Zero

I’m alive! And I feel awesome! I had my back surgery/discectomy almost two weeks ago and I feel like a completely new person. I’m not all hunched over, looking like I’m getting in character to play Shakespeare’s Richard III or Quasimodo, anymore. Some friends told me the other day that I look like I’ve lost some weight, but it’s most likely because I’m standing up straight now, so I look thinner. For me, it’s like a whole new world. A new world where I’m not in pain every moment. A new world where I don’t have to numb myself up with pain pills, just to get through the day. I’m actually very proud of myself, I haven't taken any pills since Saturday, 3/16. And it’s not because I’m out, I have several left, but I’m trying not to touch them. 

The procedure itself went very well, although, once the surgeon got in there, he found a small complication. The herniation had been there for so long that it was starting to calcify. So he had to scrape away the calcium that was forming first before he could do anything else, then he was able to remove the bad parts of my disc. I think this is why it was so painful. It was basically like bone growing up over the herniation. Can you imagine that? A new bone just cropping up in your back. It makes so much sense to me now. It’s like, of course, it had to be something crazy like that to cause me to be in so much pain like I’ve been in the past year and a half. But now I’m done. I’m done with it all. I was screaming that phrase to my parents though sobs, sitting in my car, the night before the doctor said I needed this procedure done. And now I’m really done with it. At least in this chapter of my life. Spine problems like this are genetic (thanks mom and dad), and I’m most likely going to deal with it at some point later in my life. But for now, I’m done with it. And I couldn’t be happier. 

I’m not completely through with recovery though. I can’t take a bath or do any heavy lifting or bending over for another month or so. But once that time period is over, I’ll be good to go! I’ve also still got numbness going down my left leg to my toes. It’s not really painful, just really annoying. I’ll probably still have that for a couple more weeks, but I’ll be glad once it’s gone. I just got the OK from my doctor to start doing some cardio and core workouts to strengthen the muscles around where my disc is that was operated on, to keep any other problems from happening. Last night I made a schedule of what exercises I need to do every day. I figured that if I make a schedule or list, I’ll hold myself accountable better; I’ll be able to see what I need to do and can cross it off once it’s done. 

I’m so glad to be done with this for now. I’m thankful to my doctor and everyone involved in making my surgery a success, I had a really great team taking care of me. I’m thankful to my parent’s and brother for taking care of me and allowing me to crash at their house for a few days while I was recuperating. And finally, I’m thankful to my other family members and friends who have seen me going through this and have put up with me being a cripple/pill popper. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for all of these people I’ve mentioned. Thanks again, and here’s to making the rest of this year awesome!

Hanging out with Phil, eating Cheezits, the night after my surgery.

Two days after my surgery, I was out and about with some new shoes, taking pictures of my brother and me and giant crosses. 

*Insert Hallelujah Chorus here*

I promise this post will be much shorter than the last one! Besides, this is really just a continuation of the last post. I thought my avid readers (all five of you) would like to know that I had another MRI done on Monday, two days ago. Today, I had an appointment which was originally supposed to be a follow-up to my epidural that I had two weeks ago, but it also doubled as an appointment to find out the results of my MRI. My parents were kind enough to come to this appointment with me, they don't always do that. Before I saw the doctor, the PA came in and asked me how I was feeling, took my blood pressure, and asked if I felt that the injection had helped any. I promptly told him, "no". I also went on to say that I was feeling OK today, but yesterday was awful that I rated it a 9 on the 0-10 scale. I very rarely give a 9. But yesterday's pain was so bad that I was at work for less than ten minutes before I had to leave. I started crying as my boss was helping me out to my car and I ended up having some kind of hyperventilating panic attack thing. I sat in my car, because it's the only seat that is comfortable to me right now, sobbing uncontrollably, with my boss holding my hand as he called my dad for back-up. My dad got there and we made the decision to take myself to my parent's house. So off we went to my parent's house, while my boss taught my lesson for me. I rested for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening in the guest bedroom, with my family's dog, Phil, keeping me company. I was still in a good bit of pain, but it was nice to get that rest.

Phil, my little guard dog. :)

The next day, today, I got up, had lunch with my mom and brother, went home to get cleaned up, and headed to the doctor's office. Once I got back into a room, I had the aforementioned run down with the PA, and my dad arrived. Then the doctor came in and my mom arrived shortly after. This was my first time meeting this doctor. The dude I had the first two times I dealt with the back pain recently moved away and this guy was his replacement. The first thing he said to me was, "well, your herniation is impressive." Doctors always find odd things to say when they see your organs. I've been told I have ugly tonsils, beautiful ovaries, and now an "impressive" herniated disc. What he meant by that was that my herniation is really big. No kidding, dude, I probably could have told you that!

What I've always been told by my last doctor is that I'm too young to be having surgery on my back. I even cried in his office when he told me he still didn't want to do surgery. Well folks, turns out that there's a procedure that can be done, which is much less invasive than a spinal fusion (the surgery that I'm "too young" for) and that, my friends, is called a discectomy. With a discectomy, all the surgeon does is make a small incision in the back and removes the pieces of the disc that have been herniated. Like I said, the procedure is much less invasive and is actually outpatient, only takes about 45 minutes, and has a short recovery time. The doctor explained all of this to my parents and me, and when he asked whether I wanted to go ahead with the surgery, I pretty much said, "where do I sign?" So I am EXTREMELY happy to say that I will be having a discectomy this Friday, March 8th, 2013 at 11:30 am at my doctor's office, in their surgical center. The funny thing about the date is that it is exactly 3 years to the day since I had my gallbladder removed.

I am so excited about this surgery. I suppose most people are nervous about having surgery, but I'm not at all, considering how much better I'm going to feel afterward. My doctor told me that most people feel immediate relief after having this procedure done. That's probably what I'm most excited about, just not being in pain all the time anymore. Last night I told my parents that I didn't want this anymore. Now I don't have to have it any longer. And it couldn't have come at a better time. I have a gig with the Albany Symphony Orchestra next week (I'm their stage manager) and I need to be able to function to do that job. I'm also planning on having my own little Spring Break in April, where I'll be spending a week in Augusta and Atlanta with my bff. At the end of April, I'll be going to a Jimmy Buffett concert with my grandmother, aunt, and cousin, and it'd be bad if I were in worse shape than my grandmother (not that she's really in bad shape). So I'm so glad that I'll be feeling better for all of these things, not to mention you-know-what that's happening in September. ;)

To end, I suppose I'll say send prayers, or good vibes, or whatever you prefer, and just keep me in your thoughts Friday morning.