My Health Update — March 2012

By David J. Stewart

Proverbs 4:18, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

       I love the above picture. The way of the cross leads home. It makes me want to go home to be with the Savior in Heaven now. My health hasn't changed from last year. I've had horrible toothache-like neck pain since 2004. My 2nd surgery in 2010 left me worse off, adding peripheral neuropathy (burning, tingling and pain) in both arms and legs to my health afflictions. I'm hurting as I type this. I'm taking 160 mg. daily of Oxycontin, 300 mg. of Lyrica and 10 mg. of Ambien to sleep. I have good days and bad days.

It's a heavy burden to live with any type of permanent health afflictions, but I'm not complaining. There's plenty of people that have it worse. Still, I am constantly afflicted in some type of pain, with often burning and tingling down my arms. Sometimes I feel like I'm burning up inside. I feel best when I take 60 mg. of Oxycontin at once (and worst when it wears off). The medications cause mood swings, so I have to be really careful around people. I need everyone's prayers, sincerely.

I'm concerned about why I've been having horrible pain in my hands and fingers for the past several months. The right two fingers hurt the most. It feels like bad arthritis at times. My fingers hurt quite a bit when I fall off to sleep and wake up, or the next morning when I wake up. My hands are burning and my fingers all hurt. I've been switching fingers lately while working on my website ministry, because it hurts to type with my fingers (especially my right forefinger). My doctor suggested an x-ray if it gets worse.

I'm thinking it's the peripheral neuropathy getting worse, because something's always going on with my right arm and leg. My right arm and thumb feel doubled in size. I'm concerned why my fingers have started to hurt, burn, itch and feel puffed up over the past several months. Sometimes it's really bad, and at other times tolerable. That's how peripheral neuropathy from damaged nerves behaves.

All together, between my neck pain and stiffness (that radiates into my facial area), and the peripheral neuropathy in both legs and feet (and now my hands and fingers), and the side-effects of the medications (which make me tired and moody ... It's a burden. I often feel overwhelmed. Life's not fun like it used to be. Again, I ask for your prayers. Thank you.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.