Another Adventure...

Well...it seems that no day is ever to dull in my life.
So...far the past couple of months I have been noticing that when I sit or exercise or anything for too long that my left pinky toe & foot/leg/rear end tingle & go numb. I knew this was probably not normal, but was not about to have anything else checked out right now. I'm sort of sick of the doctor's office & tests. Okay...fast forward to yesterday. Tutu & I went to practice bowling (as I am going to substitute on her team until her team member is healthy enough to return). During bowling I was noticing my leg was doing funny things. By the third game my left leg was really hurting & was feeling very weak. I should have stopped, but just wanted to finish out the last game, so I did. By this time, I was really hurting. So, we called the chiropractor and he got us right in. He examined me and said I was far to sore & stiff for him to manipulate me & that he was just going to do some ice & electrode therapy and he'd work on me for the rest of the week to see if he could help & that he'd know by Friday if he'd be able to. He said it was one of the worse cases of sciatica he's seen in a long time. So...we did that. I came home and laid down with more ice & the pain kept increasing, as did the weakness & finally the ability to get up & walk was gone. Tutu called the chriopractor and asked what to do & he sent us to the ER (I was not pleased with another hospital trip).

They ordered an MRI & did some neurological tests & I had lost strength & sensation in some of my lower body. Not good! The MRI came back with good & bad news. Good news is that I haven't slipped a disc, thank goodness, so I don't need immediate surgery as they thought I might have, but it did show I have severe inflammation of the sciatic nerve & it was being compressed. SO, they gave me lots of pain control there & sent me home with some as well. I need to go see my family doctor because they want me set up with physical therapy & I'm on rest/ice/meds until that time. I mean, really? Who gets hurt bowling? Only me.

I am quite frustrated, but also relieved it wasn't worse. I don't know that it'll keep me out of bowling, I just have to get the inflammation down. I am hoping the steroid medication they gave me will ease that pretty soon. Always an adventure, right?!?! I'm ready for some dullness if that is the kind of adventures I'll be having! haha! Today is a bit better. I spent most of the day in bed as they had me incredibly doped up yesterday from the hospital. I am not able to put my left foot flat yet, but I am stretching it and working on getting it further down there. I have a GI appointment tomorrow, so I have to be able to go or else they cannot see me until October & that is far too long to wait. So...we'll see. Anyway...I am hoping that by this weekend there will be improvement with the sciatica. I thought it was something only older people got and the ER P.A. assured me it happens to people of all ages & that I had been working on it for quite sometime with the numbness in the leg, etc and that bowling just sent it over the edge that day. So...maybe it's a good thing we went bowling, better then, than while I was away or somewhere alone.

All will be well, I'm sure. Just another bump in the road and a 'test' for sure. I am ordered to take it easy on my back/leg until I get into physical therapy. Physical therapy may be a blessing in disguise. I've lost a lot of muscle this past year with everything I've been going through medically, so maybe it'll help strengthen some muscles that need it terribly!!! It is certainly worth a shot. As long as I don't have to have surgery, I'll do whatever they want me toO! :)
The hardest part will be to remember not to pick up that 'babies' who aren't babies anymore, for awhile. I'm sure that doesn't help! Well...I hope to have better news soon, but thought I'd share the latest! It was an interesting day/night. I am sure my family is just as worn out as I am!!

Hope all is going well with everyone! XOXOXOXOXO!