Health, Weight Loss & Diet Plans General Blog: Could My Back Pain be Spiritual?

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Dear Rachel,

I have been suffering from back pain for years.
I've gone to doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors and alternative healers,
and nothing seems to help. I started to wonder whether my back pain might be
some sort of spiritual test. I read about Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi, a great
Talmudic sage, who suffered from tooth pain for many years because he wasn't
compassionate enough to a calf. Could my pain be spiritual? And if it is
spiritual, what can I do about it?

In Pain

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Dear Growing Pains,

Before we discuss the spiritual aspect of your
pain, I suggest that you continue to take care of the physical aspect of your
pain and follow the professionals’ recommendations. Safeguarding your health is
a very important mitzvah, and you do it every time you are proactive about
healing yourself—so taking care of yourself physically really is spiritual!

Now, to address your question. Since everything
in the physical world is a reflection of the spiritual world, there is a spiritual reason why you are
having this pain. Indeed, we learn that Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi was on such a
high level that he was expected to be more empathetic toward a calf on the way
to slaughter. The physical pain that he suffered guided him toward
self-refinement, and years later, he was relieved of his pain when he told his
servant not to disturb a nest of voles.

G‑d custom-designs our lives—including
our challenges—for our spiritual growth. And often, when we have accomplished
the spiritual growth necessary, there is no longer a need for a particular
challenge in our lives, so G‑d takes it away. So, what can you do to address
your suffering on a spiritual level?

First, pray. Pray for healing so that you
may serve G‑d, pray that you have the strength to accomplish His holy work. In
the morning blessings, we recite blessings thanking G‑d for the functioning of
different parts of our body. One of the blessings is, "Blessed are You,
G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who straightens the bent." Say that
blessing with extra concentration every morning, envisioning your body
completely healed, serving G‑d in the best possible way.

Second, take a moment to reflect on what
your back pain could indicate for your spiritual growth. Here are some ideas:

<ul>
<li>
Be more flexible and less rigid.</li>
<li>
Be more humble and less arrogant.</li>
<li> 
Support others more.</li>
<li> 
Surround yourself with more supportive
people.</li>
<li>
Be more decisive (have more backbone).</li>
<li>
Keep your commitments and be more honest
in business.</li>
<li>
Relax and don’t see life as a burden.</li>
<li>
Let go of past hurts (stop carrying them
around with you).</li>
<li>
Relinquish control.</li>
</ul>
There are endless ways to interpret your pain,
but ultimately, this is your search. Think about what resonates with you. The
good news is that cause and effect are more flexible in the spiritual realm
than in the physical realm. So you can say, "G‑d, I know You are using
this pain as a way of telling me to work on something. I'm not sure exactly
what is, so I'm going to work on _____ (fill in the blank), in which merit I
hope my back will get better."

G‑d is described as the Healer of all Flesh. And
He can certainly heal your back, whatever spiritual path you take.

Wishing you good physical and spiritual health
until 120!

Rachel

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Could My Back Pain be Spiritual?

Dear Rachel , I have been suffering from back pain for years. I've gone to doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors and alternativ...