A Progress Report

[sablebrush52]

As some of you know, about a month and a half ago, I woke up with extreme pain at the base of my spine. It left me barely able to walk, more like shuffle, for more than a few feet, and only in excruciating pain.
Things have improved a bit. The pain, though constant, has lessened considerably, and I can walk, using a cane or walker, for a couple of hundred feet. That’s progress, but it leaves me unable to go to the post office to fulfill some promises, so my apologies to those who I had promised to gift some tobacco.
I had an MRI last Wednesday and am waiting to hear what it reveals.
In the meantime, I’m doing my daily physical therapy exercises.
I sure would like to get back to walking the 4 1/2 to 5 miles like I was doing several days a week before this happened.
Getting old is not for sissies.

 

[Sig]

I hear you.
Although at 53 I'm in decent shape and USUALLY have no pains, it takes much longer to heal after a muscle pull or other injury.
I hope all is well with you and you heal quickly.
My wife has a similar issue a few years ago. She woke up with horrible pain in her back and legs. She couldn't get out of bed or walk....at all. Turned out to be a pinched nerve. Over a couple months, and with stretching exercises, the nerve unpinched itself.

 

[LotusEater]

Hang in there- back pain can be so frustratingly debilitating. I hope the MRI provides some clarity re what exactly the problem is and that there is something minimally invasive that can be done to ease your pain.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Hate to hear that. Losing most of the functionality in my hands is bad but losing mobility must be hell. Well wishes and prayers.

 

[Auxsender]

Damn man. So shitty. Sorry that’s happening.

So true that getting old isn’t for the faint of heart.

 

[BingBong]

Get well soon is all I can wish you. Slow disintegration is not for the faint of heart; take solace where you may.

 

[mngslvs]

Hopefully you won’t have to have surgery, or feel like you have to have it. Having worked in the post surgical arena for many years I have seen that back surgeries do not always turn out well. They are a bit chancy. Physical therapy can work wonders often times, if one is willing to put in the work. In any event, good luck to you.

 

[OzPiper]

Jesse, sorry to hear of your back problem..
Hopefully the MRI will reveal the problem and your doctor will have a solution.
Best wishes for a quick recovery.

 

[sablebrush52]

Hopefully you won’t have to have surgery, or feel like you have to have it. Having worked in the post surgical arena for many years I have seen that back surgeries do not always turn out well. They are a bit chancy. Physical therapy can work wonders often times, if one is willing to put in the work. In any event, good luck to you.

Thank you for your observations. If there's a way to avoid surgery, that's the plan. I've had some serious issues with spinal problems and PT always did the trick. In one instance it took 10 months of PT, which I still continue every day, to solve that particular issue. It's stayed resolved for 12 years so far.

I have yet to meet a surgeon who thinks that spinal surgery is the first option if other remedies are available. I'll also be sending a copy of the MRI to my niece, who is a neurosurgeon, as she's requested it. She does research for Stanford University, which has a top line medical facility.

 

[karam]

Best of luck Jesse.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Hoping for the best possible outcome -

 

[renfield]

Back pain is a kind of hell on Earth.

Spinal surgery is definitely the option of last resort.

I hope things continue to improve, even if it is slow.

 

[cshubhra]

I am sure you will be fully fit

 

[Alejo R.]

Thank you for your observations. If there's a way to avoid surgery, that's the plan. I've had some serious issues with spinal problems and PT always did the trick. In one instance it took 10 months of PT, which I still continue every day, to solve that particular issue. It's stayed resolved for 12 years so far.

I have yet to meet a surgeon who thinks that spinal surgery is the first option if other remedies are available. I'll also be sending a copy of the MRI to my niece, who is a neurosurgeon, as she's requested it. She does research for Stanford University, which has a top line medical facility.

God willing, you can fix it without surgery. My wife went through this and had surgery. She went from opiates to be able to sleep to no pain in a few days. In her case, it was a herniated disc.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Kia kaha bro.

 

[pappymac]

Hopefully you won’t have to have surgery, or feel like you have to have it. Having worked in the post surgical arena for many years I have seen that back surgeries do not always turn out well. They are a bit chancy. Physical therapy can work wonders often times, if one is willing to put in the work. In any event, good luck to you.

I had back surgery about 24 years ago and despite all the PT I went through I never recovered the flexibility in my lower back that I used to have. It did relieve the pain for about 15 years. I was warned that I would probably be needing more back surgery after 10 years but I have declined that opportunity.

 

[pappymac]

Thank you for your observations. If there's a way to avoid surgery, that's the plan. I've had some serious issues with spinal problems and PT always did the trick. In one instance it took 10 months of PT, which I still continue every day, to solve that particular issue. It's stayed resolved for 12 years so far.

I have yet to meet a surgeon who thinks that spinal surgery is the first option if other remedies are available. I'll also be sending a copy of the MRI to my niece, who is a neurosurgeon, as she's requested it. She does research for Stanford University, which has a top line medical facility.

The neurosurgeon I first started seeing in 1997 had me going through physical therapy for three years before he considered surgery on my lower back.

It sounds like your niece is a good neurosurgeon to have watching out for you.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Absolutely hate hearing that you're dealing with any pain at all, Jesse. We can all agree the back/spinal issues are the worst.

It's a hard pill to swallow- aging and knowing that any day we can wake up, roll out of bed, and be met with any number of ridiculous ailments. Hopefully you're still able to sit comfortably and have a smoke.

I really hope you'll be mended up sooner than later!

 

[telescopes]

Getting old is not for sissies.

No, it is not. Sorry to hear about your back issues. They are a bear to live with.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

Damn man, that sucks. Hopefully it's something stupid and the docs can get you back to 100%. I had a sciatica issue 2 yrs ago that affected my lower back and right leg, and that was excruciating...I can't imagine suddenly having a spine issue and being unable to walk. Prayers up for a speedy recovery!