How to Deal with Excruciating Pain

Do you know how to deal with excruciating pain? Two years ago, I experienced for the first time in my life what we call “excruciating pain.” Vertebrae in my neck pinched several nerves that caused pain on the left side like I had never felt before. It felt like a nail was inserted in my skull with pain radiating up my head and down my neck. The entire left side of my neck was numb. All my neck muscles and down my back were on fire. On the right side, my right arm felt like it was receiving electrical shocks all the way down my fingers. The research began to find out what was going on. My neurologist ordered an MRI of the entire spine, and they confirmed that several nerves were pinched. However, it was early enough that there was no permanent nerve damage. The best way to deal with the inflammation was to inject a cortisone shot in my neck.

I know that cortisone shots are common but I had never had one, so I was very nervous. But the procedure went well after all. The shot apparently worked because the pain due to extreme inflammation subsided within a few days. Additionally, I found a chiropractor who specializes on the “Atlas” which is the very first vertebra of the spine. My Atlas was completely misaligned which also caused the other “C” vertebrae to be out of place. This massive misalignment caused my entire body to be in pain. I continued the treatment with my new chiropractor who is the gentlest chiropractor I’ve ever met. He does not manipulate the neck manually. Instead, he uses a specialized machine to “tap” the neck slowly and gently until it’s realigned.

A few weeks ago, I made a bad move with my neck. I felt terrible pain as I felt the Atlas got out of place again. The next day all my neck muscles were in extreme pain and it progressed for the next two weeks. My next chiro appointment was three weeks out and I had a business trip coming up too. Therefore, I had to wait and tried to continue my normal activities which include working out. Two weeks later after a strength training workout, I woke up with the excruciating nerve pain from two years ago. I knew then it was the same issue as before. Four days after living with the pain and not being able to move much, I finally went to the chiropractor. And he confirmed my suspicion. He realigned my Atlas and the very next day I started feeling better. He said, “Now you must wait until the body ‘does its thing’ and starts ‘unwinding’ from being misaligned.” I also went to my primary doctor, and he prescribed prednisone to alleviate the inflammation quickly.

As I write this blog, I feel much better and I'm reflecting on the entire experience. While I was experiencing the excruciating pain, I imagined the pain that Jesus went through on the cross… for us. Did you know that the Jews invented the new word “excruciating”? They created it to describe the incredible pain experienced when they nailed the nails through the hands and feet to the cross. The nails crushed the big nerves of the hands and feet. In his book, The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel shared what a doctor he interviewed explained about the crucifixion. “The pain was absolutely unbearable.” In fact, it was literally beyond words to describe; they had to invent a new word: excruciating. Literally, excruciating means ‘out of the cross.’” We as humans can experience excruciating pain in three areas: physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Below are ways that describe how to deal with excruciating pain.

Excruciating Physical Pain.

In my opinion, there are levels of physical pain we can experience. From annoying, to tolerable, manageable, to intolerable and ends with excruciating. Isaiah 53:5 says, But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! In Mark 15:24 we learned about the crucifixion, “Then they nailed him to the cross… 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place… 33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”… 37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.”

Jesus experienced the excruciating physical pain of the cross. Therefore, He can relate to any kind of physical pain we will ever experience during our lives. The next time you experience any kind of physical pain, remember what Jesus went through for you.

Excruciating Emotional Pain.

Isaiah 53:3-4 tells us that, “He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.”

We experience emotional pain from various sources and through the daily trials of life. There are countless ways you can suffer emotional pain whether it starts in your own family or growing older. You can experience rejection in the workplace or even on social media.

Jesus experienced excruciating emotional pain by being rejected during His ministry years, but mostly during the process of the crucifixion. Therefore, He can also relate to your emotional pain no matter how deep it is and how bad others treat you. Meditate on how Jesus must have felt when his own people rejected Him while He was here.

Excruciating Spiritual Pain.

Isaiah 53:6-8 describes how Jesus was also rejected spiritually. “All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death.”

Lastly, we experience spiritual pain when a loved one goes astray and chooses not to follow Jesus. We feel the pain of hurting people around the world, from distant lands to our own neighborhoods. Our spirit suffers when we see evil done to innocent people because we are first a spirit, made in God’s image. We are meant to be loved and to love others, and most of all, to love God first. Our spirit suffers due to lack of love.

More than physical and emotional pain, Jesus suffered the excruciating spiritual pain when He saw people leaving God’s paths. It hurt so much that He decided to die for all our sins to restore our relationship with the Father.

Conclusion.

So, do you know how to deal with excruciating pain? Regardless of whether the pain is physical, emotional, or spiritual, the answer is the same: You give it to Jesus! He nailed all our pains to the cross. He can relate to any and every kind of pain you will ever experience during your life.

In Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus did it all for us! Our part is easy, yet we make it difficult because of fear, anger, or pride. Sometimes it’s easier to just carry our own load to say we have a big burden and gain others’ sympathy. But we gain nothing, only increased excruciating pain. It’s best for us to give ALL our burdens to Jesus. Did you know that the “yoke” in those years was built customized to the animals so it would fit perfectly? The same way, Jesus said, “my yoke fits perfectly” for your burdens so I carry it all. You’re just along for the ride and let me do the work.

I encourage you to give all your burdens and every kind of pain you are carrying in your life to Jesus.