TWISTING IN THE WIND
Cindy watching our family play Pickleball because her back would not let her play.
The last 10 days have been complicated.
Most of the days have been fairly good. Cindy has been able to get to work for a little of each day. Her pain has been present but not debilitating. We were hopeful. I have been gone, and lots of people stepped up to help. We were hopeful.
Cindy had a doctor’s apt on Thursday. The wind shifted.
Recovery from the back surgery is way ahead of schedule. Her walking is in the 95%. Her incision is healed. Her back seems strong.
Her new left leg pain. We got a revised diagnosis.
While the situation looks like piriformis syndrome, they have returned to the original diagnosis—swelling caused from the surgery is constricting the sciatic nerve, causing pain to scorch down her leg. (On the positive side, if general inflammation is the problem, then recovery will follow a decrease in the swelling. If it is piriformis, then the recovery process is more complicated. Both are treated the same).
Since rest and medicine have not brought it into control, the next step is an injection. It needs to be administered by a doctor using a specific type of imaging to be precise in the placement. We are awaiting a call from the Doctor to whom we have been referred.For some people, the shot brings immediate relief. That is our new prayer.
Friday was the worst day Cindy has had in two weeks. The pain spiked as was significant all day. We tried all our methods: rubbing, pain meds, walking, resting, but we could never get it under control. Lots of tears and discouragement. It felt like a huge step back.
Saturday. The pain has been better today, but never zero.
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”
