Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
Sam Schaefer is an athlete and coach at Schaefer Adaptive Methods. After dealing with intense chronic pain from CRPS for nearly a decade, Sam had his lower left leg amputated in 2020. Since then he’s worked to help other amputees build strength, advocates for those in the adaptive community, and pushes his body to the limits in a variety of fitness disciplines.
In this episode, Sam shared his story of battling with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) for nearly 10 years before having his lower leg amputated in order to alleviate the pains of the condition. We discuss his perspective through that journey, how he trains as an adaptive athlete, advice to other amputees, upcoming fitness challenges, and more.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
2:01 - Sam's Running Journey
3:47 - Humbling Nature of Running
5:56 - Sam's Athletic Background
7:40 - Training Fitness vs. Sport
9:28 - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
12:15 - What CRPS Feels Like
13:52 - How Amputation Provided Hope
19:00 - Thoughts Going Into Amputation Surgery
21:03 - Dealing With Veteran Affairs
24:04 - Highs & Lows of Recovery
26:49 - Phantom Pains & Potential Regression
28:02 - Function of Different Prosthetics Legs
33:48 - Innovation Within Prosthesis
36:11 - Advice For Amputees Or Adaptive Athletes
39:30 - "Everything is different but everything is the same"
40:52 - Sam's Pivot Towards Running
44:17 - Signing Up For a 30K
47:25 - Challenges Running With a Prosthetic
53:29 - Training Through Intuition vs. Data
57:13 - Less Leg, More Heart Non-Profit
1:01:14 - Importance of Personalizing Healthcare
For More:
Follow Brock on Instagram: instagram.com/brockcovington
Follow Brock on YouTube: @BrockCovington
Follow Sam on Instagram: instagram.com/samschaefer1
Support The Podcast:
switchback Electrolytes: bit.ly/3ON7KDN
Ten Thousand: bit.ly/Ten-Thousand | Code: COVINGTON
Flux Footwear: flux.rfrl.co/xw7mr | Code: Brock
Sam Schaefer is an athlete and coach at Schaefer Adaptive Methods. After dealing with intense chronic pain from CRPS for nearly a decade, Sam had his lower left leg amputated in 2020. Since then he’s worked to help other amputees build strength, advocates for those in the adaptive community, and pushes his body to the limits in a variety of fitness disciplines.
In this episode, Sam shared his story of battling with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) for nearly 10 years before having his lower leg amputated in order to alleviate the pains of the condition. We discuss his perspective through that journey, how he trains as an adaptive athlete, advice to other amputees, upcoming fitness challenges, and more.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
2:01 - Sam's Running Journey
3:47 - Humbling Nature of Running
5:56 - Sam's Athletic Background
7:40 - Training Fitness vs. Sport
9:28 - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
12:15 - What CRPS Feels Like
13:52 - How Amputation Provided Hope
19:00 - Thoughts Going Into Amputation Surgery
21:03 - Dealing With Veteran Affairs
24:04 - Highs & Lows of Recovery
26:49 - Phantom Pains & Potential Regression
28:02 - Function of Different Prosthetics Legs
33:48 - Innovation Within Prosthesis
36:11 - Advice For Amputees Or Adaptive Athletes
39:30 - "Everything is different but everything is the same"
40:52 - Sam's Pivot Towards Running
44:17 - Signing Up For a 30K
47:25 - Challenges Running With a Prosthetic
53:29 - Training Through Intuition vs. Data
57:13 - Less Leg, More Heart Non-Profit
1:01:14 - Importance of Personalizing Healthcare
For More:
Follow Brock on Instagram: instagram.com/brockcovington
Follow Brock on YouTube: @BrockCovington
Follow Sam on Instagram: instagram.com/samschaefer1
Support The Podcast:
switchback Electrolytes: bit.ly/3ON7KDN
Ten Thousand: bit.ly/Ten-Thousand | Code: COVINGTON
Flux Footwear: flux.rfrl.co/xw7mr | Code: Brock
