Rough few weeks

The past few weeks have been very trying physically. I started noticing some tightness in my back. This lasted about 10-12 days and got progressively worse as the days went on. I started to have lots of pain standing. Sitting was no joke either. Getting out of bed was difficult. I had some leftover oxcodone 5mg from the biopsy in April. I rationed them out to once per day in the morning to get me through. They did nothing to relieve the pain. I was eating acetaminophen like candy. I had to have my wife help me out of bed, on and off the toilet, help with bathing, help with everything. Finally on Christmas Eve, I told my wife I need to go to the ER and we should call 911. The ambulance came and whisked me away to a local hospital. They gave me morphine for the pain and fentanyl. The ER doc ordered a CT scan of my spine. Turns out, I had a 30% burst compression fracture of my L2 spine. I spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after in the hospital. I went home that Friday night, still with lots of pain.

I had a neuro surgical consult that Monday with a surgeon. He suggested I have a Kyphoplasty. This procedure takes about an hour. They make a small incision on my back, inject bone cement into the affected vertabrae. This is supposed to give immediate relief from pain and pressure on the spine. At first I was thinking no way, no how. The surgeon gave a look like why wouldn’t you want this. I agreed and we got scheduled two days later, New Years Eve. The surgery went well. I had immediate relief from the pain and pressure on my spine. I’m getting around the house much better than before. I still am dependent on the walker. I have a back brace from the hospital. The healing time is about 3-6 months. In just 3 days, I can move much more easily. I wear my back brace all day. I take it off at bedtime. The brace helps a lot too. It keeps my spine straight. Since the procedure, I haven’t had to have too much help getting in and out of bed, getting up off the couch, getting on and off the toilet. I am still very nervous about things like this but I’m pushing myself to be more independent. I still ask for help when needed but it’s much less than before.

I am so appreciative of the help I’ve gotten over the last few weeks. My wife has been there every step of the way. My mother has come up to help before and after the surgery. I couldn’t even pick up my undies on my own before hand. Now I can do it all on my own. It’s been brutal. I’ve had a lot of depression during the painful parts. Those dark clouds have lifted. I’m much more stable mentally since the surgery. It sucked. I feel like a burden at times but I know my family has gathered around me to keep me going.

I missed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family while I was in the hospital. Then after the surgery, I missed New Years Eve celebrations with family. I really didn’t miss too much and I didn’t really feel it would be wise to stay up that late anyway. They were just another day. Today is Saturday, January 3rd. I feel much better. I feel some independence with getting up. I feel the love and support from my family. I thank the staff and the surgeon at the hospital. I thank God daily for the relief the procedure has brought me. They told me no bathing or showering for 3 days. I can’t do that. I sponge bathed each day. Today, my wife washed my back to get the iodine or betadine whatever they scrub you with before surgery. She cleaned the site. Minimal blood drops on the cloth. No infection oozing out. I think we are on a good path.

Thank you for stopping by!
~Bruce