Amazingly enough, Dr. Regan was wrapping up a study for an artificial disc replacement and I qualified. My surgery would be free.
And three weeks later it happened.
Everything about it was amazing. I had my own fancy room, big flat-screen TV, a team of nurses constantly checkingon me and some of the best-looking doctors i’d ever seen. Dilaudid drip.
The worst pain was in my stomach which they’d cut into to get to my back. It still hurts, in fact, nearly two months later. But the recovery was quick by back surgery standards. I was a vicodin-popping ball of agony for about two weeks following the surgery. Spent a couple of days thinking the surgery didn’t work because I still had a tight left hip. Then, suddenly, up and around, walking the dogs, swimming, hiking.
No back ache. No sciatica. No nothing.
Miraculous.
So there was about a week’s reprieve until this new thing kicked in: frozen shoulder syndrome. If anyone has had this, please comment. About four weeks ago I woke up and my shoulder and neck were completely locked up. After a few trips to the chiropractor it looks like this problem is common with people who’ve just had surgery and been “immobilized” for some time. It’s so annoying! And unfair! And supposedly goes on for 1-2 years!
So I’m swimming through it and taking a lot of vitamins and weird supplements. Hopefully it will pass quickly. This is getting really boring.
