Progress Report: 1.5 Years

It's been a year and a half since my surgery. Things are better. I'm still not 100 percent. I might not ever be. But I'm close. Ninety percent I'd guess. Still have some numbness in my foot and little toe, I guess it's nerve damage. But not dead numb like it used to be.

Currently undergoing a little setback -- good news is that they are fewer and farther between. But I did a number on myself this time. I think it is a strain or pulled muscle though, and not disc-related. I was sweeping and cleaning the kitchen, doing a bunch of bending and twisting, and then when I went for the dust pan, BAM. Ouch. Stabbing pain on the right of my spine (my "bad" side is my left). Stood up and was in excruciating pain. I've heard of people hurting their backs this way ("suddenly") but that had never been the case for me -- mine came on gradually over the course of several months.

I instantly felt pain in my upper right thigh, and, thinking it meant this was disc-related, freaked out. I have read so many accounts of people herniating the remaining disc on the other, "good" side that I was afraid this had happened. I envisioned a second microdiscectomy, followed by a disc replacement (due to no disc material left!) and then a lifetime of chronic pain and back problems -- not a life I want to ever lead. I've read the message board postings and talked to some of these poor people and it's not somewhere anyone wants to go.

I have been icing my back and taking a non-steroid anti-inflammatory and two days later feel much, much better. It still hurts. But not in the leg and I don't think it's a disc problem anymore. It feels like a strain from back all the way around my side. More reason to get that core into shape.

Which is hard, getting your core into shape. I am exercising -- swimming and walking -- but not doing any core stuff. It's hard when it's so easy to hurt yourself. Yet it's something you gotta do in order to quit hurting yourself. If this most recent mishap ever heals, I swear I will get more serious about some core work. It's gotta be done.

Progress Report: Week 58

I've been a little on the lazy side the past two or three months. Not exercising. Gaining a few pounds. And guess what -- it makes you feel horrible! Some weak sciatica returning, more numbing of my foot/toe, back pain -- none of it major, but just enough to make me feel like crap. So a little over a week ago, I got back in the saddle, watching calories (already lost a pound!) and most importantly, exercising. Briskly walking for 30 mins several days a week, and yesterday I swam laps. I had not swam since early December, and let me tell you, I was exhausted last night! And starving still today! So that lets me know my metabolism is going. And sure enough, after just a week, my back/sciatica problems are already subsiding. Even the numbness is a little less numb. It is amazing how much physical activity helps, like I keep saying. I think it increases the blood flow to the lower back, which doesn't usually get a lot of it. Now I am ready to start strengthening my core and back muscles through exercise, yoga, etc. I will still put a hold on the super-strenuous aerobics I used to do -- this walking seems to be enough for now.

Progress Report: Week 52

Happy New Year! But it's also another important milestone for me...

It's my one year anniversary since my surgery! This is quite a big accomplishment. What a difference a year makes. A year ago I was in the hospital sick as a dog from the morphine. About to go home and not shower for two weeks. Barely move around my house. Yikes!

I am doing so much better. I still am not 100%. But I'm in the 80s or 90s I'd guess. Probably 90s. Lately having some minor aches and sciatica, but nothing bad enough to take advil for. So that's a good sign. With winter and the holidays, I've slacked off on my walking and exercising routine, which is probably why I'm having a little trouble. I always do so much better after I walk. It's when I don't exercise that I get sore -- counter-intuitive I know.

I am still slightly numb on my "bad foot," in the baby toe and in a spot on the underside of the foot. No where near like it was last year. The surgeon told me it'd take a year to clear up. I suspect it might be nerve damage. It isn't badly numb, but the numbness just never completely goes away. My limping is completely gone and has been for 9 or 10 months. I am doing pretty great overall, I gotta say.

Last year this time my new year's resolution was to just get through the healing process. I was so afraid the surgery hadn't worked since I didn't see instant improvement like so many anonymous people on the internet claim to see. That's OK, it worked. I'm glad I did it.

My resolution this year will be to strengthen my back. My physical therapist advised me to avoid high impact and weights for at least a year. It's been a year but I'm not ready to go back to that yet. I plan on doing a lot of low impact stuff like continuing to walk and swim, and to do exercises to strengthen my back muscles. I feel weak there, I probably am. I also want to take a "yoga for a healthy back" type of class this year. Where I used to do high impact aerobics and elliptical machines, I now plan to work on resistance type stuff like yoga and pilates. Perhaps a balance ball or something. Get more use out of that gym membership I won't cancel.

It's so weird to think about how upset I was a year ago. I really was not 110% sure I was making the right decision to have surgery, since my pain had leased (but my limp had worsened). I made the right decision. I am so much better than I would have been had I tried to wait for it to heal on it's own. Not to mention I'd probably always have a limp. So I am glad I did it.

What a year it's been. I've learned a lot of things about myself, about surgery, about backs, about chronic pain. I hope that by taking charge of my health and weight I can avoid future back problems. Working on it, anyway. Here's to a healthy back in 2010!