self-care

Care of Spines & CRPS

by Isy
April 2, 2025
activity, basics, brain care, CRPS knock-on effects, injuries & surgeries, radical presence/radical acceptance, self-care, tools and techniques

This is about the messy intersection of CRPS & the mechanical aspects of central nervous system dysfunction, and dealing with those effects. I’m writing through… Read More »Care of Spines & CRPS

With a pet & chronic illness

by Isy
March 5, 2025
CRPS knock-on effects, documentation, food allergies, imp-possible, moving/traveling, perspective, radical presence/radical acceptance, self-care, survival, tips on traveling with pain

This is a long one. Grab something to drink and put your feet up, if you want to… In the wildly unlikely event that, say,… Read More »With a pet & chronic illness

Neuro reset FTW

by Isy
February 11, 2025February 11, 2025
activity, basics, care team, imp-possible, perspective, self-care, what works

I’m working on building up stamina because being a blob doesn’t agree with me. I had one of our rare, hard-won, absolutely stunning neuro physiotherapy… Read More »Neuro reset FTW

Tough gift, but a good one

by Isy
December 8, 2024December 8, 2024
adaptation, ANS and fight-or-flight, brain care, critical thinking, humor, imp-possible, legislation, moving/traveling, perspective, politics, radical presence/radical acceptance, realpolitik, self-care

American Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday in November. I had a gift that day – a difficult one, but I’ve been unwrapping it and wondering… Read More »Tough gift, but a good one

Defining my terms: burny brain

by Isy
November 20, 2024November 21, 2024
adaptation, ANS and fight-or-flight, brain care, definitions & descriptions, imp-possible, nutrition, radical presence/radical acceptance, self-care

Current science states that there are no nerves that convey temperature or pain in the brain. Well, not a normal brain. Well… not as far… Read More »Defining my terms: burny brain

Olive oil all the time

by Isy
November 14, 2024
basics, nutrition, self-care, what works

I’m likely to post more often, about littler things, and to mask less about the impacts of my illness and circumstances. I’m hunkering, and inviting… Read More »Olive oil all the time

New pain doc & big insights

by Isy
October 25, 2024October 27, 2024
1 Comment
adaptation, care team, critical thinking, imp-possible, perspective, radical presence/radical acceptance, self-care

I’m profoundly curious. (Take that however you want, LOL) When I was an inch from dying, around 12-14 years ago, when there was nothing left… Read More »New pain doc & big insights

Onward and downward

by Isy
September 5, 2023September 5, 2023
activity, basics, CRPS knock-on effects, imp-possible, perspective, radical presence/radical acceptance, self-care

My poor ol’ body has been carrying an unfair load for a long time. It does its very best, but the dice are loaded and,… Read More »Onward and downward

Morning exercise, redux

by Isy
July 19, 2023July 19, 2023
activity, adaptation, basics, brain plasticity, imp-possible, martial & internal arts, radical presence/radical acceptance, self-care, what works

Flashback Up until I got the injuries that precipitated CRPS, I used to run about 3.8 miles (about 6.1 km) up and down a redwood… Read More »Morning exercise, redux

My job as a complex chronic patient

by Isy
July 6, 2023July 8, 2023
activity, adaptation, care team, critical thinking, loved ones, mortality, nutrition, perspective, radical presence/radical acceptance, realpolitik, self-care, story, what works

My first nursing job was on an HIV unit in 1991. We were in the 2nd wave of the med mixes, so there were some… Read More »My job as a complex chronic patient