The "You're Crooked" Story

It was an ordinary day. Decided to write an update on my back surgery for those who have had the same problems I have had and may be considering surgery to correct it. Struggling to stand up straight without pain right now! Now, I know that the next part of my story may be somewhat of a repeat for readers of my blog, but I need to give you the background again. For about a year I have had back problems that have caused leg problems. First started with a sore and stiff back that always seemed to hurt. Cortisone shot last January in my butt gave me tremendous relief from back pain. Then the pain started again in July and I got another shot of cortisone, but this time it didn't work. By August I was getting severe pain in my right leg so I went back to the doctor who sent me for an MRI to try to diagnose what the problem was. Severe stenosis was the diagnosis. That is narrowing of the opening in my spinal canal that allows the nerves to pass through. Probably caused by arthritis. Getting old, you know. To the surgeon I went. The same surgeon who removed bone spurs from my back six years ago when I was having back pain. At that time he told me that my arthritis may cause more problems in the future. Boy was he right! First had to go through physical therapy, then after that didn't work had to make plans for a shot of cortisone in my spine. All this HAD to be done, just in case one of the procedures would have helped and prevented the surgery. Never had the shot, since the doctor who was scheduled to perform that procedure took one look at my MRI and told me it wouldn't help. He walked down the hall to my surgeon and told him I would need surgery to correct my problem. As if I didn't know that already. Early September I had parts of two of my vertebrae removed to alleviate the pressure that was being placed on the nerves that travel down my legs. I was told that the operation would work. And, it kind of worked. I no longer have the severe pain in my right leg that made me walk bent over and having to go up and down stairs on my hands and knees. But, my wife tells me that I am still crooked. Crooked when I walk and crooked when I try to stand straight. I favor one side more than the other when I walk. I know I do, but I don't know what to do. It has been over two months now and I still have pain in my right calf. Have started physical therapy to try to help with the healing and to straighten my spine. Traveled to the doctor's last week and saw his assistant. She really is good at explaining how things work in your body. First we determined that I am not a good patient, since I did not take it easy as I was supposed to do. Raking, shoveling, mowing, and running the vacuum, not to mention going back to work (I really didn't mention that) were not on the orders I had, so I assumed it would be OK. Wasn't! That kept aggravating the nerve going down my leg and did not allow the inflammation in the nerve to diminish. She told me the nerve had been pinched for some time and with the doctor having to cut out part of the backbone and pushing on the nerve during the surgery to accomplish that, I was feeling pain from the inflammation of the nerve. I am now on a six day dose of oral cortisone. I take 6 pills the first, 5 the second, and so forth. Will finish the doses tomorrow. My only problem is ....... the pain remains. But, it is less severe. I didn't ask her how long it would take for the pills to work, so I guess I will need to wait and see. I am doing less, though. She arranged for another appointment in three weeks to see how the pills worked. Might have to have another MRI if the pain continues. Then we will go from there. At first, she wasn't going to give me the cortisone, since it said in big red letters on my chart on the computer monitor, "Allergic to Cortisone!" Wow, I didn't know that. I have been getting cortisone for quite some time. She told me I reported dizziness and headaches from taking it in the past. Not me, I told her! Now, she got concerned, since they have several other LDubs that they treat. Could be someone typed the warning in my file and it should be in someone else's file. Now that could really be a problem; for them. She warned me just in case that if my mouth and lips swell and I have trouble breathing or swallowing anytime during the six days of taking the drug, to call 911 and ask for an ambulance. Wow, again! Here's hoping day 6 will go OK and soon the pain subsides and all will be better. I told my wife that another vacation laying on a beach chair, reading my Kindle, and sipping a BBC would really help. And ..... she agreed! Got to call my travel agent write after posting this!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.