Catching up!!

Since my last big post on here I have:

• Moved
• Graduated (well finished classes. Actual ceremony is in a couple months)
• Bought a car

I was happy.

Then August through September became a bit trying with the process of buying a car. During this time I woke up one morning with a severe stiff neck. It lasted for a couple weeks. The pain eased up a bit but there still seemed to be a nagging pain in my back. October came with many sleepless nights and extreme pain. I was rubbed, twisted, rubbed, heated. Eventually I saw a Dr who figured I probably had a pinched nerve. He gave me muscle relaxants and some pain killers. January 2010 and I still have sleepless nights; now have severe paralyzing pain in my left arm and shoulder. At times I can feel electricity from my shoulder to my finger tips. My hand at intervals is unusable. So I went to get a second opinion. I was kept on the medication and rushed to get an MRI. A couple hundred dollars later my Dr. is looking at me with puppy dog eyes telling me that she is sending me to a neurologist. There’s something wrong with the discs in my spine. The only fix is surgery.

Panic had set in along with the continued pain, and sleepless nights. Eventually I get to see a neurologist. One of the top one’s in the State. It was quite an experience. Though I was not outwardly worried I guess subconsciously I was because that morning was a really emotional morning for me. I got to my appointment late and if I had gotten any later I would have had to wait another month to see him. On opening my images from disc, “Wow” was the comment made by the Dr. Not a good feeling. I then looked and responded “That’s MY neck?”. Total shock. I mean based on the pain I know it was something heavy but never in my life was I going to think that my neck LOOKED like that.

Basically I have spinal stenosis. Cervial spinal stenosis to be exact. Though this is a common diagnosis, it is more common in way older people and I am on the extreme end of the graph. I am only 30. He quickly became concerned about the use of my left hand and thumb which already the nerve to it had started to darken from pressure on it. Though I felt like I was strong, he felt that my left was weaker than my right. But Dr… I am right handed you know??!!!

Anyways what it has come down to is that I HAVE to do surgery and as soon as possible. There are no other options. I cannot get any chiropractic treatment in between time to ease the pain because the discs are so embedded into my nerve that any sharp movement can lead to me being PARALYZED. I have been taken off of heels (FAINTS). I have to be very careful I don't fall, don't get hit, don't turn my head to sharply too quickly. I am now taking Neruontin which seems to be helping A LOT with the spasms in my arm (it is an epileptic medication) and the pain.

So I am not on a journey of "FIX RENEE". And though it seems to be a situation that is potentially dangerous I'm more worried about getting the money to foot this approx quoted surgery of $30 grand USD than him going through my neck to replace my discs with some plastic thingie. More worried every time I jump into my car that some fool doesn't make the mistake and run into me or me into them. But i have made it so far and i pray that I will continue safely till after surgery into physical therapy.