Yoga and Back Surgery Pain – Working with “K”

K is a cheerful, cooperative lady who just went through lower back surgery.  I was asked to see her for occupational therapy to address pain management.  Went I went to see K yesterday she was lying on her side on her bed.  She expressed that her pain was a 5-6/10.  When I asked her if we could do some breathing and meditation to help her pain go down, she expressed skepticism that it would help, but she agreed to try.

We did a body scan and whole body breathing meditation.  At the end I asked K how she was feeling.  She expressed that her back pain had decreased to 1/10 but that she was feeling very emotional.  When I asked her about it she told me that she just found out that she had cancer for the third time and didn't know if she had the strength to fight it this time.  I acknowledged how sobering it must be to be facing her mortality and to be looking back over her life.  She affirmed this is what is going on with her presently.  I sensed that she was struggling with how she wanted to proceed in regards to cancer treatment and  acknowledged this.  She agreed that this was on her mind.  She also expressed that she has always taken care of everything herself in her life and that it was difficult to now have to ask for help from others.  We talked about how allowing others to help us when we are in need is part of the full spectrum of human experience.  This seemed to touch her in a deep way.  At the end of the session K expressed she was experiencing a lot of peace as well as pain relief.  She hugged me and thanked me.

What an honor to serve in this way.