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Originally Posted by On_A_Freeway
I am a big fan of live music. When I came back home to NYC after being in treatment last August, I remember my first show that I saw and I was unable to stand up at a concert for more than 10 at a time. I would need to lean on something or take breaks sitting, or just sit the entire show.
Over labor day weekend I saw music 4 nights in a row. I was able to keep on the move cause the venue allowed for it, but rarely needed to sit, so that's an absolutely massive improvement than where I was a year ago.
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Funny you mention that. In the summer of 2011 I finally got to see a hero of mine whom I admire since 1978. I felt awful, and thought about actually getting a wheelchair to get to the concert. This was before I got sober. I sat through the whole concert, and had a hard time concentrating on the music.
In 2014, they played in Belgium again, I was 2 years sober, and I stood & danced for 2 hours. Sure, I felt some pain the next day, but the difference was night & day. Even though it was the end of September, the concert was outdoors in a beautiful park, and it was 30°C. That night felt like a dream and made me realise how far I had come. I also realised that if I hadn't quit drinking I might probably be dead at that point...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JTP1234
Thanks for the additional info. Interesting that you mention the progress stops at some point. How long was that time period for you? Was it a few months, years, before you plateaued?
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I would say 4 to 5 years*. The current pains are nothing compared to what they used to be, but, at times, still bad enough to make working a very tough prospect. The most difficult to come to grips with is the swings. Some weeks/months go perfectly. No-pain-what-so-ever. I was able - 2 times - to drive 1000 miles & back without any real discomfort last year. Last week, just driving to the grocery store, 3 miles down the road, hurt, and I spent the rest of that day on the couch. It will get better again, it always does, but those swings mess with your head.
* those 5 years match up with scientific literature, that's really the window in which nerves can regenerate as far as they can in the best of conditions