You have the solution

It’s exactly what you think

My cast after it was cut off my arm. I went to the emergency room to have it cut off ahead of schedule because I thought I was losing my mind. Turns out, I was finding it. (Cast art by various friends and me.)

Three months ago to the day I broke two bones in my wrist. They healed well but complications ensued, resulting in “complex regional pain syndrome” or CRPS.

I’m not sharing this to garner sympathy. (I’m okay! I’ve been getting great support). Nor do I want to frighten you with the details of this poorly understood syndrome. I’m sharing it because the healing process closely mimics Industrial Healing — from the surprising value of looking in the mirror, to the power of thinking, not believing.

Teaching ourselves how to think

Although the pain is in my wrist, it comes from my brain. Which is why a trained clinician in CRPS will not proceed with movement therapy — movements that might help to, say, use a fork — until the brain-shifting motor image therapy is complete.

Motor image therapy? Huh?

It’s simple: I sit beside a mirror, behind which my left (healing) arm rests out of sight while I make movements only with my right arm. My brain perceives my “left hand” in the mirror. Rinse, repeat, ten minutes at a time, three times a day unless the pain is prohibitive. (Yes, the pain in my left hand, that is doing nothing.)

I am learning to think — ultimately to know — that my wrist is okay. If I get it right, the pain and other symptoms (inflammation, discolouration, etc) will dissipate. Only then can the dexterity and strength therapies begin. If I don’t get it right, the symptoms can persist and spread, and possibly never leave.

Notice the parallel to extractive capitalism there.

Thinking is *not* believing

It’s tempting to point a blaming finger, because it’s likely my CRPS was caused by a too-tight cast. But I can put my finger-pointing to better use by doing the motions that retrain my brain, such as the one pictured below from my motor image therapy kit.

One of a couple dozen images my right hand imitates, posing as my left hand.

More to the point, this approach is powerful in its simplicity. My wrist will be pain-free and functioning as soon as I think it is so…