New hardware and a new outlook.
SO much has happened. And the funny thing is that it took me discovering that George R. R. Martin has a Livejournal (!!!!!) to remember that I should probably take the time to jot down some memories.
I never posted about it that I can recall, but back in 2011, it was discovered by my chiropractor during a much needed adjustment after a 6 year hiatus that I had grade 2 spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis at my L5 vertebrae that was causing my spinal column to shift and slip forward, and sequentially cause my back pain and muscle inflammation. I started regular chiropractic and massage therapy treatment, and had extended follow up visits with an orthopedic surgeon to stave off an eventual surgery to remedy the issue.
Fast forward to October 2, 2015: to the point of time where I get T-boned by a woman in a minivan that wasn’t paying attention as she was exiting a parking lot. I go to urgent care (never again) for a checkup and they send me on my way with more ibuprofen on top of what I was already taking as my condition had reasonably and expectedly declined over the years. I follow up with my surgeon…and they say it’s time to pull the trigger and do the anticipated spinal fusion.
Fast forward to March 9, 2016: to the day I am admitted to Buffalo General Hospital and have spinal fusion surgery where they took out two facet joints of my spine, ground the bone up with a new synthetic material, used that to fuse my L5 vertebrae to the S1 (tailbone) and inserted two titanium rods and 4 screws for stabilization. I stayed in the hospital for 3 days and I could barely walk without being in extreme pain, but I remember waking up from surgery and noticing through my drug induced haze that something felt different; something felt better.
Fast forward to today: 21 weeks later, I feel so much better. I returned to work at 12 weeks still recovering and wearing my back brace, but have since been without it since the beginning of July. I’m still restricted as far as movement and lifting goes, but for the most part, my life is almost back to a better normal. I’ve been getting my social life back, I camped at Jam in the Valley in July, I’ve been to numerous concerts (including an amazing Pearl Jam show in May at 9 weeks recovered), and have been feeling at my physically best in years. Word of advice to anyone who has major surgery - listen to doctor's orders. That was so crucial to my recovery.
You never realize how much of your life can be stripped away from you by physical pain. It’s just an incredible difference and I thank God every day that I’m one of the lucky ones who this went well for. I feel like I’ve got my life back in my hands again.
I do have to say, my hardware is pretty cool. I still haven't set off any security alarms though. :(
I never posted about it that I can recall, but back in 2011, it was discovered by my chiropractor during a much needed adjustment after a 6 year hiatus that I had grade 2 spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis at my L5 vertebrae that was causing my spinal column to shift and slip forward, and sequentially cause my back pain and muscle inflammation. I started regular chiropractic and massage therapy treatment, and had extended follow up visits with an orthopedic surgeon to stave off an eventual surgery to remedy the issue.
Fast forward to October 2, 2015: to the point of time where I get T-boned by a woman in a minivan that wasn’t paying attention as she was exiting a parking lot. I go to urgent care (never again) for a checkup and they send me on my way with more ibuprofen on top of what I was already taking as my condition had reasonably and expectedly declined over the years. I follow up with my surgeon…and they say it’s time to pull the trigger and do the anticipated spinal fusion.
Fast forward to March 9, 2016: to the day I am admitted to Buffalo General Hospital and have spinal fusion surgery where they took out two facet joints of my spine, ground the bone up with a new synthetic material, used that to fuse my L5 vertebrae to the S1 (tailbone) and inserted two titanium rods and 4 screws for stabilization. I stayed in the hospital for 3 days and I could barely walk without being in extreme pain, but I remember waking up from surgery and noticing through my drug induced haze that something felt different; something felt better.
Fast forward to today: 21 weeks later, I feel so much better. I returned to work at 12 weeks still recovering and wearing my back brace, but have since been without it since the beginning of July. I’m still restricted as far as movement and lifting goes, but for the most part, my life is almost back to a better normal. I’ve been getting my social life back, I camped at Jam in the Valley in July, I’ve been to numerous concerts (including an amazing Pearl Jam show in May at 9 weeks recovered), and have been feeling at my physically best in years. Word of advice to anyone who has major surgery - listen to doctor's orders. That was so crucial to my recovery.
You never realize how much of your life can be stripped away from you by physical pain. It’s just an incredible difference and I thank God every day that I’m one of the lucky ones who this went well for. I feel like I’ve got my life back in my hands again.
I do have to say, my hardware is pretty cool. I still haven't set off any security alarms though. :(