Identifying and Understanding Those in Pain

I had the occasion on Labor Day to suffer incredible pain when I threw out my shoulder.
When I finally was delivered to the emergency room by two angels, Gil and Elaine, the nurse asked me what my pain was on a scale of 1 to 10.
I knew it was a 10 and said so. I almost passed out so many times. Sweat poured off me. The first nurse taking data on me while I sat in the wheelchair was the most uncaring person I think I have ever met.
I’m sure he’s seen gunshot wounds and broken backs and worse. Maybe that was his way of coping. He kept trying to take my blood pressure with a horrible gripping cuff that cut off circulation and hurt dreadfully as well. I told him my blood pressure was high because my body was in dire stress. No sh*t, Sherlock.
Finally, they released me to the emergency room. I could not move my arm and needed someone to hold it in just the right position or the pain level passed 10.
When at last, they put me under to reset the shoulder, the hallucinations from the drug, ketamine, I would have to say was more disturbing than level 10 pain.
That said, I know now a little more about people who suffer ongoing pain. I pray for folks like that every day now. I understand the intense pain that soldiers in war must feel as well.
Understanding is the gift I received.