Hey Saffy, you are up to 221, bots and all. I am not a bot, I am for realz, so my presence was computer typed, not computer generated.

Prayers for ya,
Mark56

So sorry the days are so difficult right now. Sending positive thoughts to surround you.
Can you feel the love and prayers? You are always so positive and helpful to all of us.
Sandy

Hello my dear friends.

Well I had my pre op yesterday and saw my new surgeon who OK'd the laminectomy and paddle .. explained he would have to make a further and longer cut in my spine due to where he was placing it and would need to make the incision in my side bigger .. and also said I would feel like I'd been kicked by a horse. Seeing as I've never been kicked by a horse before, this should be interesting. He he.

He then said he would send me for a pre op .. I replied .. "Oooh .. that's lucky, I had one this morning" .. so he guesses that I should get the op quickly .. within a month or so.

I explained that after my discectomy in 2007 my big toe had gone numb, but now my whole left foot and coming up my calve was also numb .. he said that unfortunately, that wont go away, and is likely to get worse if it is moving up the leg.

I also explained that I am having far more back spasms than before and he said this may be due to weight placement .. i.e. my favouring my right side, which I do. He also said that the stimulator will do nothing to help these.

So .. how do I feel today? Well, despite waking several times in the night with pain .. and I have to be honest, I just reached for the pain killers each time I woke so lord knows how many hours were between doses, I am feeling chipper.

Went to get some new Christmas lights for our tree today and am feeling smiley.

Paid my respects at 11 am and thought of my Dad and all those fighting in wars, many of which are pointless.

Now sat with a cup of coffee and about to start hand making my christmas cards.

Love you all xx

Yes, this surgery is for real an event you will remember, but then being through discectomy before, you will know what to anticipate. Pain post op, handled by meds. BLAST will be important as well as Log Roll to arise from bed. Take baby steps to allow restoration of your strength and body control. Stay on top of the surgical pain, which will abate in a couple of weeks. Then, hopefully be blessed with the restorative effect of pain management through a paddle embellished SCS system.

Making Christmas cards? That sounds good and very nicely rewarding! Enjoy.

Soon..... soon, we pray your ordeal will have come to a better place for Saffy, a place known as real pain management. It works for me, and I pray it works for you.

Prayin,
Mark56zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

How special that will be! It seems nobody ever takes the time to do that anymore.....everything is electronic and cyber-induced.

So Glad to hear this progress is being made Karen.