Hi everyone..well my story started about 10 yrs ago. One morning i leaned forward to shave in the mirror and felt a shock go in my spine like someone stuck a cattle prod in me. It literally knocked me off my feet. I couldnt walk for 3 days. First quack dr i went to told me it was just a sprain sent me back to work..i worked construction at the time. Went back to work, started to lose feeling in my legs and the pain was constant, like a migrane or toothache in your spine. Second group of geniuses i saw, well i have long hair and a goatee so they immediately assumed i was after some pain drugs..they told me how healthy and fit i looked so (never knew it would be such a hassle to look healthy amd fit..lol) they told me to take aspirin and a couple days off work. Finally had an MRI that showed a small herniation (i wish). Finally after about a month found Stooge #3..a surgeon that told me simple procedure in a month be as good as new, can go back to work, play with my kids again..everything will be fine. Well the 2 hour operation turned into a 6 hour ordeal because there were some issues that didnt show in the MRI..like my disc had completly come out of my spine and embedded itself in the main nerve and going back and working had caused the nerve to wrap around the disc.so he had to cut the nerve away from the disc (permanent damage). A month into recovery i started losing feeling in my legs again and pain came back with a vengeance. He got nervous and sent me to his friend, I think he was one of the Marx Brothers or maybe from Monty Python..he told me I have to learn to live with the pain and the numbness was in my head! Now this is great..at one point during his interview of me, he actually came around behind me and suddenly pushed my head forward! I wont say what I said after that(there are ladies present) but i stood up to my full 6 ft 1 inche 190 lbs of fit and healthy and after some choice words and the threat of seeing how he was going to remove the stethoscope from his ... he called security. Anyway moving along, finally met a real doc that i asked to give it to me straight..his words..son, your up ****s creek without a paddle. Seems that when the nerve is so damaged, it doesnt heal and to operate again would mean going near it and good chance of causing paralysis..oh and he left just a sliver of disc that quickly disintegrated causing my bones to rub together and sometimes pinching that nerve. Things progressively got worse..scar tissue wraping around nerves and more discs tearing and leaking fluid onto nerves, arthritis setting into the spine and the likelihood i wont be able to walk one day. Im on pain meds now but they dont really do much. Do i feel sorry for myself..hell no..that would do nothing but set me back..i do miss not being able to do some things a father would like to do with his son..play ball..but i make it up to him in other ways and he understands as much as a 13 yr old could. Great kid.
To everyone on this particular forum always remember, even in those dark times when you feel very alone and the world is quiet but your body or mind may be screaming and your left to your thoughts..your not alone..there are people that can relate in some way to what you feel inside, i believe many good people here amongst others. Dont ever give up no matter how hard things become..if you have kids be strong for them..show them what courage really is, be strong for yourself.
Thank You All Very Much...JABLUES (joe)...
