THE DAY I BECAME OLD (AKA- Beyond pain)
I celebrated my 54th birthday on March 17th by pulling a muscle in my back. Well, it just popped when I raised up from a bent over position, but found out later that was just the final straw that broke the camel's back if you will. My wife and I went out to eat that evening, in pain, I might add. Sunday we had a normal day at church, but by that evening I was hurting enough that I didn't go back. I went to work on Monday, and had lots of different tasks that involved bending, pushing, pulling, and so forth. Tuesday morning I was hurting so bad, it took me 2 minutes to get out of the bed. No way I could go to work, so I called in. Years ago, when I was younger, I would have pushed on through the pain and toughed it out. But I am older now, and have little tolerance for pain like before.
I had to get some relief from the aching muscles, so I found a chiropractor that uses electro muscle therapy, and headed out. I got some relief from the aching lower back muscles, but started getting a terrible pain down my right leg. I said to myself "I'll just tough it out", and barely got up on Wednesday, and went back to work. That afternoon, I didn't think I was going to make it through the day and worse- I almost couldn't make it out to the car.
I went back to the doctor, and got little relief, help or hope of getting better anytime soon. I found out it was Sciatica. The pain was pretty bad when standing, worse when sitting, and horrible when lying down to sleep at night. Two nights were spent on the couch writhing in pain to keep from disturbing Trish in her sleep. I had a very few high powered pain pills that relieved the pain enough to get some sleep, finally. I have had broken collar bones, surgeries, awful ear infections that were painful, but I believe this topped them all.
I took the remainder of the week off, made an appointment with Dr. David Merrill, another chiropractor that I have much respect for, and am making great progress with the pain now. I decided to take off the entire week as vacation since we're only scheduled to work 4 days because of Easter weekend, and get healed up before going all out at work next week. I'll try not to complain about work, if I can only get back to it. It's now Wednesday, and I'm feeling decent now, but there's no use working one or two days. I need to get back to 100% for our famous 7 day work weeks where I work. I better be ready for the long haul when I pull out of the gate. I thank God for the healing, Dr. David Merrill for the great help that he has gave my family, my friends for all their prayers, and my family for the support.
I don't think I want to try any more extreme motorcycle racing or mountain bike racing, as I suspect another episode of this type of pain, or worse could easily happen again, and it's way beyond anything I have had yet.
So, I found out a man gets old when he turns 54 years old, to the very day!
Merrill Chiropractic, Kingsport, TN
