Hey everyone, how are YOU? I am asked this question by many people every day. For those that don’t know please allow me to fill you in. Approximately 16 months ago I started to experience sciatica. Unfortunately, it progressed to the point that I needed to try different modalities of treatment. As time passed, I found it not only hard to walk but stand more than a few minutes at a time. I fell to my knees on multiple occasions. Of course, nobody knew what was going on because I really did not want people to know. My day is filled with taking care of people who have life-threatening issues going on. My issue seemed small at the time. Did the pain make it harder to focus and do the job I needed to do? Yes, but that’s exactly what I did. Focused more and worked harder. Of course, this really didn’t help my issue. After trying multiple epidural injections (4), physical therapy and multiple medications to no avail I finally realized that surgery would be needed.
I underwent a discectomy on June 26th. The surgery went smoothly. I was hospitalized for a day and went home in good spirits. I thought I was fixed! Upon arriving home which took approximately 4 hours (surgery was at Ascension hospital on Moross road in East Detroit) I said hi to my kids and proceeded to go for a walk with my wife. We trotted down the driveway only to make it about 200 feet before my pain was back. At that point although I never will admit it out loud, a tear fell from my eye. My wife had to walk back and get a vehicle to pick me up as I just could not take another step. I knew that I had re-herniated my disc by simply walking. Not good! It was certainly not the surgeon’s fault. It is known to happen and unfortunately, it happened to me. It is now June 27th, and, in a few days, I was back to work. Of course, I’m now in more discomfort and pain than before.
It would be 2 long months before my next surgery. After discussing my case with the neurosurgeon downstate (we don’t have one in Alpena,) we decided that this problem could still be solved. I needed a lumbar fusion. I knew this was the next step, however, one that I was not looking forward to. I’m sure we all know someone who has had back surgery, specifically a fusion. Sometimes they turn out and sometimes they don’t. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. Why 2 months’? Well, I had registered to take my board exam about 1 year earlier which was scheduled to take place on August 22nd. I could not and would not miss it. This board recertification exam needs to be taken every 10 years. I had already been studying for over 6 months and if I had the surgery, I would have likely not been in good enough shape to take such an important exam. After a couple months of excruciating pain and a very important board re-certifying exam (I passed) the time was near.
The day I had been anticipating was here (August 26th). It was going to be the start of better things to come. My lumbar fusion was supposed to last between 1.5-2 hours, however, lasted 4.5 hours. My neurosurgeon told me that I had developed so much scar tissue from the prior surgery that it was more tedious than planned. Bless my wife who was sitting in the waiting room wondering what the heck was going on.
As I awoke from anesthesia, I was greeted with the worst muscle spasm that I had ever experienced in my life. The spasm encompassed my entire lower half from the waist down. It brought tears to my eyes and made me cry out in pain like never before. This pain had made the pain from my herniated disc seem trivial. I wanted to die! I don’t remember what happened next and I assume I was given medicine to help. After the spasm stopped and my faculties started to return, I remember being wheeled down a hallway asking if my wife knew I was ok. Isn’t it funny that even through some of our most difficulty times we always seem to worry about our loved ones?
Once in my room my wife and I finally reunited. I was sure happy to see her and I’m sure she felt the same. Everything was fine for a while, but it was not long before I could feel another muscle spasm starting. Thankfully my good friend had just left as I really did not want him to see what was about to happen. As the spasm was starting, I asked my wife to get a nurse, however, she did not quite understand the urgency. It was too late. The spasm had taken hold of my lower half and the worst pain I had every felt in my life for a second time was encompassing my body. A nurse arrived and my wife said the look of fear on her face was one that would be hard to forget. At that point, I didn’t care what happened to me, if, the pain stopped. The pain was even more intense than the first spasm. It finally abated and I went to sleep. Throughout my hospital stay I would remain on 1000 mg of a muscle relaxer every 6 hours around the clock and thankfully the spasms although present were much more tolerable. I would end up spending 5 days in the hospital that usually came with a 3 day stay. Discharge day arrived and we were on our way back home. I had initially told the staff I would be back in 2 weeks; however, it would be 3 until I was back. With the help of my wife and because of the shape I had kept myself in prior to the surgery, I was back working much sooner than the surgeon and other people anticipated. My surgeon was amazed. In fact, when I talked to him on the phone 4 weeks post-op, he thought I was still off work. I was told that most people take 2-3 months off to recover. Although back to work I was still recovering and in fact, as of today am still recovering. I believe that for a body to heal it must move. I want you all to know that is why I push activity so hard at appointments. A body is meant to move. A lack of mobility leads to more fatigue, weakness, infections and blood clots. I am back working out (slow as a snail) but back to the gym. I still have some left sided back pain and no flexibility at this time, but it will come. I am thankful for this.
Why do I tell you all of this? For sympathy? I think most of you know me better than that. I’m telling you this because I get to learn so much about YOU every day that I think it is only fair to share a little about me. I get the privilege to learn about your life, your kids, grandkids and other loved ones. I feel blessed to be able to be part of your journey. Yes, I realize since you are seeing me the journey has taken a rockier road, nonetheless, it is still your journey and I get to be part of it.
There is a song called “Chapters” by Brett Young, if you have not listened to it you should. Not everything turns out how we want it to. We can do things throughout our lives to put the odds in our favor, however, in the end it may not turn out how we expect it to. As part of my job, I get to tell people they are cured of deadly diseases (happens more often than you are probably thinking to yourselves) and I also get to be part of their journey out of this world to what I believe is going to be a better place. Those who do not know, I am a practicing Catholic and truly count on my belief in God to get me through my days and my journey.
As we continue to turn the pages and move on to our next chapter let us remember that even if things don’t turn out like we want, how we react to the situation will influence how the next chapter starts and ultimately ends.