Sciatica and i have a troubled relationship.
Two days ago i handed him a one-way ticket to the North Pole
and said, ‘You’re off on a working holiday, Santa is in need
of lots of help this time of year.’
‘Who’s Santa?’
“You’ll find out when you get there,’ and as i pushed him out
the door i added, ‘and don’t ever think of coming back you little bastard.’
Fat chance. But for 48 hours at least the house has been full of life
without him and his constant nagging.
johnpoetflanagan 
Lovely satire John! Had me laughing out loud! 🙂
Thank You
Ry
for seeing the funny side, i try to make light of it
Best to You
john
Indeed, at the same time I am sad for your suffering, but pleased you have been given a reprieve. I have a friend who used to be a nurse, who described the symptoms of the nerve disorder to me, and it sounds especially nasty 😦
Any time the little bugger dares show its face around here, I do my (Robin) MacKenzie exercises, which are more like postures you lie in for 3-5 minutes than exercises, and it goes away again.
He’s an Australian Physical Therapist who has written about it (not the greatest of writers, but the content is worth it). Email me if you want any information, but it is a lot better than drugs, etc., and strengthens the difficult bits. We sit too long.
Thank you
Alicia
for the information
Best Wishes
john
Yay for sending that bastard packing! Here is hoping he stays good and gone. 🙂
Victo,
Thank you for the encouraging response.
A big hug
john
I sympathize…what’s more, I empathize. Getting old is not for sissies.
You’re so right, Cynthia,
not for sissies..the bloody pain can be awful
sometimes
Thank You for understanding and empathizing
Big hugs
john
“When in a relationship, a real man doesn’t make his woman jealous of others, he makes others jealous of his woman.”
Thank You
Mihran
for responding.
Human relationships i’m not bad at and can handle most of the time
but a relationship with serious pain is another matter entirely
and sciatica can be vicious..there are times i can’t think when i’m having an attack and sleep is out of the question…and the attack can last for days.
Again, thank you for responding,
My best to you
john
It takes a fine nature to make light of pain and yours, Sir, is a fine nature.
May the “little bastard” stay away forever.
Winnie and myself send you love.
Harry
So so lovely and kind both of you
Much love in return
john
Hope he feels peaceful with Santa and doesn’t dare come back. A very good read.
Thank You so much for the response.
I dare say he’ll dare to return, pain has a way of winning. Anyway…
A big hug
John
True. It always has its ways of reporting. Probably knows many influential people.
I know the problem with this pain every day. It’s nice when everything stops 🙂
Sorry to hear, Gyslaine,
You are a fellow sufferer, it’s a nasty condition that doesn’t have the manners to stop.
Best Wishes
John
John, I hope that you packed Sciatica two fifty pound travel bags, maybe he will meet his own beloved Sciatica while traveling.
Warmly,
Pepperanne
Pepperanne
The heaviest bags I could find!
Maybe I’ll be lucky and he’ll find richer pickings somewhere else…but I have my doubts.
Thank You for understanding.
Always
John
How very considerate of you, John – all those children in the world counting on Santa’s goodies 😀
I try, Ina, I try.
Thank You for seeing it in that lovely light.
Bless You!
Big hugs
John
Dear John, I wish you had my therapists–two fellows who showed me, and later my husband, an exercise that has kept Sciatica at bay (we sent him to the beach) for several years. I do my exercise faithfully and so far he’s a goner. I’ll be thinking of you.
Thank You
Dear Myra,
for your warm words, i appreciate your concern deeply.
Big hugs
john
But for 48 hours at least the house has been full of life
without him and his constant nagging.
☺
Gavin,
Thank You
My best always
john
Ha, ha…if only!
I can hear Eric Idle’s voice coming over the tannoy…’Always look on the bright side…’
i try, Chris, i try but at times it’s not easy.
i’ve been plagued by the bloody thing for the best part of 15 years on and off but in the past few months it has been particularly vicious..and will as day follows night, return. What to do?
Thank you
Best always
john
Sorry to hear John. It could be nasty I have heard! I can’t help to smile reading your satire, you still creative!!..be well and wishing you the best! hugs, Indah
Have to try and laugh at it, Indah, but easier said than done.
Thank you for your kind words.
Big hugs
john
So funny John … Wonder how he will effect poor Santa …
i wouldn’t wish it on poor ole Santa or anyone else for that matter.
Thank You for your warm response.
Best Wishes
john
Sciatica like hard times is an unwelcome guest to many and what a painful visit his presence is.
I do hope you stamped his ticket one way John. A more Draconian debilitating beast I cannot imagine. I’ve even attempted some hocus pocus incantations in desperation but alas they failed miserably. Good luck and may you not find him hanging around your door again.
Thank you
Jon, My Friend
for your compassionate words, much appreciated. Love the incantations – they didn’t work but not to worry at least they kept you off the streets for a while..or did they?
Ever Your Friend
john
Loved this but not your sciatica! Do your exercises and avoid the heavy suitcases!
Noelle,
You are more than kind,
Thank You
and yes, i promise no heavy lifting and i will do my exercises – gently!
big hugs
john
Been there myself. Take care of the engine that is your body – and I need to take my own advice!
Boy can I relate!! Peace! –Dennis
Sorry, Dennis,
to hear you suffer, too. Nasty, this problem.
Love and Peace
John
Oh that Scrooge of a holiday buster. May he be forever reformed and leave you in peace. Someone above mentioned the PT Robin MacKenzie. Another fan here.
Thank You
Julia
for understanding.
It’s a bloody nuisance and has the habit of striking just when you think you’re getting better.
Big hugs
John
I love the way you give him life and describe his rotten behavior!
And rotten he is, Chess.
Bless you for caring.
A big hug
John
Feel better soon, hugs to you too!
They say that Santa needs help ALL YEAR ROUND you know…
A working holiday could always be extended…
Thinking of you!
firefly
Thank You so much.
All year round sounds good to me.
My best to you
John
Oh goodness John, that horrendous, vicious pain. It can make one want to jump off a cliff. Can you tell I know of this monster? Fortunately, it left me somewhere along the way. You are in my prayers.
blessings ~ maxi
Maxi,
Happy to hear you beat the fiend and may he never return.
Such a lovely warm response.
Thank You.
Blessings to you, too.
John
You have the best sense of humor, John xx
Audrey,
Thank You very much
Always with my best
Big hugs
John
Well, I hope the little bastard doesn’t come back! But in case he does, my late husband experienced a lot of relief from an inversion table, where you hang with your feet higher than your head (he hung at about a 45 degree angle), in fact, in his case, complete relief. He used it 10 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Read this and see what you think: http://teeter-inversion.com/Relieve-Sciatic-Pain/ Ignore the photo of the woman at the bottom doing an impossible back bend while upside-down 🙂
Friend Willow
Thank You for the support and i’m sorry i’m slow getting back to you
i’ve had a few bad days
and thank you for the link
Big hugs
john
So sorry you’re having a difficult time, John, and I hope you’re doing better soon.
Chronic pain has to be a terrible thing to deal with. I like the way you sent ‘him’ packing. I hope he stays away, John.
Thank You
Kate
I’d offer sympathy but your admirable attitude appears to be making the best of it John but I will offer you Khalil Gibran: “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding”. I deduce from your poetry that you’ve already discovered this.
PS I hope he strays into Russian airspace on the way back 😉
Thank you
Mike
Best Always
john
Sometimes we must be hard with somebody, here we say: “1000 times to be alone that t0 be with nasty friends” (it’s a translation more or less)
Best regards,
Rosa,
Thank you very much
Abrazos fuertes
john
John, I am so sorry to have missed this post initially, even more sorry to find that you are experiencing pain. Sciatica is right up there with one of the most painful maladies and is incredibly relentless. I enjoyed this post very much, you are a courageous and strong man to write such light and lovely poetry about sciatica pain. Please feel better soon. Many hugs! Holly
Thank You, Holly,
for such kind words, i appreciate them
and you deeply.
Have just had 5 bad days – hence the no posts – but
feeling a bit better again.
And to end on a very happy note:
i LOVE your new profile picture – great!
Big hugs
john
John thank you so much, I was down in KW at an art/craft show, just a little thing. I missed you and wondered why your work was not coming up in my mail, now I know and am feeling very empathetic having suffered from sciatica myself a few years ago…It is very painful to put it mildly. I hope you are on the mend, sending my very best wishes to you.
Big hug John!
Holly
John, your delivery is absolutely superb…really and truly! Cheers.
Don,
Thank You!
John
Sciatica, not a pleasant companion. I hope he stays banished.
Thank You, David.
Unfortunately the little bastard didn’t like the north and was back in a few days but a little bit better behaved than before…for now, that is.
My best to you
John
Made me smile with sympathy. I know the feeling.
Thank You, Silvertonguedpoetess,
for understanding.
Big Hugs
John
Ha! Oh I can identify with the sentiment here. 🙂
Thank You, Dorian, very much.
Best Wishes
John
Sciatica must be a very unpleasant companion. Loved the satirical tone here… 🙂
Thank You, Maniparna, very much for understanding.
Right now, it’s wicked but it will ease a little when cooler days come
in june (here in Singapore we’re in the middle of summer – april and may
are the hottest months)
My best to You
john
May & June are the hottest months here in India…and by hottest I mean scorching heat 😦
I understand how you feel and suffer in those months I lived in Saudi And Kuwait for ten years and the temp was always 50 in the summer
😦
That’s it, show him the door!
….love the way you write.
You make me smile. I will be visiting often.
Thank you so much, i appreciate this deeply
My best to you
john