Feeling My Age…and My Aches

I am not 20 any more.

That is a hard lesson to learn. At 44, I wouldn’t call myself “ancient.” But I am at that transitional stage when your mind still thinks you’re in your 20’s or 30’s and your body frequently reminds you that you’re not.

My most recent reminder came two weeks ago after a round of golf.

That’s right, golf. The most strenuous of exercises…and most glorious of games ;>).

I played 18 holes and carried my bag for the first time in a few years. I stretched my typical amount on the first tee and played a great round. Hit the ball well. Hit my drives far. Made some key putts. Beat my dad.

But the next morning a shooting pain started pulsating in my left shoulder. It was the most intense pain I could ever remember feeling. And it wouldn’t let up. It felt like a doctor gave me a shot and instead of taking out the needle, he decided to keep twisting it around in my shoulder.

I needed relief so I started popping ibuprofen like it was candy. The pain was dulled but quickly came back.

Soon I added a rotation of aspirin and Alleve, which made the pain bearable but still uncomfortable. Icy Hot just made my shoulder feel hotter. Tiger Balm made my shoulder stink.

Nights were the worst. I am typically a belly sleeper but that wouldn’t work. I couldn’t move on my left side either. The only mildly comfortable position was on my right side with my left arm extended over my head. That got me a few hours of sleep…and a bunch of weird dreams about trying to ask a teacher a question in class.

Over the course of two weeks, the pain refused to subside. My regiment of ibuprofen, Alleve, and aspirin continued while my sleep worsened. I was desperate for some relief so I called a chiropractor who could see me that day.

After asking a few diagnostic questions, this chiropractor proceeded to lie me on a table and take a small jackhammer to my neck and back. I have been to a chiropractor before but I never remember the jackhammer. This man told me prior to the procedure that he did things differently than the typical chiropractor. I quickly realized that I wanted the typical chiropractor.

So still in pain, I called another chiropractor who could see me the next day. This one asked a few more questions and sounded more…chiropractorly. Based on an old MRI and my symptoms (which now included numbness in my left hand), the culprit of my pain seemed to be in my spinal cord not my shoulder. So the chiropractor recommended a number of visits and procedures.

It started with electroshock treatment to my shoulder which made my neck feel like it was doing jelly rolls. Next was massage therapy. Hey, that sounded like a relief! Until the therapist said, “This isn’t going to be pleasant.” She proceeded to jab her thumb repeatedly into my neck to try to loosen my tightened neck muscles. She was right. It wasn’t pleasant. She ended the session by saying that the chiropractor probably wouldn’t be as gentle.

Again she was right.

A few pounding adjustments on my shoulder blades, sending funny bone like shocks down my left arm, were followed by the infamous “rip the man’s head off while rotating it to make all kinds of bone cracks” chiropractor move.

The session was done and I felt like I had been mugged in the back alley…sore, in pain, and with less money in my wallet.

Finally I got an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. I hesitated to go this route because with a ultra high insurance deductible, I knew I would basically be paying out of pocket. But I quickly realized that I should have started here. The doctor did extensive tests to rule out a shoulder injury or carpal tunnel issues. Yes, all indications were that the problem was located in C5-C6 of my spine–a pinched nerve which I had suffered five years earlier. But back then I only had the numbness…not the shooting pain.

The doctor advised physical therapy, gave me some increased doses of Alleve, and then gave me a shot of cortisone in the hip. I had never received a cortisone shot before but in a few hours I became a big fan. For the first time in two weeks, the pain was gone…and I felt like jogging around the block for fun.

Today began physical therapy. And though the numbness is still there, the pain has subsided and I feel like I am on the right track with exercises and specialized treatment. My wallet will be lighter, but I guess that will take even more pressure off my spine.

So what have I learned these past two weeks?

1. Don’t take normal health for granted. It is amazing how good “no pain” feels when you are in constant pain. Last night I was thankful for painless sleep. Today I am thankful for a painless shoulder. Every body part that is not in pain is a cause for thanksgiving. A normally functioning body is so easily taken for granted.

2. Pain is hard to ignore. I tried to work through the pain and continue my normal routine…and for the most part I did. But it was hard to focus on anything but the pain. And lack of sleep added to my grumpiness and depression. I gained a whole new appreciation for those in chronic pain. And I can see why people in pain look for any and all remedies that promise relief.

3.  The best solution to pain requires the right diagnosis, compassionate care, temporary relief, and lasting life change. Maybe I am drawing too many applications, especially since I am not out of the woods yet, but I can’t help but see the parallel between physical and spiritual/emotional health. The solution to my physical pain only came when someone properly diagnosed it, listened to my symptoms and concerns, provided some avenue of temporary relief, and put me on the path to exercises that can alleviate the problem in the future.

I think the same can be said when dealing with spiritual/emotional pain. I need truth coupled with compassion…relief accompanied with responsibility. Or put another way… I need courage to face my problem. A companion to help me though it. Comfort to take the edge off. Conviction to make a change.

Maybe with the aches of age also comes a little wisdom.

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