Does your diagnosis really matter? (continued)

Do we really need to know our diagnosis? Of course we do, because we are whole people with minds that we can set to the task of attaining our healing. We are not dumb 'cases' on a medical conveyor belt waiting for a doctor to prod us and pour in some drugs or wonder-treatment. For Sharon, the diagnosis was the key to finding her own solutions. A cure would be nice but, if a cure was not attainable, she was going to take control of her life and make it as effective and independent as possible. Occupational Therapy was Sharon's most effective solution, which she describes in her own words -

"Occupational Therapy helped me get more movement going, despite a lot of tears, sweat, and frustration. I started using play dough - just trying to roll it out, kneading it, cutting it and exercising with it.. It took me a year to cut the dough! I would place a bag of sand on my hand and try to raise the hand without lifting my arm. Pegs is a good one. Try to pinch a peg with each finger - it took me 3 ½ years to do this."

"What I am most proud of is the stool I made for James, which took me a year to do. I went to OT every day for a year, then three times a week for another year, and finally once a week for a further year. I am still in contact with Kathy, my therapist. I would shed lots of tears and would try to give up on the tasks, but Kathy wouldn't let me. She gave me hints and tips and helped me find aids to help me with everyday things like doing up buttons, turning on the taps. I have special scissors; and a bread board with spikes so I can hold the bread and cut it at the same time (I always use my bad hand to stop it seizing up). I even put potatoes on a spike so I can hold them in place while I peel them. Potatoes take a long time but I start in the morning to prepare the evening meal. Another tip is put the saucepan on the cooker and fill it with water from a jug. And I put the vegetables in a wire basket (like fryers have), so all I have to do when the veggies are cooked is to lift out the basket."

"Vacuuming is hard. I try to use the hose as it is harder work - more painful - but it strengthens the wrist and arm - who are they trying to kid - it is painful, and I do shed a tear whilst doing the chores as it bloody well hurts - but I don't want to go back to the way I was. Am I improving? NO! But I will not except any help. Nigel, my husband, gets frustrated watching me struggle because he hates to see me in pain. But I am one stubborn cookie."

Sharon has had a variety of medical treatments with varying, and sometimes disappointing, results. She has tried bio-feedback ( visualisation), acupuncture, and TENS. She has had four separate courses each of three Guanethidine Blocks (12 in total). She received three local anaesthetic and steroid injections, a Stellate Ganglion block, a Thoracic Outlet Decompression and a Surgical Sympathectomy. Did they work?