Back Pain

In May, 1999 in a weight lifting injury, I got a slipped disc, even spending two days in the hospital and months recovering.

But I was blessed not to need back surgery.

In the 16 1/2 years since then I have sometimes endured pain, and have taken various precautionary steps.

Among those steps are doctor visits, physical therapy, ongoing stretching and strengthening exercises, a back cushion placed on carefully selected seating and sometimes Advil.

There also is prayer and meditation and a strong mindset that I don't have a "bad back," just some back issues I deal with, for the mind is very powerful.

I've also learned to "embrace the pain" when it comes, a lesson presented to me in prayer.

Everybody has issues, and this is one of mine. It has made me more sensitive to the issues others have and more sympathetic.

In that sense, it is a blessing, a profound gift I'm lucky to have.

Dick