4.24.2009-4.26.2009

The Weekend's Events

(in the form of images)

This week should be interesting...

My Aged Youth.

This is currently ruining my everyday life:

Degenerative Disc Disease.

I was diagnosed when I was 17 years old. The cause of it? The doctor says it was because I wasn't physically active as a child and then started exercising when I was 14, via school track, and it caused my discs to deteriorate because of the pressure of running.  I started to have weird feelings in my legs when I was in high school track, like numbness in the hamstring area and the feeling that my legs were asleep while I was running. I spoke with my coach about it and he said that it was my cya-tic nerves acting up, so he recommended that I start taking some back medication, Doan's. I did so and continued to run and participate in track meets. Early in my Junior year, I ran for a charity race for the school.. I had run over the summer and kept up with my training to ready myself for winter track season.. Then I collapsed while running the road race. My legs had gone numb to the point of me not being able to feel my muscles or to keep walking. Thank god there was a police car only a block down redirecting traffic. He got me on the backseat and called for an ambulance. I just remember going to the hospital and getting x-rays done. They gave me some back medication, stronger than what I've been taking and I spent a day in bed. 

My mother got the name of a spine specialist in Lebanon, NH. We went for a first visit and that's when they looked at my x-rays in front of me and explained what I had, why I had it, and how to treat it. She also informed me that I was no longer able to run because of the pressure/damage that had occurred on my discs.. I wasn't able to participate in track that season, or ever again. 

Back in October of 2008, I woke up very sore for work and took a shower, getting out of the shower I felt worse.. Then I started to scream in pain from muscle spasms and not being able to move from a lie-down position. I couldn't stand, walk, or sit. Just going to the bathroom was excruciating for me. Half way through the day (I had called out of work), I called my mother crying and screaming because I was simply lying still and my back would spasm.. It truly is the worst pain I had ever felt. My mother took me to the Emergency room and I was prescribed drugs that were very helpful for sleeping and easier to move with, but the pain and soreness was still there. Eventually I went back to work and my back was just sore at times, things I could live with.. 

For the past week and a half, I have been in extreme pain from just sitting or standing for too long. I avoid doing simple things, like laundry, so that I won't be in pain. I've been taking 1000 mg of Exedrin, Tylenol PM, Naprosyn, Flexeril, and using Bengay/Icy Hot patches on my back every single day. I either need a massage or.. surgery. Two options for surgery are: A. fuse my lower lumbar section, making the pain go away, but also forcing me to fuse my entire spine by the time I'm 30... this would also mean limited flexibility from the hip and up. B. This option would be to have an artificial disc put in my spine aka Metal screws and spacers.. Like this one:

This wouldn't be such a horrible idea if I HAD insurance... which doesn't kick in until May 1st, in which I highly doubt that it would cover anything that major/expensive.

So that is what has been going on with me, physically, lately.

Emotionally: Jonathan has been the best boyfriend/support/caretaker there ever could be. He truly is the best thing that has happened to me. I wouldn't trade him for anything. Every moment I spend with him, I cherish deeply. My words and gratitude aren't enough for what he's done for me. 

Thank You, Jonathan.

You have my heart, always.