Tags
Come unto me all who are weary, Come unto me all who are weary and I will give you rest, God, God will not give you more than you can handle, help, Jesus, Jesus helps us, Jesus holding his hand from the cross, Matthew 11:28, MRI, pain
My doctor prescribed Hydrocodone and muscle relaxers, and said, “Give it a week and you should feel better.” Eight days later, I wasn’t better. Still in bed, half-dazed from pain meds, I relied on a walker to get from my bed to the bathroom and back, cringing and sometimes screaming with each painful step. Child-birth pains were not as bad as the never-ending spasmatic slashes of pain that shot from my hip down to my toe
It began on Easter morning. I was hiding Easter Eggs for the parish Easter egg hunt. I bent over to hide a plastic egg in the bushes. When I rose, a flash of excruciating pain surged from my lower back to my feet. Or maybe the problem really began four months earlier, when a deer bolted from the field and landed on our Prius, causing about seven thousand dollars in damage and a nagging lower back pain that showed up the next day.
Whatever the cause of my pain, I needed relief. I needed to get off drugs. Even with an absolutely devoted, caring, husband tending to all of my needs, and even doing laundry, I wanted to get out of bed and return to my normal active life. Yes, even laundry. So, I went to have an MRI…
MRI – Yesterday, Nine Days after Easter
“It’ll take about thirty minutes,” the nurse said, as she tightened the Velcro strip around my waist. I bit my lip to hold back the scream as the MRI machine sucked me into its dark hole.
I hadn’t taken pain meds that day and I knew very well I could NOT lay still with the stabbing-knife-jab pains in my hip and right leg. “Be still,” the nurse said. “If you move, I have to start all over again.”
How could I not move? I was scared, desperate. Tears formed in my eyes. The pain was way more than I could bear. I was about to scream, “Help! I can’t do this. STOP! It hurts too much. Get me out of here.”
Instead, I offered a silent cry for help. “Jesus, there’s no way I can take this pain for thirty minutes. Help me. I need you. You said you’d never give me anything that I couldn’t bear. I cannot lie still and bear this pain.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Then, an image flashed in my mind. It was Jesus. He was on the cross. His right hand stretched out, as if beckoning me. I saw my hand moving into His.
In that moment, the pain lessened, not completely, but to a degree that I could certainly tolerate. I remained still, calming my breathing and with a full, grateful, heart, I offered prayers of thanks and love to My God who never lets me down when I call His Name.
Suddenly, a light flashed. “You did it,” said the nurse. As I emerged from the MRI eggshell, I asked, “that was thirty minutes?”
“I know it must have seemed longer,” the nurse said, “but it was only thirty minutes.”
It hadn’t seemed that long at all.
Sliding from the MRI bench into my wheelchair, I was shaking. Not from the pain, but in awe of the amazing Grace I’d just received in the MRI machine. Jesus had shared my pain, as he always does. Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Jesus, Our Savior, suffered so much for us and has promised that He will not give us more than we can endure. I lived that promise during my MRI experience.
“Are you okay?” my husband asked as I was wheeled to the waiting area. “Yes,” I said. “Jesus was with me.”
Today, ten days after Easter, I’m still in pain, but not quite as bad as it was. The MRI report contained a lot of medical jargon and something about tears, bulging, protrusions, and nerve roots. It all spells “INCREDIBLE PAIN.” Got a steroid shot this morning that helped and I’m sure I’ll be fine. Jesus is with me always. Together, nothing is impossible or too horrible with Him. He will never give us anything more than we can bear.
In times of fear, pain, and worry that we can not bear the pains of this life, call His Name. He will be there; in the MRI Machine or where ever we are. What a wonderful God we have!
Good grief, Holly. I had no idea. Dana and I will have you in our prayers for sure. Get better soon!
Thanks Steve. God surely never lets me down.
I will never look at an MRI machine in quite the same way again. What a wonderful testimony to faith and acceptance, Holly. Thank you. I hope the back pain eases up soon.
Thanks Terry. It amazes me that all the people in the world don’t call upon Jesus. He’s never let me down.
Holly! Will be praying for you as you go through this! I’m so glad you originally reached out to me. And I think God put us in each others’ lives for a reason! 🙂 Bless you!! (so glad Jesus was able to be with you in the MRI – those things can be tough, and the nurse was right… if you can’t stay still, they get a bad image and have to redo it all)
HI Jackie! I do think God put you in my life for a reason. So glad we’ve met. Thanks for the prayers!
Having had an MRI myself I know how horrible they are. I really hope you feel better soon.
~Amy
Thanks Amy. Me too. This has been no fun at all. Thank God for Hydrocordone
Oh, my! Back pain, especially nerve pain, is the worst. Praying for healing.
Thanks Lynn. It has been awful. At least child birth pains give you a child at the end. Lol.
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve had an MRI and it was tough to stay still for me. I can’t imagine if I was in terrible pain how much harder it would be. Jesus was holding your hand through the entire thing! Praise Him!
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Thanks Darlene, Good to remember that He’s always holding our hand.
Good to hear that your faith and God has helped you. Wishing all the best for a speedy recovery. Ute x
Thanks!!
Thank you Holly, for sharing the goodness, faithfulness and grace of God with us. He truly is an awesome God. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy;He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” May you continue to rest quietly in His love.
Awww..God bless you Lyn! Thanks for the prayers
I am glad for your reassurance, but oh, I’m sorry you are in pain. May you receive comfort and healing in this tough time. 😦
Thanks Lilly
What a joy to experience Jesus in such a personal way! May we all ask Him to be with us in our trials.
Thanks Lynn, That’s my prayer for you, too!
So sorry to hear about your accident, Holly. I wish you a swift recovery.
Thanks Naomi!
Oh no! My prayers are with you …wishing you a speedy recovery and most importantly, resolution of the pain!
Thanks Dr. McGann, especially for the prayers
Did realize your situation was that awful. Glad they are now paying attention to your situation. Unrelievable pain is the worst. When I had to go into the MRI for my knee, that was a long 30 minutes. I thought about adverbs I would never use; verbs I love; why the grass is always greener over the septic tank; I think Jesus was laughing too hard to hold my hand. Or, he’s seen some of the strange thoughts in my head and is too reluctant. Anywho, get better so you can give the wheelchair to someone else.
Thanks Rick! I’m ready to give it up. I didn’t think anything could be more painful than giving birth, but these pain spasms made me nearly pass out. Hopefully, I’m on the mend now.
Holly, I’m glad you didn’t feel alone during your ordeal and hope you are back to normal soon.
Thanks Cindy. Feeling a little better today. Hopefully with the steriod shots and some chiropractic help, I’ll be back to normal, or whatever normal is for me.
God is truly awesome. Everything is designed to make us more like Jesus. He obviously came closer to you, Holly; and you were drawn closer to Him.
Simply amazing!
Yes, it is simply amazing! We have an incredible God who loves us and is always with us. It’s amazing that every single person in the world wouldn’t want to embrace our God.
I’m so sorry that you are going through this awful pain. Life can be so very challenging on so many levels. May you always remember your God walks it with you, alongside you, and IN you…
Amen, Melody. We are so blessed to have a God who is with us always. Who wouldn’t want to call upon Him in all times.
Sorry to hear you have been unwell Holly, and hope to hear the pain is subsiding..It sounds like it’s not going to be an immediate thing….take care Diane
Thanks Diane, Feeling a bit better, but it may take some time and some chiropractic visits to get back to normal.
Inspiring testimony.
Thanks Sheri
Hi Holly, sorry to hear about your pain, I hope you feel better soon. You may consider doing a few leg lifts while in bed, this will help alleviate the excruciating pressure. Sit-ups, crunches and a teeter inversion table will cure all forms of back pain. My father suffered from herniated disks and was getting addicted to pain meds. His doctor put him on this exercise regimen and as long as he keeps fit, his back pain miraculously “cured”. All pain is simply an imbalance in your system. Strengthening the abs balances the overloaded back muscles. There’s plenty of medical research to back it up. Best wishes, I’ll be praying for ya! ♥
Great advice and wisdom, Maddie. I will do as you suggest. Have great day!
Oh my! (((((hugs))))) xx
Thanks for the hugs, Vikki. Best wishes to you!
Loved this. Thank you for the encouraging word. He is a wonderful God!
Yes, Charity. God is a source of power and love, a well of wisdom, love, and help that we can always draw from.
Amen!
Spotted your post on Google+, Holly. I hope you are soon looking back at this experience and pain free. Your faith reminds me we all have unexpected strengths if we believe.
Thanks Beth. You’re right. We do. Strength from the power of God that will get us through anything. Best wishes, Beth.
Wow! What an amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing, Holly.
Thanks Stacy, God is great!
Holly, glad you are at least getting some relief. Hope those shots help soon. It took 3 of them for my daughter-in-law.
I think I’ll at least need two. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Hope you are well.
Holly, what a beautiful testimony. Thank you so much for blogging about it. May God continue to give you comfort and peace. I will be praying for complete healing.
Thanks Susan!
Hang in there. You are obviously a good “soldier” Takes one to know one. God bless and I will keep you all in my prayers. For you all.
Canon Owen
Thanks Canon Owen and Sylvia!
I was touched and I know God used this post to tell me something, to prepare me for something and to remind me HE’s always there whenever we need HIM. I thank God for your testimony. God bless
Nova, thanks and may God be with you and bless you always!
Wonderful! Thanks for this inspiration. I’ve been laid up occasionally with back pain, so I understand how that “knife” feels. I’ve learned that prescribed meds for pain and muscle relaxation are necessary to get past the stabbing pain (I keep some in my gym back just in case). But bed rest is not helpful. So says two physical therapists and personal experience. Getting around, moving, and specific stretches are keys to recovery. Ironically, I’ve also found back pain very inspiring. After my 2nd severe bout with it in 2010, I decided that being mobile was such a blessing that I shouldn’t waste it. So, I trained for, and ran my first marathon that year.
Wow, Lon. That’s really great. I had one steroid shot and need another. Trying to deal with this as naturally as possible, but I’ve got to be able to walk without falling over. Your advice sounds just right. Thank you. I’m doing some therapy now and hope to go the same way you did and get well enough to really get in good shape with some serious exercise plan. Take care.
I am so sorry it took me this long to read your poignant story. My prayers are with you, my friend, as you and your Dr.’s work on relieving your pain. It is wonderful to hear Jesus is so close at hand at this time of need. i am glad I know you.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you Nancy. Still working on recovering. I appreciate your friendship and prayers. God bless you!