Pain Free is Not Intuitive, Part III

So, now we actually get into why this statement is suppose to be correct, correct?  Right.  We’ve already established that I believe in God and also that He is sovereign; therefore the pain that I have now is His plan.  Now the reason why we have a hard time with chronic pain is that when the Lord made us, He gave us certain information in our DNA that helps us react to immediate threats.

Doesn’t that make your statement false?  No.  If we put our hand on a hot stove, that initial pain quickly makes us remove that hand from said stove, and that’s good.  Not having our nervous system react in this way would have horrible effects.  Just ask those people who can’t feel pain like others, and you will see that they can burn their hand terribly in this scenario, only to realize it when they smell or see it.  Not a good way to find out.  However, that short term reaction is no way to deal with chronic pain.  Pain that lasts more than a few sefonds must be dealt with quite differently than to rely on a “fight or flight” condition. 

So now you know better than your own Creator?  Not my point.  The Lord gave us grace, loved ones, and those He has called to the healing arts to deal with suffering in the long term.  Before you ask, that’s not my final answer.  After pain and suffering have had a bit of time to settle in, it is time to look at ways of dealing with it that might be better than just running a burn under cold water!  For example, let’s leave the burn and talk about twisting your knee with a minor sprain.  Just taking weight off of it isn’t going to help all that much.  What you need to do is use the RICE method; Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate.  This is the acronym we use to help people with such an injury.  That kind of treatment is just not found within our DNA.  It’s brought about patiently, through study.  It takes generations of research, trial and error.  That’s why I know that treating pain is not intuitive. 

Bottom Line:  Don’t fall into the notion that someone just “knows” how to deal with pain and suffering.  That kind of thinking will drive you crazy and make you incredibly angry.  Becoming pain free is learning new behavior, trying different techniques, and finding those things that help you the most.  The elements that make up you particular pain and suffering are often as unique as your fingerprint.  What works for one person may not work for someone else, that’s okay.  The foundation of all pain relief is prayer, patience, and people you can trust.  This takes time!  Even dealing with something like migraines need this foundation; because ignoring pain, gritting your teeth, getting rest, and popping pills just won’t be long term, complete healing.  So don’t fight against yourself. 

Next time:  Bullet points that will help guide you to learn how to deal with your pain.