The "Myelogram" Story

It was an ordinary day.  9:00 PM and I'm finally allowed to sit.  Have been laying down since I returned home around noon.  A few months ago my back problems returned.  After two back operations I thought everything would be fine, but that wasn't the case.  I began having leg pains when I had to stand for more than an hour and then I began feeling numbness in my left foot.  I thought the numbness was due to my bout with shingles I had a couple of years ago, but found that wasn't the case.  After visits to a pain specialist who put me on large doses of Lyrica, then a visit to a doctor who said I had tarsal tunnel syndrome, and one more visit to a foot doctor who gave me a shot of steroids in the foot, it was determined it was my back that was to blame.  So, I asked the pain specialist to recommend the best neurosurgeon in Lancaster, since my previous neurosurgeon had died since my last operation.  She placed a call for me and set up an appointment, but it wasn't for 3 months.  Did manage to stay working as well as take a three week vacation during my wait.  Finally went for my visit with Dr. Kuhlengel who is one of the top 100 neurosurgeons in the United States.  Fantastic person who has great compassion for his patients. I felt totally at ease throughout my appointment with him.  He told me, "Some people I can help and some I can't.  In your case I can make you better."  That's all I needed to know.  My first step was to have a myelogram done so he could better analyze his approach to my surgery that I had told him I was willing to have for the third time.  The myelogram uses X-rays and a special dye called contrast material to take pictures of the backbone and the fluid filled area in the spine.  My appointment was set for two weeks from my doctor' visit and directions were given to me for preparation for the test.  One of my meds had to be stopped two days before the test and Carol had to provide me transportation to and from the health campus.  Two days before the test I got a call from the surgery center, where the test was to be done, reminding me to stop the one med.  Then the next day I got the same call.  The nurse and I talked some about my arrival and when I was about to hang up she said, "Good luck!"  I responded, "Am I going to need it?"  She didn't know what to say, but I broke the silence with, "Just kidding."  Today arrived and Carol took me to the surgery center and we entered.  Got directions to the center when we entered and on our way to the elevator passed a beautiful fountain.  "Wish I had brought a few coins so I could have thrown one over my shoulder for the good luck I may need."  Secretary checked us in and I joked with her about the call I had yesterday and the wish of good luck I received.  She laughed then began asking me questions.  When she asked if my church was still St. James Episcopal, I said "Now you're really freaking me out! Am I going to need them?"  She looked at me and assured me it was only a question they ask everyone.  I was given my new wardrobe for the test and taken to the room where I was given a series of X-rays.  Then I met my doctor who performed the procedure.  I had to lay face down on a table with a hard, round pillow under my stomach to help open the lumbar vertebrae which house the spinal cord in it's spinal canal.  He scrubbed my back, gave me a shot to numb the back and placed a needle the size of a human hair into one of the joints.  Felt a slight twinge, but no pain.  He did all this with the use of a device that was over top of me and guided his movements from a screen over me.  He then injected the dye.  After a minute or two he removed the needle and took X-rays of me laying flat and on while laying on both sides.  Then I was pushed into a room where I was given a Cat-Scan.  Total time for all of this was about 1 1/2 hours.  Met about half a dozen technicians who were all fantastic and told me exactly what was going to happen and what to expect.  They were right on with all their explanations.  Then I was taken back to the original room where I had changed into my hospital gown and placed on a reclining chair so I could lay flat for the next two hours.  Had to drink two small bottles of water and offered snacks, since I wasn't able to eat any breakfast.  The water was to flush the dye from my body.  I was then allowed to have Carol take me home and told to lay on a flat bed or on a reclining chair with no more than a 15 degree incline. I was given instructions what to do if I got a severe headache which would be the result of the spinal fluid leaking out the opening where the needle was placed into my spinal cavity.  The loss of the fluid in the spinal cavity would trigger the severe headache and I would have to call my doctor to get instructions as to what to do.  I guess the good luck wish must have worked!!  Now have to wait for my neurosurgeon to read the results and call so I can set up an appointment to go over what he will do.  Surgery will then be scheduled.  Am I worried?  Nah.  I don't want to live the rest of my life with the pain I now have from the severe stenosis I have.  I'm convinced this doctor will perform a remarkable surgery and I will once again be pain free.  You gotta have faith, and a little bit of good luck, you know!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.