Differences in pre-surgical baseline tear proteome are associated with persistent post-refractive surgery pain.

So, as I have participated in protests over the years while unable to march, hold up a sign, shout a slogan that would be heard, or be visible in any traditional capacity as a political being, the central question of Sick Woman Theory has been formed and honed: How do you throw a brick through the window of a bank if you can’t get out of bed? Current provincial and federal policy frameworks on chronic pain in Québec and Canada primarily focus on broad access to pain management. However, a major issue remains overlooked in these policies, namely, individuals’ experiences in their journey through the healthcare system and their interactions with healthcare practitioners. According to the social communication model of pain (Craig, 2015), the invisible nature of pain makes its testimony crucial in obtaining adequate assistance and care, such as access to pain management and social support. Pain communication, whether verbal or non-verbal, is therefore essential to access quality care. However, the same value does not seem to be granted to all testimonies, suggesting that important social mechanisms are at play during medical encounters and influence the degree to which some people are listened to and believed.