Tag Archives: chronic pain

apprehend

Posted on April 12, 2015 by C. M. Condo

apprehension |ˌapriˈhenSHən| noun 1 anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen: he felt sick with apprehension | she had some apprehensions about the filming. 2 understanding; grasp: the pure apprehension of the work of art. 3 the … Continue reading →

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and for how long

Posted on April 10, 2015 by C. M. Condo

The pain is no better. I won’t say that it is worse. It may be, but I don’t want to go there. At the behest of my physical therapist, I contacted the head researcher of my lab to let him … Continue reading →

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how much, how little

Posted on April 9, 2015 by C. M. Condo

Two days ago, my pain hit the highest spike since before the surgery.  It was no better yesterday, and because of it, for the first time since the surgery, I had to change my plans so I could go home and rest. … Continue reading →

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can’t and don’t

Posted on April 3, 2015 by C. M. Condo

I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. It is what everyone says it is. If you want to know how to maintain a work-life balance, I have to tell you, it’s impossible. What I would say is you should … Continue reading →

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not done

Posted on February 16, 2015 by C. M. Condo

It hasn’t been a good week. The tidal surge of adrenaline borne out of the pure joy at being released from constant, immobilizing pain has receded. I have come back down to earth to find my shoulder still heavily damaged and disturbingly weak. … Continue reading →

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happening

Posted on January 12, 2015 by C. M. Condo

My surgery is scheduled for four days from now. I spent my spare post-holiday hours drilling down on the research, gathering what few common factors I could glean from the various case studies. I brought my resulting bevy of questions in for … Continue reading →

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the mermaid’s choice

Posted on December 7, 2014 by C. M. Condo

I can’t remember the last time I sat in a class and got absorbed in a lecture, so much that time sped by and I couldn’t believe that class was over already. I can’t remember the last time I sat … Continue reading →

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big and small

Posted on December 5, 2014 by C. M. Condo

The pain is back. Nerve ablation or no nerve ablation, my discomfort is driving hard in the wrong direction. Notwithstanding the blank spot covering the inside half of my shoulder blade, the entire rest of the area is sore and inflamed, … Continue reading →

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anergy

Posted on November 14, 2014 by C. M. Condo

anergy |ˈanərjē| noun Medicine. Absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen. “Are you still here?” I glanced in the direction of the comment and saw a lively, older woman, probably about my mother’s age, walking … Continue reading →

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anniversary

Posted on October 24, 2014 by C. M. Condo

October 21. The date is emblazoned on my memory as though it were carved and backlit. Today is October 21. Exactly one year ago, today, I woke up in so much pain I could barely breathe. Exactly one year ago, … Continue reading →

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