Please Keep Me in Your Prayers

By David J. Stewart | August 2011

       Please keep me in your daily prayers as I'm suffering much physically. On Tuesday (August 16th) I had an EMG and A NCV test. I had an MRI of my neck today. I should find out the results in the weeks to come. Unless the tests show something that can be done, I am at a dead end medically. I have to have a recommendation from a doctor to proceed further.

It is my hope that endoscopic surgery may be offered at some point in the future (Lord willing) to remove bone spurs with a laser at the C5-C6 area in back of my neck (which is where the neurologist says my problems seem to be coming from). The process is minimally invasive I've been told. It's too early to know if I'll be recommended or not.

Since conventional surgery made me worse, I don't want posterior surgery done on my neck where they cut through the thick back muscles, and cut away a section of your spinal column to access the bone spurs. That is likely to make me much worse due to scar tissue, damaged tissue, arthritis, et cetera. I've read up on people who've had conventional posterior neck surgery and they all said it was a big regret. The upper back muscles take 6-months to heal. The pain is unbearable I've heard. I'm suffering enough already. So of course I prefer laser surgery if it's less evasive, but I don't know if it will help me (and no one else seems to know either).

After the neurologist did an EMG and NCV test, he said it looks like everything is coming from the C5-C6 area in my neck. I am praying continually and ask that my web visitors pray as well. I know that God answers prayer if it is in accordance with His will. All I can do is pray while seeking medical treatment, and trust the Lord regardless of the outcome. Good is a good God. My present burdens and failure to find relief have drawn me farther away from people, but much closer to God. I have a difficult time being around people because I am in a constant state of suffering, pain and bodily misery. People don't understand. It is human nature not to believe what you cannot see. You cannot see neuropathy and radiculopathy. I feel burning in my nerves throughout my body and people cannot see that. It dampens my spirits to say the least, although I pray and ask God to help me make it through each day.

I'd never had an EMG or a NCV test. In an EMG, the neurologist sticks thin needles into your body (my arms and neck) to listen for nerve activity in your muscles. It's pretty interesting. When the doctor asks you to contract your muscle, the EMG machine sounds like a Geiger counter; but then when you relax your arm, the machine should be quiet if your body is functioning normal. Any noise in a relaxed position shows there is a problem. My tricep in my left arm is noisy. I'm not sure what it all means and the doctor didn't go into detail about the tests, because he wants to wait for the MRI. I had the dye injected for contrast images with the cervical MRI. I sure pray and hope they find something in this MRI. The sharp pain running down my right arm has been bad lately. The pain runs from my neck, over the shoulder and down into my right thumb.

The Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) test is where the neurologist zaps your arms and legs with high voltage and it involuntarily causes your muscles to jump (move). The test shows if your nerves are communicating and functioning problem. My right leg was causing some problems, but I'm waiting for the results. For some reason my right leg has gone to sleep over the past few months, more than before. It feels like my leg has gone partially to sleep and didn't wake up. It's a very annoying and frustrating feeling, a tingling and weak sensation. Thankfully I can still walk and use my leg, it just feels really weird and I easily lose my balance if I'm not careful.

For the past 7-years no doctor, specialist nor surgeon has been able to diagnoses me. No one has been able to explain the chronic tension in my neck. It's not muscle tension. My neck muscles were quiet in the EMG, which the neurologist said means my nerve is pinched in my neck. He stuck a long thin needle into my neck on the right side about 6 times, which is where the tension feels worse. I've had 4 different doctors prescribe me Skelaxin, Robaxin, Soma and Flexeril (which are muscle relaxants) and my problem wasn't in my neck muscles the entire time. I hate to say it, but most doctors don't care. They just aimlessly prescribe drugs without really caring and finding out what's going on in the body. I actually requested the EMG because no one suggested it over 7-years. I read up on it and had to ask for it. I didn't even know about the test.

Today's medical situation in America is pathetic! The tension in my neck is coming from inside the neck. It feels like a bomb is ready to explode from inside my neck, 24-hours a day. Nothing has offered even the slightest relief. I was using ice packs, but they weren't cold enough, so I placed them directly on my neck but broke out on my skin with frostbite. Neither heat nor cold helps to reduce the pain. The arthritic creams that you rub on your neck area just chemically burn the skin and are annoying and uncomfortable. They're a big waste of money and time. Steroid injections did nothing to help me. Cervical traction was a waste of time (50 lbs twice weekly for 4 months). Physical therapy (strengthening exercises) was another waste of time. Three chiropractors were a waste of time and money. Nothing has helped me.

Imagine trying to have a friendly, casual, conversation with someone while your neck feels ready to explode with chronic tension, and there's a horrible agonizing toothache-like pain radiating from the bony area in the back of your neck. It's enough to push a person to the brink of their sanity. I have felt oppressed and afflicted, in a state of emergency for 7-years and no one can help me. I look fine and people freak out when I start talking about my problems.

I went after my EMG and ordered a grilled-chicken sandwich. I wasn't thinking clearly because I just had 2 dozens needles stuck in me. I just mentioned it to the young woman taking my order, because I seemed a bit distant. You should have saw the look on her face when I told I just had an EMG and they stuck needles in me. I was reminded once again that most people have no idea what it means to suffer and go through medical testing. She looked scared and freaked out. I felt bad. I left her $5 and a Gospel of John, that way she'll think I'm a religious loony and not just a loony.

When I conversate with people, I have to say something because they sense something is wrong, like I'm nervous; but I'm afflicted and overwhelmed from within with a puffy feeling in my arms, my right leg and arm feel half asleep, my neck is super tense and there's radiating pain coming from my neck, extending into my facial area, causing my gums to be sore and my eyes and cheeks to feel sore as well. I hide it well when I can, but I can only hide it for so long. Anyone who talks with me for an extended period of time sees my afflictions. Eventually I need to close my eyes while I talk to focus because the pain in my neck is so bad.

My Pain Overwhelms Me Often

When I went to Honolulu in February, I brought my lap $79 steel guitar with me. I was playing Lovely Hula Hands and a couple other pretty songs. The tourists loved it. After 5 songs total it began to rain and never stopped. Go figure! I brought my stuff under the nearby shelter at Waikiki Beach and an older couple came up and started a conversation. They offered to put their towel over my little radio (used for my rhythm tracks) and guitar. They were very friendly and loved my music. There were other people around us (about 20 total). I enjoyed talking with the couple. I told them I was a Christian and had faith in God. They said they were too. We talked about general things for about 20 minutes, but then I couldn't hide my pain anymore and appeared nervous.

So I explained my medical situation for another 20 minutes and they shared their medical stories as well (but mine was worse the man said). It was raining the whole time. After 40 minutes I closed my eyes because my neck was hurting so bad (talking aggravates my neck and escalates the pain). I explained that I needed to close my eyes due to the horrible pain, which was normal for me. When I closed my eyes his wife got scared and started to walk away to leave. Literally, she just turned around and walked away. I saw she was nervous. Her husband said, no come back, we're having a conversation. He was a gentleman and saw that I was suffering.

They had heard my music, saw I was a friendly person, enjoyed talking with me, and everything was just fine... except I was in horrible neck pain and couldn't hide it anymore. The only reason that we had talked so long is because it was raining cats and dogs (and squirrels too). I didn't want my stuff to get ruined. Eventually we went our own ways and it had been an interesting time, but it is emotionally painful to me when I can't even talk to people without having to go through ordeals like this. This is my life everywhere I go. I have to limit my conversations, explain myself continually, and am very lonely because of it.

Most people read in the Bible about getting a new body one day (Philippians 3:21) and just move on to the next Scripture; but I cry. I literally cry when I read about having a brand new changed body fashioned like unto my Lord's body. What a day that will be!!!

James 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.”

I'll tell you, I hear people talking about rough times and how they struggled in life over the years; but if you've had your health all along the way, you've got nothing to talk about, really. I don't care if you've lost everything of material value in this world, you've lost nothing until your health is gone. All the money in the world cannot buy good health. I'd give everything of material value I own in this world just to have my health back even partially. Take care of your health, whoever you may be! Take care of your health!

I went to visit the Honolulu zoo. As I entered the park, a man in a wheel chair was unable to manhandle his chair over the tree roots and rough ground to get out of the hot sun. he asked me if I would please roll him under the shade of the tree, and I gladly did. I was curious what had happened to his leg, so I asked him. He said that he had been riding a moped motorcycle and got hit by a car, which broke his leg in three places. He had a cast all the way up his leg. I asked him if he would ever ride a moped scooter again and he said, no way. Due to massive traffic congestion, moped scooters are extremely popular in Hawaii. You never know what's going to happen (Proverb 27:1). It is a proven fact that MOST accidents are caused by OTHER people. You can be a safety captain and someone else will cost you your health.

My condition was caused by a freak bus accident in 1992, using my head to turn in my sleep in 2004 and a fall a year later in 2005. The bus accident set me up for Cervical (neck) Degenerative Disk Disease in 1992, which 12-years later was triggered by using my head as leverage to turn my body during the night while sleeping, and then I slipped and fell a year later which aggravated my neck and caused radiating pain to develop in my arms and legs. And of course, time has caused my Cervical Degenerative Disk Disease to worsen.

Until a person is afflicted with endless pain, neck pressure, burning, and tingling, they naturally can't relate to such suffering and can't possibly understand. They just can't. I know what's it's like to be outside on a beautiful day with the sun shining, and everybody is enjoying life and having a good time; but physical suffering within my body is afflicting me and it overshadows me. I look fine, but my body is hurting. I fight it and try to live anyway, but it catches up with me and oftentimes I feel overwhelmed in public with burning, tingling, fatigue, weakness and pain. I try to live a normal life, but it is difficult.

Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” That is why this website is here, i.e., because God has done a work in my heart to will and to do of His good pleasure. Amen and amen!

I ask for your earnest prayers for this ministry and me daily. This ministry is much bigger than me, it's about the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE (John 14:6)! HEAR YE HIM!

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

I love you all in the Lord, whoever you may be!

Tomorrow's Guarantee of God's Provision

1st Thessalonians 5:25, “Brethren, pray for us.”