Going Into The Pain

As often happens, I had pain and numbness going down one of my legs for  several days, leading up to today, a sure sign of lower back problems.  It was my left leg this time, which is pretty unusual.  I began focusing on my pain during meditation, at first asking what it was about, then releasing the fear.  I also increased my stretching, back exercises.  As a result, today I only had minor back soreness rather than having pain going down my leg, a clear improvement.  Part of me wishes I did not have to go through such a process and part of me is extremely grateful that I know to do it.