On Dec. 3l, 1996, I came down with back pain and pain going down my right leg. I stayed
in bed for 3 days, and did very little to aggravate it more. Then on day 6, I went to see
an orthopedic doctor, who wasn't a spine doctor. After x-rays were taken, he told me that
I had a slipped spine. He also told me "You sure don't want an operation."
It left me pretty depressed, and I was given several physical therapy treatments. I
gradually tried to start doing my walks. I was able to do my 2 mile walks with
determination in about 3 months. The hardest thing for me to do was to wait in line, or to
stand and talk to someone, I would have to excuse myself, and tell them about my slipped
spine.
Sometimes I would walk at the Balley's gym or walk at the mall. Because of my spine
condition, it left me feeling more sympathetic towards others that were having difficulty
in walking.
When I would walk at the mall and see some lady walking with a walker, I would stop and
ask her if she was doing o.k. and how she was feeling. This one particular day, I stopped
to talk to this lady with a walker, and she was so happy to share with me that she had
spine surgery and was pain-free.
She told me that she had been to every doctor there was. Finally she was referred to my
doctor, and she said she was without pain, and still healing. I asked her for the name of
her doctor and where she was located.
When I got home I put this doctor's name in my address book. Well, the first of this year,
I was unable to walk any distance and my standing was getting less. I went to see my
doctor and she wanted me to have epidurals which helped somewhat. The doctor that gave me
the cortisone shots said, Margie, why don't you have your spine fused. I guess I was
terribly frightened because the first orthopedic doctor told me not to have this surgery.
And, believe it or not, because I have had no pain in my legs or back (except for the
original first pain), the doctor wanted me to see a Neurosurgeon. He examined me and said
everything was good. He also told me that I should have my spine fused. I told him that I
was "chicken." He said, "Go on, you can do it." After leaving his
office, I said, Yes, I can do it.
So here I am going to have surgery Sept 8. I am hoping to get my life back, and to be able
to go on trips and do things that I am unable to do now.
Margie has been kind enough to offer anyone interested to e-mail her..
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