Challenge of Change (eBook)

How to
Consider Change:

Chapter One

There is always something in the presence of life, distracting us from our comfort zone. The action we take, will settle our soul, or turn us away from reality or peace. Considering suffering and pain, individual choice is the key to success or failure. Change can include others in similar situations, but the single recipient, adapting to change, is the final judge, leading to resolution or not. Pain and suffering, without a cure, is the lowest level of life humans can endure. This event unfolds without previous planning or direction. The individual participants find themselves in a surprised dilemma of how to find stability and comfort. Feeling trapped, with no way out, is a common first reaction to unwanted changes. Medical intervention is the first goal in stabilizing the body. Over time, the physical aspect of change will stabilize; but then what are we left to cope with? Adapting to compromised independence, we learn there is no going back. Most of us are willing to use resources, as best we can, seeking stability in their new condition. Reaching satisfaction will come when you modify and acknowledge the results of change, then battle for a satisfactory outcome. There is a need to identify changing demands; beginning with adjusting to things you can do, rather than dwell on the things you cannot do. Considering pain and suffering, or actually living under its burden, each one of us will experience the hopelessness and sorrow in this frightful situation. Our ability to find resolution, compromised strength and endurance, is to focus on adapting and adjusting to these altering events. My personal history adjusting to pain and suffering, is to focus on the event; the time it will take to recover or not; and how the change will effect my lifestyle, Then using motivation toward recovery, ‘I accept the final results.’ At the age of seventy-nine keeping up with physical events that were normal in the past, now threaten my lifestyle, altering my activity. At this age, there is no going back. The question is what happens next? Newly diagnosed, with complications from back surgery six years ago, eventually leading to a continual, mild to moderate pain, I have tolerated the discomfort during those years. However having notable change in discomfort, I contacted our family Doctor who recommended getting updated X-rays. The result noted; a fracture and some change in a stabilized a slipped disk, that shows two broken titanium screws resting in my spine. I remain active, doing as much as I can, including lifting objects I should avoid. But now I am waiting to visit my surgeon to reveal what can be done without surgery. Hoping to avoid more discomfort. This has taken several weeks to evaluate and receive the surgeon’s recommendations, pending on results of tests. Thinking the pain is not severe enough to have surgery, I am beginning to think of the immediate future and how it will effect the remainder of my life on this planet. Truly believing in God’s promises, and willingness to love me, I stay close to Him in prayer and supplication, knowing there is a better life ahead of me. Unresolved pain effects my independence. Caring for my property, fixing things that are broken, and the simplicity of grooming our lawn and garden, are past routines of ease, now leading to a burden of failing physical abilities. Trying to meet my goals, in active toleration is short lived, as I require additional physical effort. in completing tasks. Discomfort effects, shortening the task at hand; then working in short bursts of time, avoiding heavy objects, seems to be the best I can do. In my younger days doing projects, was to press on until fatigue, then stop.

Today, it hurts before I even start! . Toleration is minutes, rather than hours. Pain relief is accomplished by rest, and the use of appropriate medication, along with the good sense to avoid over taxing physical abilities.

Pain reduces quality of life: Pain can bring a remarkable change to our demeanor and thought process. Attempting to do small projects while in pain, effects my focus, often causing additional disturbance in coordination. If I don’t monitor the situation, it can lead to discouragement, producing anxiety or anger. Being uncomfortable, makes it difficult to concentrate on what you are doing. Extending time to complete the job, or give up altogether; is always an option to consider.

Control in Suffering: Our ability to concentrate on the positive things under our control, helps our suffering become tolerable. Accepting medical relief through surgeries, physical therapy, and controlled medications, may help ease physical pain; but our emotional wellbeing, depends on our willingness to compromise for stability. As we contribute as best we can, the negative part of our personality may not be encouraging to others, and should be subdued. Remaining calm, is a comfort to those who are committed to helping with your ailments, as best they can. Nothing is profitable, when we snap at our caretakers, and family Your comfort depends on their care, so be grateful for their interaction and extend your thankfulness for their efforts. As a believer in the Bible; I think of this…Jesus Himself overcame brutal physical pain, verbal degradation, and torment to set us free from the sinful environment we live in. His sacrifice on the cross, and His reaction to it, is enough for me to know… God understands pain and suffering. It is up to us to accept our future, no matter what happens next. Compromising situations are common in everyday life. Most are easily resolved choosing between several options. However, with abrupt physical change, options are limited producing a prolonged period of anxiety, until motivation and acceptance are confirmed.

Encouragement from Jesus: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NKJ “ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the same comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds, through Christ”. Matthew 6:34 NKJ “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”.

Tolerance: There are many who live with the burden of pain, which cannot be cured by a single event of surgery or medications. Therapy, and short lived pain interventions, gives relief for a short time, but need to be repeated frequently. Most of those experiencing these conditions, find some additional relief through diversion. Distracting ourselves using tactics away from concentrating on pain, is one way in finding short relief. Using humor as a good diversion in difficult situations; by looking at the bright side of life, away from my discomfort… is welcomed. There is always something in the presence of life, distracting us from our comfort zone. The action we take, will settle our soul, or turn us away from reality or peace. Considering suffering and pain, individual choice, is the key to success or failure, can include others in similar situations, but the single recipient, adapting to change, is the final judge, leading to resolution, or not.

Medications: Pain pills should not be used as a supplement to increase activity, but remain in there are designated requirements for comfort. After a physical event, prescribed pain may not be enough to overcome the time period, when unrelieved there may be a tendency to use more. Controlling pain relief with mediations is normal, but we should also avoid dependence, beyond the required recommendations. Finding something to use for safe relief of discomfort, pharmaceutical considerations may be the first choice, but they are limited to a designated period of time. There are many other available possibilities in pain control, without being addicted to drugs. The disabled and the elderly, are very aware of comforting techniques. This is when we learn to adjust to what we can do, and avoid what we cannot do, to remain stable. There are many who live with the burden of pain, that cannot be cured by a single event of surgery or medications. Therapy, and short lived pain interventions, only give relief for a short time, but the need to be repeated frequently, is evident. Some of those experiencing these conditions, find some additional relief through diversion, using tactics shifting away from pain gives relief in demeanor Although, they experience unresolved pain, in their attempt to find a diversion to overpower their discomfort, focusing on valuable gifts in life, that led to pleasant comfort in the past.

While working with patients in the hospital setting, having family or friends at the bedside for longer period of time; is a gift that enlightens all involved. Working in intensive care is very busy and limited in short visiting periods. Some of my peers criticized my techniques, having visitors stay longer than the visiting rules. However, when experiencing situations in suffering, the need for comfort is a positive force toward reality and peace, and family and friends are welcome to provide positive interaction toward recovery and peace. Considering suffering and pain, individual choice is the key to success or failure. Change can include, others in similar situations, but the single recipient, adapting to change, is the final judge, leading to resolution, or not. Challenges in life, will...