Running counter-clockwise around the basketball court in elementary phys ed, each time my foot hits the ground, a sharp pain in the arch of my foot and heel shoots up my leg. I'd tried to explain that running hurt, but was told there was no way I was getting out of it. So I ran, … Continue reading Early education
What I’m doing
Not so long ago, I heard myself complaining that I'm not "getting any treatment" for the CRPS. And while navigating insurance refusals (first to accept the diagnosis, then to provide recommended treatment) has certainly been - well, frustrating, to say the least - the truth is, I've been doing everything I can to improve both … Continue reading What I’m doing
When meaning first appeared
While I'm very interested in the "why" behind the conditions I live with, I've never really gotten trapped in the "why me" that can be so common. Maybe it's a spiritual practice that values acceptance, or maybe just my GenX nihilism, but I don't expect some kind of karmic answer as to why my body … Continue reading When meaning first appeared
Things feel different in the dark.
Distraction is one of my favorite tools. When I have something to focus my mind on other than my discomfort, it's easier to... well, if not "ignore" exactly, at least compartmentalize the pain. Dogs have to be walked, laundry needs to be done, little goals are obvious and right in front of my nose, so … Continue reading Things feel different in the dark.
Ouch.
We all experience pain. As a kid I ran and jumped (and fell), scraping an elbow or stubbing a toe, and popping right back up. I grew up, had minor surgeries, and experienced headaches and sore throats. Sometimes stuff hurts, and I accepted this as normal. My understanding of pain changed when my face caught … Continue reading Ouch.