The last week has been hard, but there are also good points. Last weekend was Queen's Birthday Weekend here, and marks fourteen very long years since the hiking trip that saw me hurt my hurt my knee. Although it took another six years for me to find a diagnosis, we now know that it was that injury, and the subsequent 'clean-up' surgery, that triggered my CRPS.
Because of CRPS, I have some of the best friends I could ever ask for. People I would never have met in other circumstances.
It has also been a surprisingly good teacher. What it has taught me is that I am strong. Stronger than I could ever have imagined. I have lived half my live in severe pain, but I am still here and still fighting. I spent many, many months critically underweight, seriously depressed and near death and I have survived. It has taught me patience, it has taught me kindness, and empathy. CRPS has taught me to be a much better person.
Because of CRPS, I have some of the best friends I could ever ask for. People I would never have met in other circumstances.
It has also been a surprisingly good teacher. What it has taught me is that I am strong. Stronger than I could ever have imagined. I have lived half my live in severe pain, but I am still here and still fighting. I spent many, many months critically underweight, seriously depressed and near death and I have survived. It has taught me patience, it has taught me kindness, and empathy. CRPS has taught me to be a much better person.