WELCOME TO THE SRN REHAB PROJECT!
A place where bodily injury is being rehabilitated without the use of Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, or other New Age, occult philosophy based alternatives.
I have chosen to integrate this back rehabilitation project into our SRN ministry for the simple reason as follows:
"Incorporating physical fitness, a healthy eating and hydration program, and basic athletic stretching exercises, I am striving to fix my problematic back injury and once again obtain maximum health and strong physical endurance. The goal of my test pilot program, me being the "lab rat", is to be a living proof example that one need not use Eastern occult philosophy based New Age related methodology in order to achieve a healthy, flexible, and physically fit lifestyle."
Along with this, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul, who was familiar with physical infirmity, the weakness of human flesh, and the immense power of sinful human nature. One of my goals with this project is to keep my body under, in order to alow the will of God to be the overriding influence in my life, not the whims and desires of my flesh.
"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)
DOING WHAT AS A PASTOR AND RETURNED MISSIONARY?
As a pastor and missionary, I returned to the USA from Britain in 2007. After having a difficult time finding employment, and without the necessary continued funding for missions activities, severe financial hardship was upon us. With the severe downturn in our U.S. economy, I decided to a local business offering a much needed service here on the Central Coast of California. I began a Landscape Fire Safety and Weed Abatement business. I worked very hard for a year and a half, built excellent client relationships, and was placed on the local city and fire department referral list for weed abatement safety services. Working many days of hard, dangerous, dirty and sweaty (and sometimes bloody) labor, I gained a good reputation amongst local realtors, business owners, and community services. The work was hard, but it paid some of the bills and made for an honest living. One of the bonuses of my work was an outdoor office - the forest and coastline, and being in top physical shape.
AT 41, FIRE SAFETY, WEED ABATEMENT, BRUSH CLEARING AND MORE
My line of work was Fire Safety Weed Abatement, Brush Clearing, Chainsawing and more. I would regularly work along a beautiful stretch of Central California Coastline, in the forest and on properties where heavy landscape maintenance was required. At 41 years of age, I would work between two to ten hours at a time, oftentimes wearing full safety gear and using very dangerous, hand held and self propelled equipment. My clients would often find me clearing organic matter and debris by hacking, cutting, chainsawing, lifting, digging, crawling, climbing, hauling, scaling, pushing, squating, dragging, mowing, clearing, and more. During my work I gained a high level of respect for Firefighters, Military personnel, and Emergency Service workers who endure very hot days, extreme conditions, and very dangerous work environments. I also learned a lot about working in obscurity, trusting God, and waiting on the Most High for day-to-day provision. With next to no advertising, my business took off in the first year simply by word of mouth.
THE INJURY
On 10/16/09, I suffered a work related injury from cumulative overuse of my lower back muscles. My muscles spasmed, extreme pain shot through my back, and I was out of commission. Hobbling, crawling, moving slowly, and dealing with pain and loss of work and income have ensued. Several doctros have recommended that I change my line of work immediately, rest from what I have been doing, and begin a physical therapy program. This I have done and in the midst of this, I have experienced numerous days where my back, hips, neck, and legs are extremely stiff. I have lost flexibility in my neck, about 10 degrees whilst turning to the left, and I have also lost flexibility in several other ways.
THE ENDURANCE NEEDED - FOR WORK AND RECOVERY
Mental endurance, physical strength, and the will to physically conquer the landscape was needed in order to not only do this type of work, but to do it fast, thoroughly, and without bodily injury. As a new business owner I worked by myself. I was unable to hire other employees because the cost of Workers Compensation in this loine of work was simply to costly for my new business start up. While working, I would stop at nothing to rip out whatever my clients wanted cleared and removed - within the bounds of my certification and licensing of course. All was going well until my back gave out after many months of overuse.
WHY THE REHAB LAB?
The SRN REHAB PROJECT is simply a way of helping others see that physical fitness, healthy living and Biblically balanced spirituallity need not glean from the ways of the Eastern mysticism and the occult. This is my own personal project and I have consulted with my doctors as to the types of stretching and exercises I can do, and the incrementation that would be of benefit in the recovery process.
My goal with the SRN REHAB PROJECT is to eventually apply the same level of endurance to my personal rehabilitation as I did with my landscaping business. I want to once again be in top physical shape and to do it without compromising my Christian faith like so many do - when indulging in Yoga, meditation, etc.
I am recording my rehabilitation process here in order to show that Christians (and non-Christians) do not need Yoga, Reiki, alternative New Age "energy" therapies and techniques, etc. in order to effectively rehabilitate bodily injuries, gain flexibility, and have a clear mind and healthy body. Lord willing, my injuries can be effectively rehabilitated. As for the length of rehabilittion, I do not knwo how long it will take, nor do my doctors.
To not, pragmatism in medicine, and spirituallity is never a safe game. Just because something might 'work' does not necesarilly mean it is good for the body, mind, soul and spirit. Many New Age, occult and alternative therapies seemingly 'work', but the trade off is a subtle (and sometimes blatant) induction into far deeper spiritual deception. Oftentimes severe human wreckage is the result. The statistics do not lie.
P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
PHASE I - ACUTE PHASE OF TREATMENT, DOCTORS ASSESSMENTS, BEGINNING REHAB
October 16 - December 31, 2009
Oct .16 - Nov. 10: Unable to work; complete rest; heavily ice back; three doctors assessments; Ultrasound on back; hand massage; body adjustments; upon to listening to three doctors' recommendations I decide to completely shut down my landscape business; file a disability claim; contact family and clients.)
Nov. 11 - Dec. 15: Physical therapy assessments; begin a very light cardio warmup and very light core strengthening rehab exercises; at times warm up on NordicTrack Commercial 1300 Eliptical Exerciser; Physical Therapy one to three times a week at clinic; begin selling landscape equipment.
Dec. 16: Try more intensive Core strengthening. This proved to be too much as I paid for it later in the afternoon and following day - on the floor and period iicing and pain killers; back to light core strengthening through the end of the year.
Personal Note: We discussed what appears to be Lumbosacral Facet Syndrome. I have problems with my lower spine as muscles tense and spasm easily, putting pressure on vertebrae and resulting in nerve issues/pain. Very similar to a sports injury when muscles are extremely overused. This is yet to be determined, however, symptoms are almost identical. Even the intense craving for salty foods.
Dec. 17-31: Light cardio warmup on stair stepper; very light core strengthening rehab exercises; shoot some baskets on the court and slowly retrive ball for my kids to shoot baskets.
PHASE II - SLOWLY RECOVERING AND WORKING THROUGH REHAB
January 2010
Jan. 1-6: Light cardio warmup on stair stepper; very light core strengthening rehab exercises.
Personal Note: Still have approximately 10 percent loss of neck rotation when turning to the left; Still have lesssened flexibility when doing supine knee rotations to the left; still have loss of reach going down quadrisep to side of knee. Some days my back feels good and I wake up with no pain, others days, I wake up feeling horrible, extreme lack of flexibility, dull aching pain radiating across lower back; recently have felt Sciatica radiating down buttocks and both legs. Only a pain killer dealt with this.
Jan. 7-13: Continue light Core strengthening program and also try again the more intensive Core strengthening program that we tried on December 16 and increase cardio workout on NordicTrack Commercial 1300 Eliptical Exerciser.
Jan. 14-31: Officially disabled regarding my previous Landscape / Fire Safety occupation. Currently working through paperwork, monthly medical assessments, etc.
PHASE III - FIVE MONTH STRETCH
February to June 2010
February: Qualified for Disability. Intermittent back pain persists.
March: Currently on Disability. Displaced home and office due to storm damage.
April: Finally resettled in new living location. Slow back recovery.
May: Chronic - Intermittent back pain persists.
June: Chronic - Intermittent back pain persists.
July: Six-month back assessment scheduled in the end of July.
PHASE IV - ASSESSMENT AT SIX MONTHS
July 2010
July: Six-month back assessment scheduled in the end of July.
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