I received this story in response to a request on my website to patients who had undergone failed spine surgery. When Surgery Makes Pain Worse My fusion surgery (L5/S1) was going to be scheduled in the fall of 2015 after two prior laminectomies had eventually lost their effectiveness. My surgery … Read More
Expression Pain has a way of becoming a quiet tenant—settling into the soft chambers of the mind, curling into the muscles of the body, threading itself through emotions that whisper long after the moment is gone. We ruminate, we replay, we wander the same worn pathways of thought … Read More
Pain = Frustration. In the presence of unrelenting pain this frustration can be intense. Anger is a survival reaction and it is only about your needs. You become disconnected from subtle cues in your immediate surroundings and your awareness goes to zero. Lack of awareness is the essence of abuse. Although you … Read More
Rachel is a therapist, specializing in trauma. She reached out to me a couple of years ago to learn more about integrating healing concepts into her journey. She was developing her version, using her experience with horses as the foundation. Here is her story. Two Falls, Two Decades Apart My … Read More
This powerful collage captures the complete arc of Rachel’s remarkable comeback story—from the hospital bed where her young daughter, Julia, kept vigil after the devastating fall, through her creative healing journey of painting horses while confined to a body brace, to her triumphant return to the saddle and … Read More
Hope is healing An important aspect of healing is regaining hope and optimism. When you are trapped without any hint of a solution, the darkness you feel is impossible to put it into words. It is inevitable that you will begin to despair and remain justifiably angry. In turn, you … Read More
There was a front-page story in the NY Times about the shooting of the CEO of United Healthcare. The suspect came from privilege and had a bright future. Unfortunately, he suffered from chronic LBP and did not improve with a surgical fusion of his lower back for a purported spondylolisthesis. … Read More
Objectives Chronic mental and physical pain are complex. Isolated interventions cannot and don’t work. Surgery is often considered a “definitive solution.” For chronic symptoms, it is not. It is simply one tool. Only two factors must be considered to make a decision regarding undergoing surgery – the anatomy and the … Read More
This is a river rock that I painted with the ocean scene to express “The healing journey is not linear!” There are highs and lows like the waves and the tides, progress and struggle but it’s all part of the healing process. One of my greatest challenges has … Read More
Poem by Susan Angelis Photo by Susan Angelis October 29, 2023 The Walk Home The walk home from Sunday church. Walking the same path. Slightly different views each Sunday. Observing, appreciating the wondrous creations of nature. Looking beyond the iron bars. Connecting insights from the Sunday sermon to nature all … Read More