The Truth About Back Pain Revealed: Acceptance...

A young woman came into my officernlast week with excruciating neck painrnthat had begun suddenly with no priorrntrauma or injury. Her neck and upperrnback were locked in what is clinicallyrnknown as “torticollis”.
rnAs I began to work with her I gentlyrntouched her stiff, neck as she wincedrnwith pain, and asked her “What do yournthink is going on here? Why do yournthink this is happening”
rnShe replied that she didn’t know.
rnI said, “Pain is your physiology lettingrnyou know that you need to pay attentionrnand that something needs to change.” Irnasked her, “What do you think you needrnto pay attention to? What needs to change?”
rnShe said that everything was “fine” andrnthat she just wanted to get rid of the painrnand get back to work and living her normalrnlife.
rnI said, “Your pain is so intense that you’rernhaving to disrupt your normal routine, andrnstop doing. Do you ever really stop doing?”

“No…never.” was her reply. “I have wayrntoo much to take care of.”
rnI asked her, “What do you think would happenrnif you just put your hand on your neck andrnacknowledged and ACCEPTED that this isrnwhere you’re at right now? It hurts. It feelsrnlike it is killing you.
rnWhat if you stop trying to be somewherernyou’re not and let the pain fully communicaternwith you?”
rnShe said, “If I did that I’d have to stop. I don’trnwant to stop. I need to exercise, I need to go tornwork. I have kids to take care of…I can’t acceptrnthis pain. I can’t accept it.”
rnI find that people are often so afraid ofrnbeing where they are really at, that theyrnoverride the feedback containing thernwisdom that will transform their lives withrndrugs, food, TV… whatever helps themrncheck out.
rnOnly when you acknowledge where yournare at, and accept it can you grow and evolve. rnThe same principle holds true in every aspectrnof life. Physical pain is no exception.
rnIf you are experiencing pain, place your hand onrnthat area. Breathe in through your nose and outrnthrough your mouth. Don’t try to change the pain.rnObserve it. Feel it. Make the sound of it.
rnExperience the color of it. Discover the bordersrnof it. Then, let the borders expand. Let the painrntravel. Your mind makes up the concept of borders. rnReally, there is energy in an area of your body thatrnyou’re unable to integrate.
rnThe inability to be present with that energy is whatrnamplifies the pain. Keep your hand or hands onrnthe area and stay present.
rnWhat does the pain want from you? Ask it.
rnDon’t try figure it out. Just ask and then payrnattention. Do you need rest? Do you need tornhold that part and cry or scream? Do you needrnto seek medical attention? Do you need to slowrndown? Do you need to speak up about something?
rnDon’t give the pain your attention for a secondrnjust to try to fix it either! Seek to be with it as you wouldrna crying baby that you can only give love to even if itrndoesn’t stop crying. Accept that part of you for what itrnis communicating and notice what happens.
rnI’d love to hear about your experience.
rnWarmly,
rnDr. John