Last updated on September 11, 2020
Question:
Hi, and thanks in advance for your time. I’m 6’6” and 292 lbs. To most people, it seems like God made me for sports, but I have spinal stenosis, so I can’t play any contact sports unless I plan on being in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I know God knows best, but why did he make it dangerous for me to play the sports I love to watch? Also, I’m still growing so is there any chance my spinal stenosis might resolve itself?
Answer:
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column causing pressure on the spinal nerves. There are many causes from a birth defect, to a damaged disk, or even a tumor. I assume yours is due to some type of birth defect. Typically spinal stenosis gets worse over time. The causes rarely resolve themselves and instead slowly and progressively get worse.
Symptoms to watch out for is numbness or pain in the lower parts of your body or difficulty controlling your peeing or bowel movements. It may lead to difficulty in walking.
Surgery can be a possibility, but it carries its own risks and often it doesn’t give a cure, but only a reduction of the symptoms. As a result, many doctors try to put off the surgery option as long as they can.
One thing you can do is reduce your weight. You are about 80 to 100 lbs above the ideal weight for your height and since you are limited in your activity, I assume that this extra weight is not from muscles. Lowering your weight will lessen the stress on your back.
The doctor should have also given you exercises that you can do to keep you fit and your back strong. Don’t skip these.
As to why you have this problem, it would be total guesswork on my part. What I do know is that whatever problems we face, God is able to make those things work for good in the long run. Paul had a problem of his own, which he asks God to remove. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (II Corinthians 12:7-10). In the same way, realize that your strength isn’t in your physical body, but in your character. Be strong in the Lord.