises that they gave me focus on the muscles to get my legs and hip strengthened. The fracture was like every muscle just went dormant on my leg,” Marilyn says. “I was shocked how I lost my muscle tone, because I had been working out for the past nine years!”

She’s got plenty of space to do marches, side steps and back steps and to use a yoga ball for specially prescribed stretches. The fracture had been like one of those falling dominoes Paul talks about. Getting into physical therapy helped stop the cascade and got Marilyn back to her practice of intentional living in an organized home.

Physical therapy is part of homekeeping

Paul’s approach to physical therapy has much in common with Marilyn’s Way Method: Both emphasize self-empowerment, consistency, and gradual progress from one plateau to the next.

Recovering from the fracture—and returning to physical therapy while managing fibromyalgia—has reinforced something Marilyn already knew: Sometimes progress isn’t about doing more. It’s about figuring out the next thing you can do and doing it consistently.

That’s the Cedar Hill Way.

And thank you to Marilyn Foster! Your method keeps me inspired, and it has made me a follower.