| 17 April 2010
You might be wondering why things have been a little on the quiet side here at TWFE. As usual, it revolves around my health. I must have done something long, long ago to piss my body off royally, because it's been trying to get back at me with a vengeance ever since. (I'm thinking it was some skunky beer...or was it some Heineken...I drank back in 1979)
It's only been 11 months since my spinal surgery, but looks like I'll be going under the knife for more.
Here's the back story (pun intended).
My back has been acting up over the past few months. I was feeling a pain I wasn't familiar with in the least...and trust me, I know pain. Whenever I sit or lie down and when I bend over, more often than not I'd feel a sharp, sharp pain. I'd compare it someone pinching you as hard as humanly possible. And yes, that hurts like a SOB.
I finally got in to see my surgeon at the University of Michigan this week, and the problem was diagnosed almost immediately. There are cross members holding the rods in my back together. One upper, one lower. Turns out fluid sacs formed around the metal cross members and have become inflamed, causing the pain.
If I let it go, the inflammation and pain is only going to get worse. Removing the offending hardware is not an issue at this point, as my spine has stabilized (thanks to the abnormal bone growth caused by my ankylosing spondylitis...talk about small favors, huh?) So the only solution is to have the cross members and fluid sacs removed surgically. Just my luck, I need surgery because of a surgery. (Though I have absolutely no complaints with the original osteotomy, as it's been a rousing success...save for this complication)
I'm waiting to hear back from the surgeon's office as to when we can schedule the surgery. My uneducated guess is 4-6 weeks, which would place it around the anniversary of my original operation last May.
Isn't that ironic? (or is it ironic in the wrong way, as in the Alanis Morissette song?)
I'll have more details later, though I do know this procedure won't be nearly as invasive and painful as my osteotomy. I'll only be laid up for a few weeks, intead of 5 months. Again, small favors.
I spent some time pouting, being a Mr. Crankypants, but I'm doing better at the moment. I know it's for the best, my GF agrees. And she's never wrong!
So that's low down. I'll do my best to keep everyone in the loop, and till the time comes, I'll comtinue to post and podcast at the usual places!
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