As I age, aches and pains are becoming an increasingly prominent concern. Growing old isn’t for sissies! Last December, I began experiencing severe back pain that caused numbness in my left leg. I had an MRI done. My orthopedic surgeon suggested I do seven weeks of physiotherapy to relieve my discomfort. I dutifully complied, completing my prescribed exercises twice a day. Upon returning to the orthopedic surgeon’s office in late February, I was instructed to get another MRI. When he saw the results, he told me I had a severe herniated disc and that if I did not undergo immediate surgery, my leg could suffer permanent damage. I was scheduled for surgery two weeks hence.
Two weeks earlier, I was speaking in South Africa. While I was there, I was informed that my father had died. Upon returning home, I attended a flurry of appointments as I addressed my health issues and helped plan my father’s funeral. As I was returning home from an appointment in downtown Atlanta, I suddenly thought that I should call a man I knew and tell him about my father’s recent passing. I had not spoken to him by phone in two years, but I felt I should alert him to my father’s upcoming funeral. Upon arriving home, I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to my office to make the call. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was the very person I intended to call. He had heard about my father’s death and was reaching out to express his condolences. Then he asked how he could pray for me. I told him about my back pain and my imminent surgery. He urged me to contact a chiropractor he had used who had helped relieve his back pain.
I had three problems with my friend’s suggestion. First, the chiropractor’s office was 50 miles from my home, and it sounded as though I’d need numerous treatments. Second, those treatments weren’t cheap! And third, my surgeon told me that immediate surgery was required to prevent permanent damage. I had already paid a sizeable deposit for the operation and undergone pre-op testing and clearance. Did I want to drive 50 miles each way to get a second opinion?
Nevertheless, I had qualms. If I underwent the surgery, I would be hospitalized for one to three nights. I would be unable to lift anything heavier than eight pounds for three months. And there was a 15% chance that the fused disc would deteriorate over time leading to complications. Furthermore, I knew my friend would later ask me if I had heeded his advice to speak with the person he recommended.
I had one day free before I left on a 5-day business trip. Surgery was scheduled for the week after. I called the chiropractor’s office and found he had an opening the next day. The chiropractor was sympathetic. He examined my MRI and agreed that my case was severe. Nevertheless, he suggested I try his approach before undergoing surgery. After being treated that day, my schedule did not allow me to return for a week. Nevertheless, I immediately began feeling better. My left leg was no longer numb, and I could walk normally for the first time in three-and-a-half months.
I made the momentous decision to cancel the surgery. It’s not that I don’t believe in surgery. I have undergone several. But I think it should generally be the last resort. Furthermore, it seemed unwise to undergo irreversible surgery at a time when I was feeling better every day. I have now had four more treatments and am feeling great. My leg is still a little weak, but I suspect that is primarily due to favoring it for three months. As I write this blog, I’m still in the midst of the process. I could experience a relapse. I certainly do not promote myself as a health expert or even a chiropractic promoter. I also don’t wish to discourage people from obtaining necessary surgical procedures. Don’t base your health on my recommendations!
Nevertheless, as I have traveled down this road, I have learned a couple things.
First, take care of your health! Our bodies are a wonderful gift from God, but much of what we do can harm them. Having traveled 2.5 million miles on airplanes hasn’t helped my back! Neither does spending long hours hunched over a laptop or thinking I’m too busy to properly exercise. When my chiropractor showed me the images from my MRI, he pointed out various issues my body had developed due to wear and tear over the years. He explained some of the reasons for my pain. The process gave me a new resolve to take better care of the only body I’ll ever have.
Second, I learned that God will help me if I heed his voice. Sometimes those aches and pains are God’s way of getting our attention. Sometimes God uses a friend or family member to speak needed truth into our life. As I reflect on the phone call with my friend, I realize that if I had not spoken to him when I did, I would never have sought alternative treatment. As I was driving home from downtown Atlanta that day, why did God suddenly impress upon me that I needed to talk with him? I had not talked with him by phone in more than two years. After returning from South Africa with multiple appointments that week and a funeral to plan, why would God impress me to call that particular person? And when he called me before I could call him, I sensed this conversation must be important. Had my friend not asked how he could pray for me, I would have simply informed him of my father’s upcoming funeral and then hung up. But after he asked how he could pray for me, I told him about my back, and he told me where to get help. I realize that I often ask God to direct my paths (Prov. 3:5-6), and yet at times I seem oblivious to his leading. If I am going to ask God to guide my steps, I’d better pay attention to the next phone call!
My story isn’t finished yet. I may need to add an update down the road. Nevertheless, I have learned that wisdom comes from reflecting on experiences. I am trying to gather what wisdom I can from my recent journey from debilitating pain to becoming pain free.
What is God currently trying to say to you?
