Thankful: For a Healthy Back

Jesus went throughout Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues, preaching

the good news of the kingdom, and healing

every disease and sickness among the people.

Matthew 4:23

Years ago, when I was living in Indiana, I pinched the sciatic nerve in my back, with very painful results.  As luck would have it, my husband did almost the exact same thing at work, leaving us both crippled and hurting.  He went to see a local orthopedic doctor.  After the examination, the doctor handed my husband a book - Pain Free by Pete Egoscue.  "Do the exercises in this book before we try anything else," he said.  My husband was quite put out - he didn't want to do exercises; he wanted a shot, which he eventually received.  I wanted no part of a long needle, so I took the book and did the exercises.  The results were amazing, and a copy of that book still has a special place on my bookshelf and on my reading list if my back starts to act up.

This morning while I was teaching, I got a text message from my daughter.  Her significant other's back had buckled while trying to lift a semi tire at work, he had fallen to the ground, and was in tremendous pain.  I went directly home after school to get him and take him to the Patient First clinic.  He, of course, did not want to go to the doctor.  I pulled out my trusty book and said, "O.K. Let's make a deal.  You read and do what this book says, and we'll delay going to the doctor for 24 hours or so."   While he did the exercises and submitted to heat/cold therapy, I went shopping for a back support brace to wear at work, and a badly-needed firm replacement mattress for the twin bed he sleeps on.  I would appreciate your prayers for him as he rests and rebuilds strength in his back.

At various times in my life, I have wished that Jesus were stilll here on earth, walking (riding?) from village to village, healing the people of "every disease and sickness."  Obviously that is not even a remote possibility.  Instead, God has given many people - doctors, therapists, and sports medicine folks like Mr. Egoscue, the gift of healing to pass on to us.  I cannot begin to count the number of times I have reached for my Pain Free book.  Do you have back or shoulder pain?  Knee, wrist or ankle pain?   This book covers almost any kind of skeletal pain and provides the directions and photographs for a variety of healing exercises.  I give it my highest recommendation.