Kaitlyn Bristowe Still Fighting Pain Years After DWTS Win, Reveals Ongoing Ribs and Heel Woes

Hello, darlings, it’s Quinn Parker coming at you with enough caffeine to power a small studio audience. An over-caffeinated aunt spilling thoughts faster than you can keep up. Kaitlyn Bristowe is spilling the tea and then some about the long shadow of a DWTS injury that hasn’t quite clocked out yet. Five years after she lifted the mirrorball trophy on Dancing With the Stars season 29, the Bachelorette alum is still living with the aftershocks of that whirlwind season. In a Sept. 10 appearance on Tori Spelling’s misSPELLING podcast, Kaitlyn laid out the real deal: cracked ribs that never fully mended, a pulled muscle under the rib cage, and tendonitis flare ups every time she slips into heels. Ouch is an understatement, right? But she also makes it clear she’d do it all again. Yes, the thrill of the trophy still has her grinning through the pain.

Let’s set the scene: Kaitlyn was already nursing an ankle injury ahead of the season premiere, which made the climb tougher from day one. And she didn’t go it alone. fellow Bachelorette alum Hannah Brown, who won the season before with partner Alan Bersten, became a steady heartbeat in the recovery process. Kaitlyn revealed that Hannah even gifted her a massaging foot bath to ease post-practice tension, a tiny gesture with big impact. The dynamic on the dance floor wasn’t just about precision; it was about stamina, resilience, and the kind of grit that makes you want to text your trainer and swear you’ll never take a plié again—only to open Instagram and see another flawless spin on someone else’s feed. Through the ache, Kaitlyn notes the priceless value of the experience. On E! News she described a moment from a September 2020 episode where she and Artem Chigvintsev earned the night’s highest score, admitting the pain was present but the dance itself felt like a dream realized. The sentiment is unabashedly joyful: dance has always been a lifelong love for Kaitlyn, and this season felt like a second chance to chase that dream with renewed purpose.

What does this mean for her moving forward? Kaitlyn’s reflection isn’t just a confession of pain; it’s a candid reminder that chasing a dream on a televised stage can come with a price, even for a decorated veteran. Her advice is practical and grounded: don’t injure yourself, but if the injuries come and the magic happens, lean into the experience. The broader takeaway is that the DWTS journey remains a potent mix of euphoria and endurance, the kind of fame that leaves a mark while still fueling a triumphant grin.