The Dr's Appointment

I just want to bring you up to date on my Dr's appointment on Tuesday. Here is what I understand.

........ The disc that is bulging to the back on the MRI film is not bulging as far on the Mylogram and the CT Scan. The Dr was wonderful.... This is the first time I have seen him....... He is the big dog....... The surgeon. The CT Scan shows trouble in L4 and L5 which is causing my back and leg pain........ He stood and explained to me and Dennis exactly what we could do and what we could opt to do.......... To make a long story short......... He does not know why my toes are numb as the CT does not show enough damage to cause my toes to go numb. However he also said that he does not make a decision based upon an MRI or CT scan but on the patient. I so appreciated that statement.

Several months ago I had seen a neurosurgeon for a nerve test and it showed nerve damage in the right leg and some in the left..... Very minimal but damage ........ Dr Low stated that anytime the neurosurgeon sends someone with nerve damage it gets his attention regardless of the CT scan... There are instances that sometimes there is more damage that they cannot see on the tests... Thus he offered me to make a decision if I wanted to have surgery now or go home and see if it stays the same or if it gets worse. He cannot explain the pain in my legs from the tests but did not deny that there might be something going on that he cannot see......

The lower back pain is from the L4 and L5 bulge......... Down the back of my legs is most likely the sciatic nerve pressure.........

He had another lady as myself just last month where the test did not show much damage and there was no nerve damage but she insisted that they fix her back, once in surgery they found more damage than the test showed........ sooooooooo Dennis and I talked and decided that we would come home and walk and exercise and see what happens in the next few months. The Dr stated that if I came back in a few months just unable to handle the pain that he would not require more tests......... Very very nice man and very compassionate...

He also said that I could go about my life as before and if it hurt my back not to do it........ hahahah Good advise, but there is nothing that I can do to cause this to cripple me unless I do something foolish....... sooooooooooo I am back to my life and my garden and the things that I love to do and see how things go. I am pretty

tough but know my limitations. He did take a blood test for an arthritis panel to see if I have the beginnings of Rheumatoid Arthritis....... I have decided not to have that.......... I will have the results tomorrow....... He is saying that could cause my leg pain and the numbness......... but....... I do not accept that........

Soooooooooo that is the jest of that.......No surgery for now and that is my decision and Dennis agrees......... I will stay on my diet (I have lost 16 lbs so far) and walk and exercise and see how things go......... I am encouraged! I am thankful that the disk has reduced in size since the MRI........ Whether it was the disk getting better or the test looking at a different angle.......... It is God........

Thus.......... I am up and around and ready to try and get some things finished. And enjoy my summer without tiptoeing around afraid of hurting my back..... Dennis and I are going to schedule a few days away and take some R & R....... We have not gotten away since October of last year........ I think it is time we took some time for us, don't you think?

NOW...............

I am reading a book that if you have not seen or heard of it you need to!!!!!!! It is called "The Shack"

I have laughed and cried ......... You must read this book......... I have read many many books but this one will touch your spirit man in a way that no other book in a long times has done......... Find it in your book store, read it and then pass it one...... I am going to read mine again and then Dennis is going to read it and then I am going to give it away here on my blog...........

Love you gals!