There's nothing that could have prepared me for the pain that I was about to endure. I'm usually the last person to take pain medication and I've learned to endure pain pretty well over the years due to situations that required me to push through. This time was different. 

I can only describe it as a hot knife being plunged into your lower back side right up until the tip reaches your spine and becomes lodged. Now imagine every few minutes the knife twisting just a little. Now stretch that scenario over a 6-8 hour period or longer. Are you cringing? You should be.

Men can handle pain, right? In fact we're expected to handle it while maintaining a straight face. Unfortunately this is not "The Expendables" and the pain we experience is real.  

No matter how much you think you can endure there is always a pain that can hit deeper and last longer. During that period when there's nothing a man can do, he suffers. It may be quick or it may linger. He may try to walk it off or it may bring him to his knees. Suffering hits right to the core. It always leads us to ask the question "why?".