Wednesday the 23rd of February, I'm going to major surgery to correct my back problem. I went to a neurologist for a second opinion after the orthopedic surgeon said there was a chance he might nick my sciatic nerve. no no no... my confidence in you has just vanished. So instead I asked for a referral for a neurosurgeon and thought he'd have more respect for my poor nerve. We really liked him, (important when someone is about to remove bone from your spinal column and fuse vertebrae together) and he seemed really confident, with an "i can fix you attitude".
He asked if I had been in an accident, or if I had fallen. No...nothing at the time of the first flare up anyway. There is a fracture in one of my vertebrae that my family doc missed, the pain clinic missed, the orthopedic doctor missed, and I wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't shown it to me on the X-ray that was taken in mid august when the first episode started. In September, when we were in Vegas for our honeymoon, I remember crying and telling hubby that something has to be broken in my back...it just hurt too much.
So now after bouncing around 4 doctors and trying every treatment except surgery, i have spinal fusion and laminectomy scheduled. seriously, i can't live my life like this. hubby says i cry in my sleep. I'm a drug addict now, living my life in 4 hour increments, with the last hour being hell sometimes, most of the time, until i can take my next dose. i'm going to have to break it to the doctor that i've had to double up on the prescribed dose sometimes.. but i am certain he will understand.
I have to quit smoking. I wanted to be quit before surgery, before i see the surgeon on wednesday, but my addiction is weakened with the pain. i'll be in the hospital for a few days after the surgery, so that will be my quit time. you see, there isn't proper bone growth at the fusion site in smokers. i'm not about to do anything to undo the surgery i am about to undergo.
i'm scared, excited to start healing, but scared scared, this is major major surgery. keep me in your thoughts.
Uploaded by KarenLynnn on 14 Feb 11, 7.33AM CST.
He asked if I had been in an accident, or if I had fallen. No...nothing at the time of the first flare up anyway. There is a fracture in one of my vertebrae that my family doc missed, the pain clinic missed, the orthopedic doctor missed, and I wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't shown it to me on the X-ray that was taken in mid august when the first episode started. In September, when we were in Vegas for our honeymoon, I remember crying and telling hubby that something has to be broken in my back...it just hurt too much.
So now after bouncing around 4 doctors and trying every treatment except surgery, i have spinal fusion and laminectomy scheduled. seriously, i can't live my life like this. hubby says i cry in my sleep. I'm a drug addict now, living my life in 4 hour increments, with the last hour being hell sometimes, most of the time, until i can take my next dose. i'm going to have to break it to the doctor that i've had to double up on the prescribed dose sometimes.. but i am certain he will understand.
I have to quit smoking. I wanted to be quit before surgery, before i see the surgeon on wednesday, but my addiction is weakened with the pain. i'll be in the hospital for a few days after the surgery, so that will be my quit time. you see, there isn't proper bone growth at the fusion site in smokers. i'm not about to do anything to undo the surgery i am about to undergo.
i'm scared, excited to start healing, but scared scared, this is major major surgery. keep me in your thoughts.
Uploaded by KarenLynnn on 14 Feb 11, 7.33AM CST.
You're definitely in my thoughts. I'm crossing my fingers and hugging you from afar.
Posted by: Margy Rydzynski | 02/14/2011 at 07:52 PM
A little late - but best wishes! Hugs.
Posted by: Flamingo Dancer | 02/28/2011 at 04:00 AM
thanks girls, i just now saw these messages, thanks so much, i'm doing great :)
Posted by: Karen Lynn | 03/09/2011 at 07:34 AM