The Physical Manifestations of Grief in Caregivers
The physical manifestations of grief in caregivers are unexpected and pervasive. That, in a nutshell, is what God has been teaching me since the death of my mother on June 23, 2023.
Mom’s suffering was great during her final 2 years on this earth. My siblings and I had no desire to prolong her life through medical intervention. We rejoiced when her suffering ended. Her funeral was a celebration, a sharing of memories, a gathering of extended family who loved her and supported us. We wept, we hugged, we said our goodbyes, and my siblings moved on with their lives.
I tried to do the same. A few weeks after Mom’s death, my husband and I packed our new camper and headed west for a much-needed vacation. On the second day, we turned around due to truck trouble and prayed as it limped all 500 miles to our home.
Soon after our return I started limping due to foot pain. The foot pain moved into my leg and then into my hip. During this time my uncle, who was like a second father to me, died. In mid-October, physical pain landed me in bed. From there I limped to the doctor’s office, was diagnosed with a pinched nerve, given a cortisone shot, and started physical therapy.
In an attempt to spare you the details, here’s a pared down timeline of life from then until now:
November and December 2023: Physical therapy, physical therapy, and more physical therapy.
December 2023: Pinched nerve better, bursitis causes by pinched nerve exercises worse.
January 2024: Physical therapy relieves bursitis, but pain from iliotibial band (IT band) increases.
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the monthly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email.
By Jolene
Subscribe for Updates from Jolene
Related Posts
5 More Strategies for Staying Connected with the Real World
Staying connected to the real world can be hard for parents of kids with special needs. Here are 5 more strategies to foster connections.
Stop Making Self-Care for Caregivers a Dirty Word
We need to stop making self-care for caregivers a dirty word. These 4 strategies can help overwhelmed, time-starved caregivers do just that.
To My Son Before They Label You with Autism
Before they label you with autism, my son, here is what I want you to know about who you really are. Beautiful words from Amy Felix we all need to hear.
0 Comments