Today marks 2 months since my last back surgery.  While I thought Id be totally back at everything this is not the case.  I still have some pain in my leg (sciatica) mostly when I am standing still, which is odd – and basically the opposite of what the pain profile was before the last surgery.  At times it felt like I never had the surgery – the pain was the same intensity as pre-surgery.  I had another MRI done about 3 weeks ago and it came back clear.  No reherniation, but the nerve is a bit compressed when compared to the right side, there is some scar tissue around the nerve and there is some more disc degeneration in there.  Most of this is expected from the surgery and the others are good (I think) besides the whole degeneration stuff.

I’ve been going to PT now for about 6 weeks.  Nothing seemed to help and the PT was a bit stumped.   This past week she has me started on some movements that can be extremely painful in the short-term, but seem to be helping over time.  Over the last couple weeks, it feels like it is getting better and I feel like I’m moving in the right direction….FINALLY!

I’ve been doing what I can to keep active.  Mostly walking on the treadmill; doing hills and what not.  Walking is fine.  It’s the standing still or walking very slowly that bothers me the most.  Swimming is okay, at times. I’ve been doing so strength training, while avoiding lifting weights (read: mostly machines) and thats fine as well.  Actually, I think that’s helping.

And, GET THIS!

I ran yesterday.  I ran for the first time last night in exactly 6 months and 26 days.  The PT gave me the go-ahead to try it out and use pain as my guide.  I did just that and it was pretty good.  Some tightness in my hip, but that’s about all.  Afterward it felt fine as well.  This is good. This is huge for me and my recovery from all this crap.

So, baby steps.  This is all moving along much slower than I thought it would but at least its in the right direction.

blah blah blah, yack yack yack.  Enough of me.  Who am I even talking to anyways?  I dunno.

Out.

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