Just my luck...

I have had back issues since High School, I used to raise sheep and being the stubborn person I am, I decided getting a 245lb sheep would be a good challenge! Well after a day cleaning the barn and feeding time, I ended up flat on my back across the wood lip on the barn this leaving me with a spinal fracture on my low back.

Over the last few years it has slowly gotten worse and I have gone through acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, and spinal injections to find some sort of relief. I have lost some weight recently, though much more is needed of course, but since my life is so active with work, home, and of course my active little monkey I have been sent to an Orthopedic Specialist. After meeting him a couple weeks ago, getting an MRI (which I am horribly claustrophobic) and a Disco-gram (google it, it was horrible) he has come to the decision that I need a Spinal Fusion.

This news is devastating but somehow not surprising for me, I guess I knew it might come to this. I have been hoping and praying that there might be some other option or outcome, but the MRI results show a deteriorating disc, and the Dr. made sense when saying it was something that only gets worse, it isn't something you can reverse. Bill and I met with the Dr. last week just to go over things and to explain the procedure, there are two types of approaches for the surgery: one is through the abdomen and one is through the spinal canal. Both approaches will be a long and tough recovery, about 3-5 months all together.

I will be in the hospital for 4 days, we have chosen to the the abdomen approach, it allows for greater access to the disc without having to cut through back muscle and be too close to the nerves in the spinal canal. With the surgery they will have to take a chip out of my hip as well to create a bone area for the fusion to start to heal, I will have some metal and screws put in through the back also. I am scared to death needless to say, after having to be in the ICU after Rylee then the gall bladder surgery I am just not wanting anymore surgeries. I think this one is harder since it is a planned surgery, I have ALL the time in the world to think about the pain, the recovery, and the thought of not being able to pick Rylee up for over a month just might kill me. Bill will have to take time off of work, and I think every person able to help might be called upon. :)

So a lot of plans are being tossed around for when I am home, who can watch Rylee when and who can check on me. I hate having to have so many people helping me and rearranging every part of their schedule, but now might be the easiest time before we plan on more children

We absolutely want to have more children, and the Dr says I will have an easier time next if my disc is secure, and the surgery will not interfere with epidurals(this was one of my first concerns). I have to think of the long-run, being able to run and play with Rylee without hurting, carrying her without wanting to cry, and being able to hold her while she sleeps are the things keeping me somewhat positive. I have to think that a few months of pain and recovery will be worth many years to come of playing and holding Rylee and any future little ones.