Time to mark the calendar

Well the surgery has been set; and it looks like I will be on the operating table on Friday March 12th.

I have to arrive at 6am and will be operated on at 7:30.  One night in the hospital followed by 2 weeks out of work and 3 weeks without driving.  Still hoping for 6 weeks (May 1st) until  I hit the roads/trails again.

And on a side note:  I got a hit from ALASKA to the blog.  Only 14 states to go!

Resolution?

No not a New Year's Resolution, cause God knows that by February 23rd that would have been long broken for most of us.  But hopefully a resolution about my neck.

Went to the NeuroSurgeon today (Dr Simcha Weller) and it looks like we (we - yeah like someone else is going with me) under the knife in a few weeks.  Woke up early this morning to get into Boston for a 7:30am MRI at New England Medical Center.  Then across the street to Dr Weller's office for him to look at it and to discuss the options.  It's been well over 8 years of the varying levels of discomfort and 4 years of seeing Dr. Weller. 

Today's MRI showed the same two disc issues (C5-C6 & C6-C7) coupled with bone spurs around them.

~ Option 1 - eat Ibuporfin like Skittles (click for one of my favorite commercial's EVER)!

~ Option 2 - the fusion surgery.(not posting the surgery link again)

Now I am in no way excited about going under the knife for any reason, but I can't deal with this crap anymore.  The migraines, the vertigo, the numbness in the left arm, left ring and pinky fingers, the lack of movement in my neck and shoulder..... should I continue?

I am supposed to hear from the doctor's office anytime between now and Thursday with some dates, but it is looking like 2 or 3 weeks out.  He then said post-surgery that I can resume "normal" activities in 6 or 7 weeks.  That means I could potentially be on the trails sometime around May 10th.  That would be sweet!

As usual: Be Well - and please DONT take things for granted.

Sank

Pain in the neck....literally

Well not a lot has happened on the roads or trails lately that's for sure.  Yeah the weather has hindered it a bit, daylight savings, blah blah blah, excuse, excuse, excuse.  But the one thing that isn't going away is the pain and hinderance being caused by my neck.  The two herniations (C5-C6 and C6-C7) are really hindering most things.  The arms go numb or tingle or fall asleep, the migraines, the lack of movement, the pain sitting, the pain in driving, etc...  I have been dealing with this for about 7 years or so.  And for the most part it comes and goes in severity but never completely.
I was living with it for the most part, but I fell (click for blog entry) back on December 7th, and it has been killing me ever since.
Tried a bunch of stuff and just last week, Dr Higgins threw me on my second steriod treatment (I guess I wont be going into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Mark McGuire anytime soon).  But with the exception of a slight amount of extended movement for a day or so, they really dont do anything.
So back to the NeuroSurgeon I go on February 23rd to discuss the fusion surgury. 
I watched a video, an actual video of the surgery, on YouTube.   Now with all the stuff I have had done, including the 3 heart procedures and having to give myself blood thinner shots in my stomach, I just cant watch medical stuff.  God bless Nancy, who works in the dental field, she tries to tell me what she does some days and I am such a wimp and cant deal with it.  Anyway, I tried to watch this surgery video - not the best idea.  Click here if YOU want to watch it cause I aint  :)  LOL
But I have to do something.
Be well - dont take what you have for granted.
Sank

Beating myself up.

You know sometimes you just have to sit back and realize when you are, for lack of a different term, being lazy.  Now I'm not saying that I have done nothing and just propped up in front of the TV; but I have NOT been out on the roads, except for once this year.

Now I have been refereeing a ton for the past several months, including 9 games this weekend.  That coupled with Hannie's basketball team in full swing, at least I have been somewhat mobile.  But the cold, snow, rain, tough trail conditions, daylight savings, early nights; have made it just to easy to jump in front of the computer and goof around on either Facebook or Warcraft.  Yeah I'm a gamer, though after my 8 month hiatis I am not spending near the time I did before.

But that all has to change.  I felt so much better getting out there and running.  The legs and knee are feeling pretty damn good after refereeing and refereeing usually brings out the worst in the them.  Nancy has asked me to do the Timberman Triathlon with her in the summer, and I have to start hitting the pool and roads to get my endurance up.   I did my last one 10 ('gulp' is it really ten) years ago, and although I did it ok for the limited training, I swore to myself that I would never do another one without an adequate base.

Hopefully posting this (and staying with posting) will keep me on track.  Feel free to send me grief or support or congratulations or whatever you think is appropriate at the time.

Be well - Sank

3 days and counting....

Well after hitting the roads on the 1st, this weekend found me hammering out my miles refereeing, doing a total of 6 games over the 2nd and 3rd.  Have to admit that I am a bit sore after taking 30 days off from running, with the exception of a few games refereeing, but nothing of any note.

The snow finally stopped so that's a good thing after seeing the white stuff off and on for 3 days, but I am going to try to get out to do 3 tonight when I get home.  Slow but steady is my mantra for January. 

Be well - Sank