This is part of the Medical Humanities Series on Op-Med, which showcases creative work by our members. Do you have a poem, short story, creative nonfiction or visual art piece related to medicine that you’d like to share with the community? Send it to us here.
On what inspired this piece
The pain of living with postherpetic neuralgia, a common complication of shingles.
On choosing form
I love painting and combining it with mixed media. After many years away from my art due to my condition, I'm happy to be returning to this form of creative expression.
Heather Finlay-Morreale, MD, is a board-certified primary care pediatrician working for Nashaway Pediatrics, a practice run by UMass Memorial in Sterling, Massachusetts. Her interests include mental health, mindfulness, and general well-being.
