Namaste ji,

I'm so sorry to hear about your back and sciatic nerve, NayaSurya. I know a few people in a similar situation, and have seen how much they suffer when it gets bad. I'm glad you have ways to deal with it that are helpful to you, finding that is difficult for so many. Hugs in return, and thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.

By way of an update, nearly a week and a half later my mobility is no better and have some further loss of function due to pain while performing certain movements and tasks. So, off to the hand and wrist specialist. I was lucky to get the same doctor I saw 4 years ago regarding an issue with my left wrist which two other doctors couldn't fix - but this doctor did. He also warned me that because of that being a third attempt I might lose range of motion and may never get full strength back in that wrist - but I did get both back and I attribute that to his skill. Great doc! If anyone ever needs such a specialist in the Boston area, let me know and I'll give out his name.

Anyway, it is definitely an ulnar dislocation with some ligament and nerve trauma. He did an unpleasant but necessary manipulation and had it splinted up. Instructions are not to take it off except to bathe, total rest and immobility, I can perform any functions that do not cause pain or aggravation but anything that does cause these things I must avoid. I go back in 4 weeks at which time he will assess if I need surgery.

I asked about my concern regarding not really having pain at time of injury and just carrying on, and not really having too much pain unless I did something that would aggravate it.

He reassured me that this was actually quite common, particularly in active people. He says he's seen it a lot, and told me the most extreme example he has seen in his own practice was a woman who fractured her elbow in a fall from her bike during a triathlon. She got up and completed the triathlon, thinking it was just a bad bruise or pull, and even then went on a rock climbing trip. When she finally got back she decided to go to a doctor. By then it was bad enough that she needed surgery, but at no time did it feel so bad to her that it impeded her activity. So, he was not surprised at all to learn about my own experience. He agrees that the mind can play tricks and if the brain is not particularly concerned about a potential injury then your experience of pain will not be so great.

I am relieved, to say the least. And it seems that while my meditation practice has certainly helped, it may not be the main reason for that experience.

My thanks again to all who offered their thoughts and experience.

~Pranam