A few years back, my right elbow started to hurt. Only in a particular spot and only when I moved it a particular way. It was quite unique but when that combination hit, it was painful.
So, like any middle-aged person, I trotted off to see my Doctor. A quick x-ray later revealed....absolutely nothing. There was nothing to indicate why there was pain in the elbow. No inflamation. Nothing out of place.
The Doctors solution - a cortisone shot. Cortisone shots are injections that can help relieve pain, swelling and irritation in a specific area of your body. I asked how long it would take to work and how long it would last. He said I should she relief in a few hours and as to how long it lasts, that is a variable he could not answer for me.
Well, as expected, after a few hours, the pain went away and for years now, it has not surfaced back at the elbow.
However....
Since then, I have pain in my left ankle for a while, then my lower back, then my shoulder and now my left knee. In each case, I either have taken pain relief or in the case of the knee, another cortisone shot.
But what this illustrates is something much bigger. All I am doing is chasing the pain. If you focus on fixing the pain and not the underlying condition, you will forever be in the pain chase.
A favorite Powerpoint slide of mine when delivering motivational speeches is: Prescription without Diagnosis = Malpractice (yes, I still believe in a good PowerPoint presentation to help reinforce my points).
For me, I know what it is. Not enough exercise, too much of a sedintary lifestyle, not enough cardio, too much excess weight. As long as I continue to chase the pain, I will always feel pain pop up in different places.
How many of us have emotional pain that we carry? Childhood trauma? Grief from failed relationships that we haven't processed. What about being out of alignment with our authentic selves? Whatever the pain might be, the moment you focus on the underlying condition, you might just find relief.