A season of rest. It has such a carefree ring to it, doesn’t it? A time to relax and refresh. Ahh. Who could complain about that?
Well, apparently, I could. A pain in my neck (a real one!) has been severely cramping my style lately. I tried my usual approach with new aches and pain –ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. Not surprisingly, that was unsuccessful.
After about 10 days of seeing the chiropractor, who suggested plenty of Rest, and enduring hours of ice packs, I finally went to the doctor. She prescribed Rest and high doses of ibuprofen for 5 days. My idea of resting was to work with one hand while holding the ice pack on my neck with the other. After the 5th day without any relief, I was reaching whining levels, so Doc upped the ante to a 6-day tapered dose of Prednisone. This was right about the time my aunt passed away and I needed to make an 8 hour drive to/from Portland for her service. Flying the next day to Alaska didn’t exactly help my situation either. Our seats were directly behind the emergency exit and didn’t even recline.
The excitement of the trip sustained me until the second night when I deteriorated. Doc called in a prescription to a pharmacy in “how do you spell that?”, Alaska but my genious insurance company decided I hadn’t suffered through enough alternatives to approve this pain medication. Mom had some leftover meds from various ailments and I eagerly downed them. (Phooey on all the warnings about taking other people’s medications!) Time was short before leaving, and being newly drugged, I didn’t want to ‘waste’ it on Resting. Off we went to explore, watch Iditarod, and play fairy dress up!
My chair reclined on the flight home so I finally Rested on the plane. Within an hour of landing at Sea-Tac though, I was on the MRI table. The pain erased any hint of feeling claustrophobic. I was instructed to lay there and not move, but I didn’t count this as Resting.
The results confirmed a herniated disk. Doc recommended Physical Therapy and Rest. I went to my first PT appointment and she said “You need to Rest!”
My husband had shoulder replacement surgery last summer and took 3 months off work to recover. I scolded him every time he lifted a finger. I knew it was important (and okay) for him to Rest. He reminded me I was using a double standard and gently suggested it was my turn to Rest. Sigh.
In order to ‘allow’ myself the luxury of resting, I bribed myself with a pile of books.
- shutterstock.com
Oh, this did work wonders! Once I got started, I just couldn’t stop. I eagerly devoured my book pile! After four days mostly spent on the couch actually resting, I began to feel better. My reading list included the following:
Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie – A wonderful (and in my case, timely) novel about discovering who we are when we find our way home. Very moving and touching.
Two Hearts by Linda Hoye – A fantastic memoir detailing the unique journey of an adoptee, yet easily relatable in many ways. Linda’s story will stick with me for many years.
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf An incredible story that you will never guess the ending. Family, grief, sacrifice, and love.
Hidden in Dreams by Davis Bunn -A well-written Christian psychological-suspense novel.
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson -A true story of survival in the climbing world. I haven’t finished it yet, I’m having trouble with the terminology, but am hanging in there because critics praise the incredible relational healing between two climbing friends after a horrific accident.
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain I’m on the last chapter listening in the car on CD. It’s a novel about Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage. Very interesting, but a little slow.
Now that I’m up and about again, I’m thinking a Season of Rest wasn’t so bad after all! Hopefully I won’t wait for a herniated disk for the next season!
How about you? What does a Season of Rest look like for you?
Feb 27, 2014 @ 08:09:28
Time for rest and hibernation! 🙂
LikeLike
Feb 27, 2014 @ 08:25:30
Ha ha! That was perfect, discovering this post related to your current one!!
LikeLike
Feb 27, 2014 @ 12:01:17
Good radar or luck!
LikeLike
Apr 08, 2013 @ 16:55:38
Thanks for your post. It made me realize why it that God made the Sabbath rest a commandment! I too have a hard time keeping quiet time. Glad to hear you found a way to bribe yourself into it.
LikeLike
Apr 08, 2013 @ 18:53:14
Yes, it does seem to be a universal challenge for so many of us!
Thanks for your encouragement, Allen!
LikeLike
Mar 23, 2013 @ 08:19:41
Glad you are feeling better. Nice that you were able to read so many good books. I’d have a hard time with ‘resting’ too so I’m glad you made it through!
LikeLike
Mar 23, 2013 @ 09:34:12
Not wanting to rest seems to be something many of us have in common. I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse! 😉
LikeLike
Mar 22, 2013 @ 05:05:51
I am glad you are doing better – like all of us I tend to get my best rest while recuperating. Not that God causes our ailments but He sure does use them to bring us rest and closer to Him.
LikeLike
Mar 22, 2013 @ 07:58:10
Thanks, Patty!
LikeLike
Mar 22, 2013 @ 02:38:30
I’m a terrible rester. My idea of resting is doing, because otherwise I get overwhelmed from all the chores piling up. I know that I need to do better, and to take time. In a lot of ways though I do consider writing resting, because I enjoy it so much. As long as I’m uninterrupted and I’m not dealing with a storyline glitch, then writing can be quite relaxing for me.
I hope you feel better soon!
LikeLike
Mar 22, 2013 @ 07:57:33
It’s sounding like you and I are in very good company here, Kate! 😉
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 17:36:46
Last time I was on physical restriction I ordered my hubby around to not only pick up his crap for a change but to pick up mine. After 2 days of doing my chores he sighed about how much work it was but he didn’t leave his stuff all over the place any more !
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 21:14:08
You are a genious, Susanna! 😉
LikeLike
Mar 22, 2013 @ 04:12:59
Dumb luck, wish I was really so clever! True that there’s opportunity in every set back just like you wrote about.
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 15:32:22
When life is going smoothly, resting now and again isn’t a problem. But when I’m told to do it, then it’s a chore! I wish the body would cooperate as we get older. I exercise to keep mine in good shape. Why does it reward me with twinges, aches, and pinches?!
Hope your back is feeling better!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 21:13:38
😉 That’s so true! Our bodies have minds of their own, for sure!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 12:59:50
My wife has been in a few car accidents, and had medial branch blocks in her c5 region to help with pain. Now she gets routine professional massages, and it makes a big difference to her.
But you’re right, rest makes a huge difference.
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 21:13:08
So glad to hear your wife found a way for relief! Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 04:49:17
A herniated disc. Ouch – so sorry. I have nerve damage to the C5 nerves on both sides so I understand that pain. Rest is sometimes the hardest thing for us to do. Life keeps moving and we have no choice but to move with it. I hurt my foot in early December. A jump side kick gone wrong, I rolled my ankle during TaeKwonDo class. Fortunately nothing was broken. I injured a ligament that runs across the top of my foot. I was told to rest and stay off it. I did my best. But I still had to go about daily life with kid needs. I didn’t go to TaeKwonDo class for 2 months. Then I went back and limited my classes until 2 weeks ago. I have a kick a thon (1,000 kicks) and a tournament this weekend. My foot still hurts, especially after class. But I brace it during class, keep it elevated when I can, and wrap it when needed. Rest. Just not a possibility for me. I hope to go through the weekend without too much pain. So glad you are feeling better. Take care.
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:45:53
Ouch, sounds like you push yourself, too! It’s so hard to ‘do as the doctor ordered’.
Good luck with your activities this weekend, I hope you don’t have a re-injury!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 04:47:15
I’m so happy that you are better ~ thanks for sharing the books you read as well! I”m always looking for a good new one to read! xo
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:44:19
Glad you like the list, and I hope you enjoy reading some of them!
Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 04:25:53
You know Denise, neck problems are always a signal that you are being rigid about something, and it seems that the concept of ‘rest’ is translated by you to be ‘lazy’! As a result of this dogmatic approach to rest, you got sick in the appropriate place in the body. I hope you’ve learned to be more balanced in your activities, and I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Lots of love to you in your recovery.
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:43:36
Yaz, you always nail it spot on! I do feel very lazy if I’m not going 100 MPH…it’s the old tapes still running through my head sometimes. A work in progress in that area, too. And for the rigidity, I’m sure there’s something to it as well. Ah, more self reflection! Thank you for the gentle reminder to be more balanced. I ebb and flow here! 😉
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 03:56:18
I do not like it when I am told to rest and do no lifting, exercising, etc. Hate it!
Kat Magendie’s Graces books are wonderful. I have not read any of the others. Please take care of yourself!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:41:36
It is so irritating to be slowed down, isn’t it? I read the Tender Graces book after your suggestion, and it was definitely a good one!
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 01:12:30
I don’t think there’s anything harder than not doing what we’ve always thought we had to do. I love your book list – there’s a couple I haven’t read so I’m running over to Amazon to order. Take care or those injuries have a way of coming back to haunt — I’m learning the hard way.
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:40:39
Ouch! Your forced rest makes mine pale in comparison. I’ll try to remember your advice as I continue needing to slow down during recovery.
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 21:55:12
A herniated disk – ouch! It even sounds painful to say it 😦
I’m terrible at ‘resting’. Two years ago I had some kind of weird detached tendon on the bottom of my foot and I spent one day sitting on the lounge with my leg raised watching tv. On the second day I hopped to the shops and bought myself a walking stick. I could seriously NOT STAY STILL! 😀
I’m so glad you’re feeling better now and I love your list of books 😉
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:38:20
Oh Dianne, you are a girl after my own heart! It is soooo hard to be still!
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 21:33:20
Ah yes…I know all about rest! I had a mysterious virus two years ago that meant I could barely get out of bed for about three months and then contracting Ross River Virus last year which has as it’s main symptom total exhaustion, so another two months of almost total bed rest….yep, I know all about rest!
Thing is, having those two things two years running has resulted in me taking much better care of myself now and really listening to my body when it says ‘it’s time to rest’.
Glad you are feeling better now – herniated discs are not fun at all (I’ve done that one too! LOL)
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 21:48:48
I am noticing I’m in good company, Susannah!
Thanks for encouraging me to take better care of myself. It’s one of my lingering tapes “You’re lazy” if I am idle. Sigh.
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 23:12:04
Just remember it’s biblical to rest…even Jesus did it! As trite as it might sound, it really helps me to rest (as I do tend to be all about action!) when I know that I am wired to need rest because I am created in His image. And our bodies have a way of forcing us, anyway, don’t they? 🙂
LikeLike
Mar 21, 2013 @ 05:39:36
Such a good point, Susannah! If only I wouldn’t justify “…but…” when it’s supposed to apply to me! 🙂
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 20:32:54
Yay! I’m so glad you rested. And I’m glad your neck is feeling better. 🙂 Pain is so draining…
I must confess that I’m not a very good rester by nature. But years ago, to stave off back surgery, I was “forced” to rest. I was in the middle of my breakdown, and it helped spawn an amazing time of spiritual renewal and connection. I learned how to meditate and to quiet my severely PTSD’d brain. I poured over scripture and prayed like I’d never prayed before. It was a rest revolution.
Right now, I think I’m in need of another time of rest. The sadness of losing my mom is taking a toll.
Thanks again for always inspiring us to good things.
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 21:47:39
“A rest revolution” Wow! I love it, Lori!
I hope you do take another time of rest; you have been through so much lately.
Hugs and much love coming your way…
LikeLike
Wondering Wednesday | Tommia's Tablet
Mar 20, 2013 @ 20:30:28
Mar 20, 2013 @ 20:08:49
Books and more books. Good for you for taking care of yourself.
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 21:46:14
Thanks, Marsella! You are a great role model about making time to read!
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 20:02:55
I like that prescription. A season of rest? Hmm, for me, the enjoyment of a ‘long weekend’ here and there has done wonders, burrowed behind my barrier of books.
LikeLike
Mar 20, 2013 @ 20:06:00
That’s a great idea! Mini-seasons of rest. I could learn a lot from you, Takako! 😉
LikeLike