KNEE BRACE PRESS

A place for stories about chronic illness, disability, mental health, and neurodivergence.

chronic pain

  • Bodily Repairs

    By

    In each hand, I grip the exercise band and pull until the band is a taut swath of lime green. My nose twitches at the synthetic smell of rubber, as unnatural as the band’s color.

  • A white nonbinary person with short, brown hair wearing a gray sweater. They smile with their mouth closed and have a nose piercing.

    To Mend Infinity

    By

    In To Mend Infinity, poet Kate Matesic shares their experience of losing abilities as their chronic illness changes and progresses.

  • A white woman with short, light brown hair smiles at the camera. She wears blue-rimmed glasses and a pink polo shirt.

    Straight

    By

    Poet and retired physical therapist Barbara Brooks writes a poem about the S curve of her spine, the pain that comes with it, and the peace that comes with knowing there is nothing she can do to change it.

  • A woman with brown skin and long, brown hair gazes at the camera. She wears a pink shirt and a beaded black necklace.

    Biofeedback

    By

    “It’s my first time. I sink into cushy recliner. A monitor tracks blood pressure. The therapist adheres a finger sensor, a final electrode as I shut my eyes.”

  • A black and white photo of a white woman with glasses smiling with her mouth closed.

    another migraine poem

    By

    In her newest poem, K Weber writes about the fatigue and grief that comes with chronic pain.

  • A white person with long, blonde hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red and white plaid shirt.

    (DIS)ABILITY: A PALINDROME

    By

    In her latest poem, Sarah Steinbacher offers us a different perspective on disability and those who would have her doubt herself.

  • A white person with long, blonde hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red and white plaid shirt.

    Let Down

    By

    Sarah Steinbacher is a disabled nonbinary author, poet, disability advocate, instructor at The Writing Barn, and member of both SCBWI and Storyteller Academy.

  • A white woman with dark hair is smiling and looking off-camera. She wears a white, long sleeved shirt.

    Temporarily non-disabled

    By

    “My body holds a secret. It demands/to tell me, but won’t whisper it to you.” Poet Christa Fairbrother is back with a piece about invisible illnesses and the pressure to hide them.

  • A person in a brown tanktop and a white helmet climbing a rope and smiling at the camera.

    Hiding in Plain Sight: Life With and Without Masks

    By

    “I feel faint. Even a common cold leaves me sick for months and sometimes lands me in the emergency room. I have been assiduously masking since the beginning of the pandemic and so far, to the best of my knowledge, have avoided catching COVID. I will not be able to wear my mask for the…

  • A white person with long, blonde hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red and white plaid shirt.

    All In My Head

    By

    In her poem, Sarah Steinbacher writes about medical gaslighting, invisible disabilities, and the link between mental and physical health.