back to my back (problems)

I have had problems with my back since I was about twelve. The doctor said something along the lines of “ah yes, classic problem for tall teenage girls”, which didn't help much!

In 2002 when I came to Benin for the first time I suffered my first slipped disk, not helped by backless benches in churches, hundreds of miles in an old minibus and bush taxis, and then – the straw that broke the camel's back – slipping in the shower. My doctor back in France prescribed x-rays, a scan, strong anti-inflammatories and physio-therapy. She said the problem might well re-absorb back into my body and she'd rather it went that way than have to operate.

In 2004 my doctor said she found it strange that my back was still hurting me so much, and sent me for another scan … which showed that I had a new slipped disk one vertabrae higher up. I had an MRI which didn't seem to do much other than to give me a nice picture of it. A month off work, more anti-inflammatories and a new (and better) physiotherapist, and gradually I got back to my normal.

Marc and I got married in August 2004, when I was still having to be very careful with my back, and our pastor in France said that if we were thinking of overseas mission, perhaps we should pray that part of the guidance would be for my back to be significantly better.

In 2006 when I was pregnant and had no more back problems than your average pregnant woman, that was a huge answer to prayer. Of course I have had to carry on being careful, and I am aware of my limits. And of course there are times I do something despite the little voice inside me saying "are you sure that's a good idea?" … and I regret it later, but overall my back problems are not something which affect my life significantly as they did in 2002-2005. The climate here is generally good for my back – in dry season I rarely even have any twinges (cold and wet was always the worst for it).

I was thinking about this recently though, as I woke up on Thursday last week with my back completely blocked. I couldn't actually stand up completely straight that morning, and I certainly couldn't lift up Eve. I think it probably happened because the night started out hot, I had trouble getting to sleep but then slept like a log, and in the morning a chilly breeze was blowing through our bedroom but didn't wake me just froze up my back.

Being handicapped by my back again for a couple of days actually made me even more grateful for the amazing improvement I have experienced. It is so hard to look after a baby with a bad back, yet as a mother it is difficult to have to ask other people to do it all!