#16
Have you tried a chiropracticer? My mom had serious back pain for years, and began going to a chiropracticer and it heped tremendously. You might want to talk with your primary care doctor to see if its a good option, but it may help? Just a thought. :D
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John Chan
#17
Yes - see a doctor and have an MRI scan. I went to a chiropractor for a number of months but my condition worsened. After nearly six months of being bed-ridden, I managed to get under my brother-in-law\'s insurance (as a part time employee) and had surgery to remove two ruptured disks.
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I was told early on, \\"Say not, \'I sin, therefore I\'m a sinner,\' but, \'I\'m a sinner, therefore I sin.\'\\"
This helped me understand the nature of my sin better. I am by nature a sinner. To go against my nature requires a miracle, not a show of will power. My continued sin reminds me to repent and turn to God continually. Maybe one day God will relieve me of my sin, but in the meantime, I just continue to pray.
In the end, my sin reminds me to pray, my prayer reminds me of my need for God, and my need for God draws me nearer to him. So I, a sinner, draw nearer to God. Maybe this is a miracle on its own.
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Anastasia (DeVries) Croll
#19
Drevyev, Well said! I will keep that close for times when I am tempted to beat myself up over my sins. It is a good thought that leads toward repentance.
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Anastasia (DeVries) Croll
#20
I don\'t know if this will be helpful to you StGeorge, but there was a time when I struggled with a certain sin and could not seem to overcome it (as you describe). I spoke to a wise counselor about it and he asked me if I realized that in continuing to sin this way I was actually abusing myself. I was shocked by this characterization of my sin because I had always considered it a sort of relief from my own pain. Once I began to realize my sin in this new light, I was more inclined to look for other ways to find the relief I was looking for.
I also found specific prayers that I could add to my daily prayers that addressed my need and desire for deliverance from this particular sin. Something along the lines of, \\"Lord grant me deliverance from _________ that I may better serve thee.\\"
This thread is full of such wonderful advise, please ignore my post if it is not helpful to you.
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Ryan McGee
#22
Orthonut wrote:
An MRI is the way to go. I ended up having a Charte'. It's an artificial disc replacement, meant to do away with having the discs fused together. I was back to work in one week, and I can do just about anything I could do before the back problems started. I feel like a new man.
I really, really wish I could do that. I know I have at least three disks that are degenerating. I asked a previous specialist about the possibility of surgery, but he kind of evaded the question. Later, I searched online and discovered that where I have the spinal disk problems (upper thoracic spine) is where doctors avoid surgery as much as possible. In doing surgery on the upper thoracic spine, one comes close to vital organs (e.g. the heart) and is much more dangerous than lumbar surgery. I\'ve had about three epidural spinal injections, and within the past few months, three trigger-point steroid injections. I wouldn\'t want fusion, because that would permanently limit my range of motion. I don\'t think doctors would fuse three-four continuous disks either.
I have insurance now, but I\'m out of the job at present, and I hear artificial disk replacements are very experience: around $25,000 from one figure I\'ve read. Too much money for me, even with insurance.
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Ryan McGee
#23
AnnaChristine wrote:
I don't know if this will be helpful to you StGeorge, but there was a time when I struggled with a certain sin and could not seem to overcome it (as you describe). I spoke to a wise counselor about it and he asked me if I realized that in continuing to sin this way I was actually abusing myself. I was shocked by this characterization of my sin because I had always considered it a sort of relief from my own pain. Once I began to realize my sin in this new light, I was more inclined to look for other ways to find the relief I was looking for.
I also found specific prayers that I could add to my daily prayers that addressed my need and desire for deliverance from this particular sin. Something along the lines of, \"Lord grant me deliverance from _________ that I may better serve thee.\"
This thread is full of such wonderful advise, please ignore my post if it is not helpful to you.
Thank you for your advice.
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Ryan McGee
#24
Orthonut wrote:
StGeorge wrote:
I really, really wish I could do that. I know I have at least three disks that are degenerating. I asked a previous specialist about the possibility of surgery, but he kind of evaded the question. Later, I searched online and discovered that where I have the spinal disk problems (upper thoracic spine) is where doctors avoid surgery as much as possible. In doing surgery on the upper thoracic spine, one comes close to vital organs (e.g. the heart) and is much more dangerous than lumbar surgery. I've had about three epidural spinal injections, and within the past few months, three trigger-point steroid injections. I wouldn't want fusion, because that would permanently limit my range of motion. I don't think doctors would fuse three-four continuous disks either.
I have insurance now, but I'm out of the job at present, and I hear artificial disk replacements are very experience: around $25,000 from one figure I've read. Too much money for me, even with insurance.
I know what you mean with the insurance problem. My insurance paid for most of it though. My problem was with the lower discs (L5 & L4). They went in through my back for the first surgery, but through the front on the second operation. Of course they have to move all my organs out of the way in order to do so.
I will keep you in my prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos and Saints. Nothing is too big for our Father.
God Bless-
I truly appreciate your prayers.
If you could ask St. Nektarios of Aegina for intercession, that would be great.
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That was soooo well spoken thank you God Bless
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Dear Brother I have three fused disks and face the posibility of two more I know how you feel you can also try an herb called lobelia in a poltice a handfull cup and half usualy wet it down wrap in a thin cloth aply topicaly this is a strong herb not to be injested but it works I speak from much expearience Blessings Michael
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Donna McGregor Brinkley
#1
You are not alone. We all understand...even if we won\'t admit it!(:
I found a lot of comfort in the answers others gave you. I am glad you shared your heart...you have blessed me. The following quote was beautiful. You are in my prayers! Perpetua
\\"Well then, I, Who am so merciful and benevolent, who had instructed my high Apostle Peter to forgive any man who sins daily up to seventy times seven, will I not forgive and spare this man? Yes, I say to you, and because he sought refuge in Me, I will not turn away from him, until I have made him mine. Because I was crucified for the sinners and it was for them that I extended my immaculate arms, so that everyone who wants to be saved, will seek refuge in me and be saved. I do not avoid anyone, nor do I send anyone away, not even if someone sins a thousand times in one day and then comes to Me a thousand times; he won\'t leave dismayed. Because I did not come to call the righteous to repent, but the sinners.\\"
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#26
Misha_ wrote:
A certain brother had succumbed to the sin of lust, repeating this sin every day, but every day he would also beseech the Lord's mercy, with tears and prayers. By acting this way, his bad habit always fooled him and he would repeat the sin again; but again, after sinning, he would go to the Church and, upon seeing the holy and venerable icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, would fall to his knees and with bitter tears would say: \"Spare me, Lord, and rid of me this tortuous temptation, because it plagues me terribly and harms me with its bitter pleasures. My face is not worthy to look upon Your holy icon, so that my heart might be consoled.\"
That was the sort of thing he would say, but whenever he left the Church, he would again fall in the mire. Yet he never lost his hopes for salvation, and immediately after sinning, he would again return to the Church and say the same things, praying to the benevolent Lord God: \"Lord, be my warrantor that from now on I won't sin again but please, Lord, forgive all of my sins, from the beginning, up to now.\"; And after making these grandiose promises, he would again return to the same, terrible sin. And one could discern the sweet benevolence and infinite goodness of the Lord, in tolerating and enduring this incorrigible and grave violation and the ingratitude of this man, and how, in His great compassion, the Lord desired the repentance of this man and his definitive return, because this sin was being repeated, not for one, two or three years, but for ten and more.
Brothers, can you see the immeasurable tolerance and infinite benevolence of the Lord? How He shows forbearance and kindness every time, by enduring our gross iniquities and sins? What is more staggering and provokes our wonder with regard to God';s wealth of compassion, is that although our brother kept promising and would agree to desist from that sin, he proved himself a liar.
One day, after our brother had fallen into that sin again, he went running to the Church, mourning and moaning and in tears, beseeching the compassion of the merciful God to spare him and save him from the mire of incontinence. While this brother was begging the benevolent God, the wicked devil, the destruction of our souls, realized that he had achieved nothing, because while he was sewing with sin, the man was fraying it with his repentance. So the devil impudently appeared before him visibly, and, turning his face towards the venerable icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, started to cry out, saying: \"What s it going to be with us two, Jesus Christ? Your infinite sympathy defeats me and degrades me, whenever you accept this lecher, this wanton, who lies to you every day and disregards your authority. Why then don';t you burn him? Why are You so forbearing and tolerant towards him? You are supposed to be the one who will judge the adulterous and the licentious and will eliminate all sinners. In fact, You are not a fair judge, because, wherever Your authority considers it befitting, You judge unfairly and You overlook things. With me, because of the small infraction of pride, you cast me down from heaven, whereas with him, who is a liar, a lecher and a prodigal, because he merely knelt before You, You imperturbably grant him Your favor. So, why do they call You a fair judge? From what I can see, You simply give Yourself to people out of Your great goodness, and You overlook justice.\". As the devil was saying these, all choked up by his bitterness, flames and smoke came out of his nostrils.
After the devil had finished speaking, he became silent, and immediately, a voice was heard coming out of the altar saying: \"You wicked and pestilent dragon, your wickedness wasn't satiated by swallowing the whole world, and now you are trying to grab and swallow this man who found refuge in the infinite mercy of My compassion? Can you present any sins that are heavier than the precious blood which I shed for this man, on the Cross? Mark well, that My crucifixion and My death forgave his sins. Besides, you didn't send him away when he headed towards sin, but you accepted him with joy and you neither abhorred him nor hindered him, because you hoped to win him. Well then, I, Who am so merciful and benevolent, who had instructed my high Apostle Peter to forgive any man who sins daily up to seventy times seven, will I not forgive and spare this man? Yes, I say to you, and because he sought refuge in Me, I will not turn away from him, until I have made him mine. Because I was crucified for the sinners and it was for them that I extended my immaculate arms, so that everyone who wants to be saved, will seek refuge in me and be saved. I do not avoid anyone, nor do I send anyone away, not even if someone sins a thousand times in one day and then comes to Me a thousand times; he won';t leave dismayed. Because I did not come to call the righteous to repent, but the sinners.\"
As soon as these words were heard, the devil stood fixed in place, trembling, unable to escape. And the voice spoke again: \";Listen, impostor, with regard to what you said about me being unfair : because I am fair to everyone, and in whichever condition I might find them, I will judge them accordingly. Look at this man, I found him in repentance and returning back, fallen on his knees in front of Me, and your conqueror. I will therefore accept him and save his soul, because he did not despair about his salvation. And you, when seeing the honor that I grant him, will impale yourself out of envy and be put to shame.
And just as the brother lay there, prone and weeping, he gave up his soul; instantly, a fury as great as a fire fell upon the devil, and it consumed him. Therefore my brothers let us learn from this incident of God's immeasurable compassion and philanthropy, what a kind God we have, and that we must never despair or not tend to our salvation.
Hi Misha, I just read this story and it really spoke to me. Where did it come from?
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#27
Just to make a few comments on what iv experienced.
Rememberance of God\'s love is essential. The devil wants us to forget that god loves us because then we excommunicate ourselves from God. God is always about Communion evident in the Trinity. The devil wants us to be alone, that\'s when we are vulnerable. 2. Sin is the absence of love. 3. The devil doesnt work for no pay.
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