Why pain is a good thing

While exercising yesterday, I pulled a muscle. Not a big pain, but my back has been achey since yesterday afternoon.

So why am I saying that pain is a good thing? Because pain is God's gift. Pain tells you something's wrong.

Because something is wrong: I've pulled something. And if I've done something wrong, I want to know.

You've no doubt seen people who have chronic pain. And they're usually on pain meds.

I'm not saying pain meds are bad. It's just that they are usually overused. Way overused.

If you have hurt your back, and you're on pain medication, you don't know if you're hurting your back worse. You don't know if a particular movement or exercise is making the situation worse.

I want to know this information. And that's what pain does.

If I put my finger on a hot stove, I immediately pull back. Why? Because I've hurt it. And I know at once.

If I have no feelings, I might leave the finger on the stove, and make for a far worse burn.

Almost everyone encounters minor pains in life. I am no different. What I have found different is that my pains seem to last for a lot shorter period that many folks I know.

Basically, if I'm having pains like that, I take no medicine -- nothing, no Tylenol, no Aspirin -- for the pain. And because I'm constantly getting feedback on whether I'm making it worse, I give my body space to heal.

There are basically 2 exceptions to this "no pain medicine" rule. I'll get to those later.