An Answer to My Problem

It has been a crazy week.

Last Thursday, I woke up with my back hurting mildly. I shrugged it off, figuring I slept wrong. Long story short, it got really, really bad, really, really fast. I went to a massage therapist over the weekend, and when that didn't help, to a doctor on Monday. After agonizing and even crippling pain the past few days, I went back today - and when she saw me at my worst, she sent me to the ER...

It took a bit of fighting at the ER for them to not shrug me off and send me home with a referral to see someone else later. Instead, they gave me an x-ray, and when they were confused at it coming back fine, they gave me a referral for an MRI. Stubborn with the support of Emily (my driver and SUCH a trooper for waiting with me!), I insisted upon getting it there and then, as I'd already seen a doctor and they sent me here. That - and I'm supposed to leave on a mission trip in 5 days!

So I got it - and finally we got answers! I have a bulging disc in my spinal column. The bad news is that its still uber-painful and there isn't much we can do to fix it before we go. The good news is that they gave me strong pain meds (Vicodin), a muscle relaxer, and they affirm me going on the trip to Costa Rica!
The bad news is that I need physical therapy and have to see a spinal specialist in Glenview for it. The good news is that it isn't further along, and if we get it treated now, I shouldn't need surgery. This means more good news of a better chance of NOT having chronic back pain the rest of my life as a result of this...

This has been an ongoing drama in my life for the past week, but it has felt like a month. So many things have changed as a result of this... including work I was not able to get done. As I have been unable to sit and write for more than a few minutes at a time (I have already gotten up twice in writing this entry), I could not sit to do the necessary work toward completing my commissioning paper work. Everything is due tomorrow. After making the decision on Monday not to further stress my back by trying to keep writing, I finally sent an email today to the powers that be to formally withdraw myself from the commissioning process.

I will continue as a certified candidate, and can try another year. It was a big decision and a huge change made in only a little bit of time, but after having gotten up 3 times now for this short entry, I am confident it was the right decision. God must have something else in store for me... and I am confident something else will work out. I'll come back to this another day...

Peace, friends. I am off to get rest. Prayers for continued healing are certainly welcome.