Pretty much because I woke up one day in January 2016 and my lower back (lumbar, as it is known to the medical world) decided it was time to quit working. I had turned 39 years old only 2 weeks before.
After three rounds of steroids, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory meds and pain killers, it was still jacked up. My doctor ordered X-Rays and an MRI. The tests showed a bulging disc at my L5-S1 and also an Annular Fissure (this is a tear in the disc. It's okay, I didn't know what it was before any of this happened either.)
So, my good ole doc ordered an epidural injection of steroid. It was supposed to fix up the disc real nicely and allow me to return to work a "fixed" person.
It didn't work.
I began seeing a Kinesiologist of my own accord. After ten visits, and trying a lot of crazy stuff, my doc and I decided to revisit the epidural injection. The second one didn't work either.
I began Physical Therapy and scheduled a consultation with a spine surgeon. PT was great. I had more movement in my leg than before and the pain after each visit was less. But it didn't last.
After 120 days of enduring back and sciatica pain, I wasn't improving and my doctor referred me on to a spine surgeon.
The meet with the surgeon went great. I had two options. He could do a Lamenectomy and Discectomy from the lumbar, or go in abdominally and remove the entire disc, replacing it with some fake body part. The lumbar version only required 6 weeks of recovery and the awful back brace. The abdominal version was more extensive and would require between 3-6 months of recovery and back brace. Not being one to take the long more exhausting route to things, I opted for option number one. Besides, the surgeon was young and cutting edge so that had me less nervous. He does the surgery quite often. He's a spine surgeon after all.
After quite a few more PT sessions, more X-Rays, a pre-op physical and numerous questions fielded for the insurance company, I was approved for surgery.
So here I am. One hundred and sixty-one days later, ready to be cut open. My kids are freaking out, but the husband and I are low-keyed. I'm excited to get it done and get on with life. I'm sure recovery will be painful and my PT girl will kick my butt back into shape when she can get her hands on me again, but for now, I just want to get it done, wake up, feel no pain in my leg (sciatica) say hello to my husband, kids, family and friends and eat some cake. Either double chocolate or Tiramisu. Still deciding.
Until the next time,
Adios Muchachos,
Mel
