In May of this year I started to experience pain going down my left leg. At first it was not too intense, and only really bothered me badly when I had been sitting down for long periods of time. Then over the weeks, it started to get worse and worse, to the point where it could be excruciatingly painful throughout the day and could feel as if someone was burning my leg with lighters.
I got an MRI scan in early August and it turned out to be a slipped disc in my back which was causing sciatica: the disc was protruding into the sciatic nerve group. In the time from May until now (November), there were many occasions when I found myself getting extremely down with the pain. At its worst, I found myself standing in my kitchen holding a sharp knife to my chest and fantasising about falling on it and ending it all. There were many other times when dying seemed like an extremely attractive option.
About 3 weeks ago, my spiritual director, an Opus Dei priest, recommended that I start praying a novena for Pedro's intercession. I started praying for Pedro's intercession that night and have done so most days since then … and my symptoms of sciatica have dramatically improved. Before that, it was often extremely uncomfortable for me to be at my desk at work: I couldn't be comfortable sitting down. And I couldn't be comfortable standing up. I was constantly raising and lowering the desk to try and get into a comfortable position, having to put a stool under my desk on which to raise my leg as this gave some comfort at times.
At the end of the day, today, I realised that I hadn't raised or lowered my desk once, and didn't need a stool with cushions etc to put my leg on. And generally, my symptoms have improved a huge amount: a few weeks ago, I was still feeling really down about the whole situation and had very little hope of things getting better in the near future. Now I find myself in good spirits and hopeful of things continuing to get better and better with time. I am personally convinced that Pedro heard my prayers and interceded for me. Thank you Pedro! I have been telling anyone who will listen.
PS (Glasgow, Scotland)
19 November 2024

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