Ailment

Last August of 2009, I was diagnosed with a mononeuropathy multiplex and radiculopathy on my lumbar spine. Mononeuropathy multiplex, technically speaking, is not an illness but a group of disorders caused by some diseases like diabetes, vasclitis or even rheumatoid arthritis. It affects mainly the nerves particularly the sensory and motor peripheral nerves. It causes numbness because the axon or part of the nerve cell is destroyed. Common causes of this is the lack of oxygen supply to the nerves or an inflammation of blood vessels. It affects random areas of the body. All of the 4 extremities of my body was affected. I had numbness in my hands, legs, and feet. Radiculopathy, on the other hand, is a nerve irritation caused by a damage to the discs between the vertebrae. Factors can be degeneration of the outer rings of the discs or a traumatic injury. It causes a shooting pain down the legs, with numbness and weakness of the muscles. This is because some part of the nerves of the spinal column are compressed.


These 'ailments' hampered all my activities especially my job at the call center. I was unable to write or even carry a glass of water. Walking was too difficult for me. I needed to give up biking to my frustration. My body was so weak that I relied on my ever patient and loving fiancee to assist me when I take a bath. I was at a critical stage for almost 3 months. A lot of bed rest was my comfort followed by therapies and other means that relieved my pain like taking hot baths and doing some light exercises. This also included taking pain relievers thrice a day.

That was last year. I'm 80% ok now though I lost my job (hehe), but I'm not bitter or angry at all. God's amazing grace kept me still and focus. His endless provision sustained me in all aspects. Isn't He so good? Now I take no pain relievers anymore, only vitamins and healthy foods. When I say healthy foods I mean more veggies, fruits and natural juices. It makes me frown to think that coffee is still forbidden though. Geesssshh I love coffee brother! As a matter of fact my fiancee and I are able to go to places now, but I'm still limited to 2 travels a week and I still do some important exercises plus bed rest. Last Saturday we were at SM Clark. I felt like I was out of my prison cell (hahaha). I sat down on a bench near the food court and watch people as they go about their business and walk. I miss doing that. I just look at their faces as they passed by--some are good looking, some are not so good looking(hehe), kids, grandmas and grandpas, students, call center agents(eeww I used to be one..), mothers, fathers, children, straights, gays, guards, ladies with the ever pinkish and brightest 'blush-ons'(whoa!), Koreans, Chinese--all sorts. I was like a mannequin on the bench with my jaw nearly dropping. I realized I'm still alive and the world is still busy. Though I'm still recuperating, I felt this endless joy inside me. I felt I was free again. Then it hit me hard and made me ponder how important health is! Truly, health is wealth. I believe God is pointing at the rationale that we, His creatures, should always look at the bright side of every burden especially when daunted by an ailment. You see, I'm still alive. I have my family, my friends. I don't need to wake up early for work, I can spend hours watching TV shows or movies. I don't have to worry about credit cards or debts. But most of all not to take things for granted, most especially my health. It was definitely a lesson hard-learned. =)