In 2007 I was experiencing a lot of pain in my back. My
Primary Doctor sent me to a Doctor that specialized in pain. After a series of
tests, X-Rays, and MRI's they diagnosed me with Spinal Stenosis. He told me that
before they would even consider back surgery there is some thing they always try
first. They would do what they called an Epidural Injection. He said if need be
they could do up to three of them. The first one worked and I was virtually pain
free.
He recommended I start going to the fitness center and start
exercising. I did join and started slowly and after awhile I was pain free.
Things were going great until about November of 2010. Then all of a sudden the
back pain reoccurred. I went back to the pain Doctor who helped me the first
time. This time after three Epidural Injections the pain was not
improving.
They can only do three of those treatments. When the pain was
actually getting worse my Primary Doctor recommended I see a back surgeon. I
told him I had heard so many horror stories about back surgeries that I would
only do that as a last resort. The pain just kept getting worse so I told Joan I
think I am at the last resort.
He compared the MRI's from 2007 with new ones he had me go
for. He said the reason the Epidural didn't work was because my condition has
gotten much worse.
I had the surgery in April 2011 and the pain went away almost
instantly. When I went back for my first follow up I told him thank God that
excruciating pain was gone but I was having some tingling in my legs from the
knees down and that my legs felt weak. He told me that I had under went very
evasive surgery and that was probably normal and it should start going away.
Said it could take up to a year.
After a few months it was some what better but I told my
Primary Doctor I would like another opinion. He sent me to a Neurologist. After
a series of tests he told me I had Neuropathy. Neuropathy can present many
differing symptoms, including numbness, pain, weakness and loss of balance. It
is an abnormal and usually degenerative state of the nervous system or
nerves.
At first I didn't want to believe it, I thought it was too
much of a coincidence that it started so soon after my back
surgery.
Yesterday I went to see my Primary Doctor and after reviewing
every thing he said I do have Neuropathy. I said what is the worst case
scenario. He said lets start with the best case scenario first which is, lets
hope it will be a slow process. He said there is no cure but it can progress
very slowly.
So right now so far I can still do almost every thing I always
have been able to do, but just have to do it a lot slower. The only thing so far
I can't do is like climb up ladders and climbing stairs it takes a lot longer.
It does not affect my ability to drive , thank God for that.
The worst part for me is I can't do all the things I used to
do with Carter and Griffin. We were at our Hilton Vacation Club for Memorial Day
Weekend. They have this great water slide and the last time we were there every
time Carter came down I did also. It is a bunch of steps as it is very high so I
had to pass this time. I was sitting there watching him, started to have a bit
of a pity party and quickly got that out of my head by saying God I am sad I
can't do it with him today but I am so thankful that I have done it with him,
and I think he will remember that.
After going to my Primary Doctor yesterday when I got up this
morning and flipped over my perpetual calendar this was my saying for the day.
There is a different saying every day, kind of eerie that this was what came up
today:
Teach me, O God, to be patient with myself. As I grow older
and discover I cannot do as many things as I used to, help me to accept the
changes happening to me. Amen
So now I will be put to the test to see if I can follow all
the advice I have been giving all of you. Which is get up each day thank God I
am here for another day and make the best of each day.
When I look at my Dear Daughter Martha, my little problem is
very miniscule compared to what she has to go through with every day of her
life.
I have had and am still having a great life. One of the
consolations that Bubba's family and friends always used was that Bubba packed
more life into her fifty five years than most people would in seventy five
years.
If I every get my book done I think you will see that I have
packed more life into my 71 plus years than a lot of people could pack into a
hundred years. LOL
So I will still be urging to you live life to the fullest
every day and if you find me not doing that give me a big kick in the ass.
LOL
A couple of weeks ago I did start using a cane just as
security against falling. This is the last time I will refer to it as a cane and
you are forbidden to use that word also. It is my walking stick. LOL Remember
that it is a walking stick.
If you want to say a little prayer for me that my condition
will go slow, please do that but don't spend any time worrying about me, I am
doing just fine.
Sending lots of love and best wishes to all of my Dear Family
And Friends.
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