“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” Ernest Hemingway
The world apparently (physically) broke something in me recently, and boy, did it hurt.
Degenerative discs, pinched nerves… these were clinical medical words bandied about later that did not even remotely express the immediate overwhelming pain I first experienced. My previous ongoing arthritic aches did not even compare to this.
Chronic pain is a horrible fog when it descends. It totally immobilizing a person, taking over every aspect of life. But the pain lifted enough to give me some ability to literally move toward improvement.
I am blessed with options- with Medicare and a secondary supplemental insurance. So I carefully hobbled off to medical-land.
Doctor visits, MRI’s, physical therapy- all have helped to arm me with knowledge, support, and strategy. My daily exercises worked almost magically. I am hopeful that continuing them diligently will restore most of my mobility and stamina once more, to a reasonable semblance of active life. The pain has dulled to a constant literal “pain in the butt” now- actually my low back/hip area.
Pain resulted in some good effects on me. I became more aware of numerous people around me, both young and old. Many deal with a lifetime of medical conditions and chronic pain regularly. Good health is a wonderful gift that I have often taken for granted- but no more. I am appreciating it every day now.
I also appreciate more than ever the numerous employees in the health care industry. There are the nurses, office staff, physician assistants, physical therapists, and doctors, to name just a few. They routinely greatly and positively impact the patients and families whose lives they touch. Their training and expertise give hope and aid to many. (This was especially true for me at my recent low point). I do not think they often get the respect and appreciation they deserve. More importantly, they usually deal with people when they are at their worst- not fun work conditions at all!
I have gained such extreme respect for any person that has to daily deal with even worse chronic pain than my paltry back issue. Extra empathy for those caretakers in their lives that aid them goes without saying too. Sometimes we do well to become aware that people around us may have major issues that weigh heavy on their lives. Giving the benefit of the doubt in the majority of our daily interactions is a much better choice than impatience or judgment. You do not always know what a person has to tackle every day.
Since I have been using a cane, it has become a catalyst to conversations with many people about exercises, acupuncture, supplements and the like. The cane has much the same effect as walking a dog does. People will easily approach and speak to other dog owners, when they would never initiate a conversation with some solo walker. So it is with using a cane- conversations and medical suggestions flow easier, and I have gotten some great ideas from various people I have met. Visits to medical-land create a comaraderie amongst its sojourners.
My medical folk also had to repeatedly say that my condition was likely “age-related” (since I had not just had a trauma or accident that would have caused the initial pain). I guess it is just the authoritative medical proclamation that I am now officially old.
Thanks for the reminder… not.