"God Is So Good" seems like a perfect way for me to start this post. Some of you are aware of my back problems but others may not...so, I will summarize everything. A little over a year ago I started having intermittent low back pain. I kept chalking that up to being a busy mom that lifted a little too much, bent down a little too often, and I kept trying to pretend it wasn't going on. Well, that pretending caught up with me when I started to have occasional sciatica pain as well. It was then that I started physical therapy at the end of last summer to work on increasing my flexibility & strengthen my core muscles because I knew this wasn't anything more than some tight hamstrings or weak back muscles. My pain did improve after 8-10 weeks of physical therapy but was still there. It was right before Christmas that my sciatica pain started to get worse & more intense. During the first week of January, I was kneeling & helping Abby pull her pants up when I sneezed. It was right after that sneeze that I had intense back pain & a sharp shot of pain traveled down my left leg. So, it was time to get an MRI to see what was actually going on in there. And, sure enough I had a herniated disc at the L5-S1 vertebrae. My treatment then included 3 epidural injections that provided little relief. When all of the conservative measures to improve my pain failed & I began to have numbness in my left foot, it was time to consider surgery.
After many discussions & lots of prayer, I decided that surgery was the best thing to do. So, 7 weeks ago (yikes...I just realized how very far behind I am in my blooging) I had a microdiscectomy done and I am so very happy that I did. I am so very thankful for God's protection during my surgery & his healing hands during my recovery. I continue to be under restrictions...no bending, no twisting & no lifting anything heavier than a gallon milk jug. Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed a considerable improvement in my leg pain. In fact, I am on a 4 day streak of no leg pain! I am starting to become more active & gain more energy. The surgeon has stressed the importance of walking which I have been doing daily. I feel so much better on the days that I start out with a good walk.
In 2 weeks I will start physical therapy to strengthen my core abdominal muscles to hopefully prevent another herniation. I have learned many lessons throughout this situation. I need to slow down & realize that if everything doesn't get done then it is OK. I am pretty sure this is my out for keeping the house tidy, right?! Maybe not, but I am alright with sitting down a few times during the day even if there are toys all over the floor. God has also given me the opportunity to work on patience. There have been several times during the past year when I have wanted my back problems fixed...NOW! Well, that just isn't possible. I am following the doctor's orders & taking things slow. It has been extremely hard to not pick up my sweet girls over the past 2 months but I have not done it. They have been terrific little helpers without complaint & ask me how my back is doing daily. I have also learned that it is OK for others to do things for me. I am so used to being independent & in control of my life, my house, my kids, etc. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband who has had to add things to his TO DO list that are normally on mine...house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, daily showering of the kids, garden upkeep, picking up anything I drop, and so much more. He has never complained, sighed, rolled his eyes, or even asked me to wait a minute...Wow!! My Mom was also a huge blessing immediately after my surgery. She spent 2 weeks with us and entertained the girls, drove me everywhere, deep cleaned my house from top to bottom, and much more.
So, once again..."God Is So Good". I thank him daily & I thank each of you that have been praying for me along this journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment