08/22/2025
Not the end to summer that I wanted!
We got both kids started in new schools, and I was taking a day of rest when I overreached my limits and fell backwards on my left hand. The doctor says it’s a classic Colles fracture, but because of the alignment and a few extra bone fragments, surgery is required to have the best outcome. I’ve never broken a bone and in some ways this is my worst aging fear come true. I am thankful that it’s just one bone and not many.
This is a case where x-ray imaging actually made the experience of pain decrease. While waiting for results, I could have sworn all of the bones in my forearm were shattered. That’s what it felt like. When I saw that it was just my radius, the pain seemed to localize to just my wrist.
Pictures don’t always tell the story of what you feel. Like in the first picture here I’m smiling through the pain. In the case of many x-rays, especially in the spine, what you see doesn’t always represent the cause of pain.
Since I have some time ahead of me for reflection, I’ll share more insights about the science of pain and how that really plays into our experiences of pain.
Stay tuned!!
As always….
