One Year

I started this blog over a year ago to track my artificial disc replacement experience. As of tomorrow, May 11, it wil be exactly one year ago that I had the surgery.

And the results?

I have a long way to go.

In the last few months I have switched ortho docs, walked out of pain management appointments because I refused to live my life on constant pain killers, and am now working with another doc to help get me to a point where I'm not feeling daily pain.

I'd like to say the surgery helped, but it didn't. Not at all. Every day lately is a struggle. I can barely walk. Pain is horrible. I'm not getting sleep, and I'm barely able to get through a work day.

I had a facet block done about three weeks ago, which helped my back pain...and also GREATLY increased my leg pain. Tomorrow I will be going in for an epidural, which will hopefully calm down the nerve pain in both of my legs.

I would be lying if I said this was not what I expected. I would be lying if I said this doesn't really crush a small part of me that hoped that I would be entering my thirty's (in four days) with pain levels that resemble what most people have - minimal pain. Pain you don't even know that's there until you think about it.

So I just keep going. I have a wonderful husband, family and friends. I have been able to move forward professionally despite it being mentally and physically challenging to go to work every day. I'm doing the best I can on the path that is obviously one I have to take, for whatever the reason.

I'll continue doing my occasional updates on here because maybe it will mean something to someone out there. Maybe it will help them make a decision on ADR...or maybe it will give them comfort to know they are not alone.