Now What

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Permalink Reply by Carla on May 31, 2018 at 7:59am

Hi Brent;

Welcome to AAG!  I'm sorry that I don't have experience with medications so I can't speak to that.

However, I do understand pain.  I understand how it can literally stop a person in their tracks, cause depression, hopelessness etc...

Has your friend tried Chiropractic care? So many problems begin in the neck.  If nerves are being pinched at the top of the spine in the neck, it directly influences the relationship between the spine and central nervous system.  Everything you think feel and do is controlled by the central nervous system..  If anything is pinched because you are out of alignment, it causes disease, pain, sickness, disability.  After I get adjusted, my chiropractor says 'Power's on'.  That's exactly what happens.  When your spine is in alignment, the central nervous system can function properly because nerves are no longer being pinched--power flows.  Massage feels good, but unfortunately it will never be enough if the problem is with the spine. 

If you're interested, I can probably get a referral for where you are from my chiropractor.  My chiropractor is a born again believer.

Let me know... 

I'm so saddened to hear about anyone living in such pain and turmoil.

Many Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Brent on May 31, 2018 at 8:26am

Hi Carla, thank you for your suggestion! She does have a chiropractor. She has had Chiari 1 Malformation decompression surgery (basically brain is too big for skull and part of the skull is removed to relieve pressure). She recently also had a cervical fusion (fusing her head to her spine because of cranial instability). So she’s been through a lot and has tried a lot of things to help her cope. I guess what i was hoping for in my question was some “revelation” or “comfort” in how a person living intoxicated (i dont fault her, she’s a trooper!) gets past “a drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God”? I generally take the Word of God strickly and sometimes miss deeper things. For instance should she be somehow relying on God differently or instead of meds? I know that we live in a fallen world and that our Lord tells us that we will have trials... I thought in posing the situation that maybe someone would have a Holy Spirit moment and provide something we hadn't thought of... its a tall order.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on May 31, 2018 at 8:35am

:-)  A tall order for us, but not for God.  So--  What I'm hearing is that we're praying for a miracle.  That's good because our God is a God of miracles. 

I can't imagine living in constant pain to that degree...

If I can offer you any comfort, we can view medicine as a blessing from God.  To live in the kind of pain that your friend is enduring is inhumane.  Medicine has its' place, and sometimes is unavoidable.  We reject condemnation or guilt. 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Brent on June 1, 2018 at 5:35pm

Thank you very much!

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Permalink Reply by David on June 1, 2018 at 5:48am

Hi Brent

Please remember, the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, not God. Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly.

I should have been on medication for the rest of my life for an "incurable" autoimmune disease and at one stage, was taking 16 pills daily. I am now medication and symptom free for nearly 2 years now.

Please watch the below video from Dan Mohler, teaches on how this is possible through God’s love for us and the finished work of Christ.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP_cptVQals

 There are plenty MP3 downloads here, they are all so good:

 https://www.nove-stvoreni.cz/downloads-dan-mohler

 Be blessed!

Dave

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Permalink Reply by Brent on June 1, 2018 at 5:48pm

Thank you Dave, I’m listening to Dan Mohler... interesting.

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Permalink Reply by journeyman on June 1, 2018 at 6:36am

Dear Brent, I have suffered with chronic pain for 8 years. Many back problems , back surgeries, diabetes, stenosis and high and low blood pressure causing extreme dizziness. I have been on several medications opiates, and I am part of a Pain Management Program that has helped me over the years with injections (steroid) nerve blocks and a back implant to help with all of that.

I have found that exercise in a pool is very helpful. Floating takes all the pressure off of the joints and muscles. A good program in a warmer water is soothing and can improve movement. My wife and I enjoy the pool when we do go.

I can't be a part of a program that uses medical marijuana because the Pain program I'm part of doesn't see it as a "effective" way to treat pain. Plus, I suspect that because they are licensed federally to prescribe drugs such as opiates they might lose their license. I have to be drug tested every month. I can have no other drugs other than the ones they are giving me in my system. They are very strict.

I am flooded with the thoughts of my own trek here. But, God has greater in mind for us. I've been a part of this web site for ten years. I came here looking for answers long before all of my "pain" problems began. God has given me the answers I needed on this journey. Closeness to our Father God is the source of the greatest peace we will ever know. Jesus gave his life for us on a cross. Scripture, meditative prayer, devotionals, soothing music, and loving touch are very helpful.

I have learned that as long as God has filled my lungs in the morning he is not done with me. I serve him. I love being in his presence. My time in the early morning and throughout the day is my source of comfort.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV  For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

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Permalink Reply by Brent on June 1, 2018 at 5:30pm

Thank you for sharing, it has been very helpful!
“who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
People don’t understand chronic pain unless they have experienced it. I have not, but I am a care taker for someone that lives with it everyday. It is nice to hear something other than “where is your faith?”. We are fallen creatures in a fallen world and our Lord has told us that we will have trouble (John 16:3) and one day we will also “fully” overcome this world as our Lord has.
Thank you again!

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Permalink Reply by Brent on June 1, 2018 at 5:34pm

I also must say that I now have a different view of medications thanks to Carla and Journeyman.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on June 4, 2018 at 8:20am

Hi Brent,

That's great. 

I've been thinking about this, and 2 Corinthians 12 comes to mind.

Even Paul dealt with his 'thorn in the flesh'

A Thorn in the Flesh

^7 "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to ^[b]torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast ^[c]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with ^[d]insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Paul pleaded with God to be delivered from it.  God responded "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness".   It seems that God is in these moments of weakness, HE positions us to experience His best.  His power works in us and our behalf.  We also know Romans 8:28 to be true.  The less sufficiency we bring to the task, the more room there is for Him to work.  Weakness of all kinds brings us to a place of being able to experience God Himself.

All of us have a 'thorn in the flesh' to some degree. 

God meets us where we are.  In the meantime, we pray for healing.

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Brent on June 4, 2018 at 10:23am

Carla, I believe you have been spending some time with our Father... thank you. I know this scripture well but had not considered it in this situation. You hit the nail on the head, Praise the Lord!

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Permalink Reply by Carla on June 4, 2018 at 11:41am

God is good all the time.  PTL. 

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