Back to the beginning

My original post on 7/28 gives my most recent update. This post is meant to go back to the beginning of my back troubles and give as succinct an account as possible. Here goes.

In January of last year, I suddenly developed a crippling pain in my outer right calf. I had no back pain at all, but that is where the diagnosis settled. It is called spondylolisthesis and describes a condition where one of the vertebra in my lower back (L5) has slipped forward. The resulting slippage has compressed the nerve opening and put pressure on the nerve root that serves my lower right leg. After seeing my ortho doc and receiving a back brace and some Celebrex, the pain subsided. I had epidural back injections in April and November of that same year. Most of the year I felt fine, but in November, things got worse. After some testing, it was determined that I needed fusion surgery at the L4-L5-S1 level. I consulted with two other spine specialists and chose Texas Back Institute to do my surgery.

On April 23, 2012, I had what is called a 360 spinal fusion. An incision was made in my lower abdomen to allow the best access to the two discs that had to be replaced and to also install the fusion material to secure the vertebra. The fusion material is composed of cadaver bone mixed with some of my own blood. After that work was completed, I was rolled over and 4 screws and two connecting bars were placed in the vertebra to secure them while the fusion sets up. They were placed in a minimally invasive technique that required minimal incisions. I spent two nights in the hospital.

The recovery has been full of ups and downs. I was up and walking the day after the surgery. I went for regular walks in my neighborhood after I got home. I was told this was the best thing for my recovery. I was not prepared for nor informed about the amount of leg and foot pain I would feel after the surgery. The doc explained that when the discs are replaced, the nerve roots get pretty irritated by the procedure and it takes them a while to recover, hence the leg pain. After a few weeks, the pain has settled into the left foot and creates a constant burning sensation that makes me limp when I walk. That led to what I said in the first post about the doc suspecting a pinched nerve at L5.

I had a lot of trouble sleeping at first because the pain kept me awake and I was getting panicky about not sleeping, which was creating a whole new level of stress for me. I finally prayed my way through that (along with many of you!) and began to calm down, realizing that I had plenty to time to sleep during the day if I was up during the night. Sort of a "duh" realization. Fortunately, at this point I am sleeping quite well. For several more weeks, I was back and forth between the bed and the couch, but now am able to remain in bed all night. That part is nice.

God is seeing me through this each day. I have had some very depressing times and I am convinced that the prayers of my family and beloved friends have kept me going. And there is absolutely no way I could have made it as well as I have without the daily loving service of my precious and incomparable wife. She doesn't think she does much, but she doesn't even realize how much I depend on her. I know she prays for me a lot, but I think I 'd be surprised if I knew just how much! There is a lot more I could report, but I have already written more than most of you want to read anyway. I'll keep you updated as much as I can.

Thanks for reading this and many, many thanks for praying for me and my family!

I have fought hard against doing this. But it looks like this back surgery and the subsequent recovery are developing into more of a journey than I cared to take. So, I will begin to post today about where I am at present and then my next post will be the catch up - a summary about what has transpired so far. The reason I have resisted blogging to this point is that I am not a faithful writer. I figure no one is really interested in what I am thinking about anything. However, there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of wonderful, godly people who are praying me through this whole ordeal. And I owe you some updates on the results of your prayers.

I have named my blog "Back to Normal" to fit my own prayers that God will move me from where I am after my back surgery to what I call my normal life. That life includes being able to do all the things I love to to do, which chiefly revolves around my family. Free to do all the things I want to do with Terrie - pain free days and dates and outings and vacations. Free to play with my grandkids the way I want to. Free to return to my household chores and be able to lift the things I need to lift throughout the day. This letting people do things for you gets really old and is terrifically humbling! I have always been the doer. I am so thankful for everyone who has stepped in and done so much for me. I don't know what I would have done without you. I'm just ready to do more for myself. Okay, enough whimpering.

The quick update: at my last doc visit, he suspected that I have a pinched nerve at the L5 level in my lower back. To confirm that and see exactly where it might be, he ordered a CT myelogram, which I had done on Thursday, July 19. Apparently, I will not know the results of that exam until I go to my next appointment with my doc on August 9. At that time he will read the film of the exam and let me know what he sees. Frankly, I am praying for a pinched nerve because he tells me he can fix that with another surgical procedure - the one he does most often. So, until August 9, I will deal with the pain in my left foot and keep praying for the pinched nerve diagnosis - or at least that the doc sees something that he can remedy in some way. So, if you are still praying for me, please request the same. Thanks!