A wave of relief rolled over me with such force it spilled out my eye in the form of a tears. All of the emotions that came with 9 months of pain, agony, and finally progress rushed back to me as I exited the office building of my back doctor, head high with no pain.

I have to admit, there were some days last week, when the pain crept back, that I began to wonder if I’d ever be free from it. During these times I feel like I’m sliding back down the mountain, passing everything that I thought was progress.. I begin to doubt if I’ve really made it that far, or if it was just a mirage in the desert. Will I ever be able to make back into the real world? Or am I banished for life to the land of the invalids?

I find myself caught in the middle of a showdown between East and West. Eastern medicine versus Western Medicine. Acupuncture against the upstart microsurgery. Both are claiming that they can cure me of all the problems caused by a herniated disc. I don't want to be in this battle. I didn't ask for it. Or did I?