PAIN MANAGEMENT

After years of back pain and scores of treatment attempts, I am trying two new approaches: medical pain management and studying the Bible from a pain/wholeness standpoint. Much that I have learned and tried through the yeaars helped for short periods of time, but the past year the pain has been intense at least parts of every day and my movement curtailed. While I continue the meds and acivities designed to aleviate the discomfort, the actual management process is nine days away. I continue to pray for patience to wait my turn. At that time the doctor intends to begin a process of "going to the source" which includes lumbar radiofrequency neurotomy to treat the of nerve followed the next week with a steriod injection in the sacroiliac joint to relieve pain where the spine and hip bone meet. Seccondly, I'm studying the healing passages from Genesis to Revelation to understand and feel the spiritual plan of a loving God for dealing with pain and suffering. Previouslly I covered much of this Scriptural path from the standpoint of helping other patients. Now "I are one."

CAN'T COMPLAIN

When asked, "How are you feeling?", I'm inclined to use the old standby, "can't complain." The problem with that is I CAN, but choose not to. I have learned that complaining only maximizes the discomfort even if I just gripe in my mind and choose not to share it out loud. I have enough physical pain that I could share about, but it rarely helps except with God, my doctors, my wife and a few people that are committed to pray for me. The same applies to complaints about Congress, greed and violence in our culture. It only   leads to blaming, fault-finding--all those illusions that this should not be happening (when it is) . And I can fix it because I am superior, I know better.  From there I can confuse real events with my opinion, my view point, my interpretation.  My oh my!