I am reading quite a few books (medical and non-medical) on pain, back pain and specifically low back pain at the moment. They're far from boring. A few are actually quite entertaining.
Pain is a subjective feeling influenced greatly by personal opinion and our ability to withstand pain depends a lot on our mood, our personality and the circumstances in which pain occurs.
Aristotle said that we cannot learn without pain. The Dalai Lama (I am not sure which one) said that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
My maternal grandfather passed away yesterday after suffering a brain haemorrhage the day before, a day after he decided to stubbornly ignore my grandmother's and aunt's ardent requests of not working in the garden under the hot Indian summer sun (43 degrees Celsius). He was 86. He had lived a very healthy life. It was sudden. It was quick. There was little pain and practically no suffering.
How do I feel about this? I am not really sure. I am okay. I am just fine. It was a lot harder for me when in December my paternal grandfather passed away. Was it because he had suffered for a very long time? Was it because he had been in pain for a very long time and I had seen him suffer for some extent? I am not sure. Right now, I am more concerned for my maternal grandmother.
Or can it be that I might have grown up a few more inches on the Emotions Scale in the last few months?
Pain is a subjective feeling influenced greatly by personal opinion and our ability to withstand pain depends a lot on our mood, our personality and the circumstances in which pain occurs.
Aristotle said that we cannot learn without pain. The Dalai Lama (I am not sure which one) said that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
My maternal grandfather passed away yesterday after suffering a brain haemorrhage the day before, a day after he decided to stubbornly ignore my grandmother's and aunt's ardent requests of not working in the garden under the hot Indian summer sun (43 degrees Celsius). He was 86. He had lived a very healthy life. It was sudden. It was quick. There was little pain and practically no suffering.
How do I feel about this? I am not really sure. I am okay. I am just fine. It was a lot harder for me when in December my paternal grandfather passed away. Was it because he had suffered for a very long time? Was it because he had been in pain for a very long time and I had seen him suffer for some extent? I am not sure. Right now, I am more concerned for my maternal grandmother.
Or can it be that I might have grown up a few more inches on the Emotions Scale in the last few months?
9 comments:
Beautiful post.
There are great articles about pain and low back pain on http://www.spine-health.com Much more info than in a book!
Sorry about your grandfather's. Still miss mine and he died 10 years ago. Hope your grandma does OK.
I'm sorry about your grandfather. I am sending warm thoughts your way.
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the link, I have been reading articles and research papers from journals and conference proceedings for the last couple months and am aware of that link :) The textbooks are for a better grasp of the condition, how it manifests and where. Thanks for your kind message too :)
Heather Anne, I can feel them! "Thanks dude" Really, thanks.
Hello, Ace. I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather. I'm glad he didn't have to endure much pain. It's always SO hard to have to watch that, as you well know. Were you close with him?
Thanks Colleen.
I think where all my relatives our concerned, since I see them once a year for a few hours if at all and that is the only contact I have with them (for they are not internet folk), I am not really all that close anymore.
*relatives (excluding immediate family ofcourse)
I'm sorry about your grandfather. I'm glad that he went with little pain. I'm also glad that he lived a long life.
I'm so sorry....but it sounds as though it was just his time, after a good and long life. ((hugs))
Sending hugs as well ... I'm sorry for your loss.
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