Do You Want to be Healed?

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My month of June was dedicated to sciatica. There are better things to do with one’s time, but it took over my life. One day I was fine, and the next I wasn’t. I like to self-diagnose before asking a doctor’s advice. Does anyone else do that? Pain from the spine, through the hip, and on to the knee seemed definitive. Subsequently, I had four visits to the doctor. We agreed on the illness and a stab at lessening the pain. The fourth week of June I had very swollen legs, vertigo, and a rash visible from neck to toe. The rash could have been in my scalp, but I didn’t bother to look. The sciatica was unimpressed. The reaction of the world’s best neighborhood? They visited me, texted with me, walked outside beside me, spoke words of encouragement, brought flowers and fruit, prayed with and for me, and took me to one of the doctor’s visits. Grandson David helped whenever he could.

I did see the amusing side of vertigo. I told daughter Lise that I hit every wall on the way to the bathroom, and that was with the aid of a cane! Son John got the safety story. When taking Kacey outside, I hold the cane in one hand and use only two fingers to hold the leash in the other. She can’t pull me down if I’m not holding on tightly.

I seemed to age 10 years in one month. Lack of sleep and pain do strange things to one’s mind. I’ll spare you the details. It came down to lack of control. Most of us are used to planning our days and getting on with it. When that stops, you begin to wander through the hours. Case in point – neighbor Shawn offered me a meal she had cooked, and I declined, saying I wasn’t hungry. What? That wasn’t me!! I’ve regretted it ever since. If I ever decline food again, I’ll know I’m truly ill.

On a hot, humid day the question flashed through my mind. “Do you want to be healed?”

How silly! Of course, I want to feel better. It’s a Biblical question in John 5, and the paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda gave excuses rather than a definitive yes. Was I like that man? Maybe I enjoyed the attention. Perhaps I wanted to wallow in pain and despair. Most people were sympathetic to me. Only one said, “You’ll live; get over it.”

I took steps toward healing this morning by walking to the top of the street and back. It wasn’t much compared to the 50 miles I walked in May, but I am on the road to recovery.

Lord, please heal my body and my soul so that I can live for you.

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Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

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52 thoughts on “Do You Want to be Healed?”

  1. One of my colleagues used to say “Sometimes you need to be on the pitypot; feel it. Then get off and keep going.” Nerve pain is a bear…needs to hibernate some times. I hope you are better soon and I can’t imagine you as someone wallowing for attention.

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  3. She was right…You will be fine but in the mean time find an EE System close by and spend at least a couple of hrs. You can go to UnifydTV to find out if there is one close to you. People are reporting good results.

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    1. This is new to me. There is an EE System in Asheville. I’ll see how I feel at the end of the month. Daughter Lise arrives Friday to stay the rest of the month. That alone will make me feel better!

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  4. I also suffer from sciatica and to me, it sounds like you had a reaction to whatever he put you on. There are specific exercises and stretching to relieve the pain, and of course, the less you spend sitting in uncomfortable chairs, the better. That doesn’t necessarily mean walking your legs off, but just getting up once an hour helps immensely. You probably know I’d rather use CBD for the pain, (I use it mainly at night) rather than strong muscle relaxers. Also, they say acupuncture and/or chiropractic care is helpful. My right leg has been numb down one side ever since I was diagnosed after a bad back injury. I’m hoping when we get new furniture in the bus, I’ll get more relief. Let me know if you want me to send the exercises 😉

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  5. Oh, one more thing, my Apple Watch tells me once an hour, it’s time to stand. That helps me a lot but you could also use a timer.

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  6. From what I’ve heard, sciatica can be very painful but eventually goes away on its own. Please take care and be careful walking the dog. You are lucky to have such wonderful neighbours. xo

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  7. Oh Anne, I will pray you are on the mend quickly. My son did something similar when he pulled the mower cord. It took him a week or two and a chiropractor to recover.

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  8. Dan gets it periodically and it’s painful and debilitating. Yes I can hear him say he isn’t hungry because of it. Wishing you a good recovery. Sending hugs!

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  9. Did the Dr say what was causing the rash and vertigo? I’ve never heard of sciatica causing those symptoms only the pain. I am praying for you with you, My Friend.

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    1. Thank you, Ruth. The doctor didn’t come to any conclusion about the origins of my extra maladies. I suspect a reaction to one medication known to have side effects is the culprit.

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  10. Anne, We know we’re repeating other’s comments but rest assured our prayers for you have already begun.
    Paul and Betty

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  13. I am praying for you with you, My Friend. please tack care and be careful walking. You so lucky to have really lovely neighbours. it sounds like you had a reaction to whatever he put you on. There are specific exercises and stretching to relieve the pain.

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  14. No Sciatica, but Vertigo abounds within me. A constant trigger is the sun shimmering though the leaves of trees while driving. I’ve been to P-T and have exercises that help the infliction.

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    1. Goodness! To be hit with vertigo while driving must be awful! Mine starts when I sit up in the morning, but it doesn’t last long. It comes and goes during the day, usually without incident. If it gets worse, I’ll go to the vertigo clinic at the local hospital.

      I’m saluting you and other veterans today as we celebrate our country’s birthday.

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  16. Oh my Sweet Anne! I am so very sorry. It is an awful experience and makes everything else go haywire. What a loving community you all are. Now, isn’t God so good to us help us with verses that spring up-the ones we need at the moment. I will pray for your healing-love, Michele

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    1. I remembered Jesus asked someone if he wanted to be healed. It was easy to find it, but I needed to read it carefully. Yes, it was speaking to me.

      Thank you for your prayers. They mean a lot.

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  17. I was thinking of you on Sunday for the anniversary of John’s memorial service and not thinking of you suffering like this from sciatica. My mom had it so bad she couldn’t sit and would stand up and the cellulitis in her legs made her sit back down again. The reactions from the meds does not sound good – I hope they are trying other meds or dosages for you.

    On a funny note, well kinda funny, this will give you a giggle. Remember you and David decided to get new chairs as you were feeling a little unsafe in them. I was sitting here, minding my own business on Saturday night, commenting on a post, when my wooden kitchen chair that I’ve parked my bum in since I was at least eight years old, made a huge crack and broke in two, landing me on the floor. The chair literally broke in two … not funny, but luckily I didn’t fracture or break something, but the look on my face. I got abrasions from where the chair split and jagged wood was sticking out. No words. The chair had a loose rung from awhile ago – I am thinking this may have been the culprit, but I’m not sure. I already have you in my prayers for your eyes – will amend the prayer now.

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    1. The breaking news of your chair was amusing. I’m glad you weren’t hurt, because the story would have lost its appeal.

      I didn’t remember the date of John’s memorial service, so I wasn’t thinking of it this year. At least I’ve been able to remember his death date — something I couldn’t remember for my parents or in-laws.

      Thank you for praying for me. I appreciate that.

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      1. Anne, the chair just fell apart – a huge crack in the seat part and the one side just collapsed. I’m sure the look on my face was priceless … then how to get up? Luckily I had a footstool under the table and could grab it to get out from under the big part of the chair. So I polished up an identical chair from the dinette set … I heard some noises today. The set is old but in good shape – the table has always has a pad and tablecloth on it. So I Googled around and learned that temperature changes, heat, humidity and age cause the glue to dry out causing dowels and rungs to become loose, plus shifting around … I am here in this chair many hours a day, so no wonder.

        I remembered John’s memorial service was the Saturday of the Independence Day holiday last year. I can’t forget his death date – it was my parent’s wedding anniversary.

        You have been in my prayers daily.

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        1. You did have something to hang a memory on, but I’m impressed that you remembered John’s memorial service date fell on your parents’ anniversary.

          We always seemed to have a chair or so that needed to be glued. I wish I’d learned to do it.

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          1. Well my parents’ 70th anniversary would have been this last month, on June 11th – I remembered you had everyone coming over 4th of July weekend and had the memorial service on the first day. I don’t always remember what I went down the hall for though. 🙂 Well, there were some YouTube videos online – they explained it thorough – wood glue and clamping tape (they wrapped it around the chair legs and pulled the tape taut to get it to set). I didn’t know these fixes or I might have have tried it years ago when the rung came loose.

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  19. We both had a June to be forgotten! I had sciatica too, but truly pretty minor compared to yours I think. Today was my first day walking with Bandit (he pulls to much). I can’t believe how much I lost not being able to exercise regularly!😳 I’m glad to be getting back my routine at last, as you are.

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      1. I had a really good day today, in spite of weeding for two hours, so I think I am officially healed up, just have to regain strength and flexibility now.

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