From the Editor-in-Chief: A Personal Update

An explanation for my absence, a look at the road ahead, and a heartfelt thank you.

To my readers,

The last article I published here on ThinkerCast was on May 4. Since then, this publication has fallen silent, and for that I owe each of you an explanation.

First and foremost, I want to sincerely apologize. ThinkerCast has always been a place where I enjoy researching important topics, analyzing current events, and sharing my thoughts. Stepping away was never something I wanted to do. Unfortunately, life had other plans.

Many of you may remember that I had been experiencing significant nerve problems in my hands. At the time, we believed surgery would likely be necessary. Thankfully, after a number of changes to my daily routine and lifestyle, those symptoms gradually resolved. While I still experience occasional stiffness, the severe pain subsided and surgery is no longer expected to be necessary.

Unfortunately, that improvement was followed by a far more serious setback.

As a complication of my Type 2 diabetes, I developed diabetic peripheral neuropathy—a condition that damages the peripheral nerves, most commonly in the feet and legs. Elevated blood sugar over time can injure these nerves, interfering with the signals they send to the brain. For some people this causes numbness, while for others it causes weakness, burning sensations, or intense chronic pain. Unfortunately, I have fallen into the latter category.

Neuropathy is not simply “sore feet.” It is a neurological condition that can make even the simplest daily activities extraordinarily difficult. Walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, or even remaining in one position for more than a few minutes can become painful. In many cases, treatment is focused on managing symptoms rather than curing the condition, and medications often require several weeks—or even months—to reach their full effectiveness while dosages are carefully adjusted.

I am currently taking medication specifically intended to reduce the nerve pain. Unfortunately, these medications are not immediate solutions. They require patience, careful dosage adjustments, and time before determining how much relief they will ultimately provide.

Some days, the pain is manageable enough that I can slowly move around the house and accomplish small tasks. Other days, it is so severe that I am completely confined to bed.

At its mildest, the pain feels like a persistent ache accompanied by numbness, tingling, and the familiar sensation of pins and needles. At its worst, however, it becomes something entirely different. It feels as though my feet are on fire. The burning sensation is relentless, overwhelming, and incredibly difficult to describe to anyone who has never experienced nerve pain firsthand. There are times when it becomes so intense that concentrating on anything else is simply impossible.

There is, unfortunately, no comfortable position. Sitting too long aggravates it. Standing aggravates it. Walking aggravates it. Even lying down does not necessarily provide relief. My primary goal each day has become something remarkably simple: finding the least painful position possible and avoiding unnecessary strain.

This has dramatically affected my ability to continue my work.

Researching a ThinkerCast article is something I genuinely enjoy, but it requires long periods of reading, writing, fact-checking, and editing. At present, I can usually remain seated at my computer for only ten or fifteen minutes before I must get up, walk briefly, or lie down to rest my legs. My right leg and foot have been affected the most, although my left foot is also experiencing significant symptoms.

The limitations extend well beyond my office.

Recently, I went for a short walk with my son. Halfway through, I realized I simply could not continue. I asked him to finish the route while I slowly made my way home. By the time I reached the house, I could no longer remain standing. A walk of only a few hundred feet left me unable to move comfortably for nearly an entire day afterward.

Testing has also confirmed significant nerve impairment in my feet, with very little response during neurological examinations. Because I cannot reliably articulate my ankles and feet, I am currently unable to drive safely. Even riding in a vehicle has become difficult, as I can tolerate sitting upright for only about ten or fifteen minutes before I need the seat reclined to relieve some of the pressure and pain.

Despite all of this, I have been incredibly fortunate to have support from my family. My children help whenever they can, often in ways that remind me just how compassionate they are becoming. My wife has been carrying an extraordinary burden, balancing work while also providing the additional support that I now require on a daily basis. I am deeply grateful for everything they have done during this difficult season.

To everyone who has followed ThinkerCast over the years, thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and your understanding.

Although I cannot promise a return to my previous publishing schedule, I do intend to return. My goal is to publish at least one article each week whenever my health allows. Some weeks I may be able to do more. Other weeks, the pain may make that impossible. I simply ask for your patience as I navigate this new reality.

ThinkerCast has always been driven by curiosity, careful research, and thoughtful discussion. Those values have not changed. I still have many ideas I want to explore and many conversations I hope we will continue together.

Thank you for staying with me through this difficult chapter.

I look forward to writing again soon.

With sincere gratitude,

Joshua Eaton
Editor-in-Chief
ThinkerCast