Sooner or later, the time would come… and it has arrived.

Since My last post I had the MRI on Wednesday of last week and saw Dr. Levin again the very next day. Although I told him that some of the strength had come back, he wasn’t very impressed with my progress. I am able to use my shin a bit more but my toe is apparently still paralyzed from the compression of the L5 nerve. He thinks that my strength has only somewhat returned due to my efforts to always move and test it. The piece of extruded disc that he thought might be absorbed by my body, didn’t show any signs of absorption or any change at all for that matter, over the past six weeks. From what I gather from him, six weeks seems to be the magic number. My strength and numbness should be about 95% better than six weeks ago. Since they are not, this would be the best time to go in for the discectomy so that the symptoms have the least chance of being permanent. The areas circled in red below will be where the procedure takes place.

These are my actual MRI photos.

This is a cross section of me from the left side.

As if I were laying down with my feet toward you…This shows the disc bulging in the middle, compressing the nerves.

Again, as if I were laying down with my feet toward you…This photo is actually not my disc but the L5 vertebrae. The dark section circled in red is the piece of extruded disc that has come from the disc above between L4 and L5. This is the one causing most of the symptoms. I plan on asking the Doc if I can keep that little piece… as a memento, or something tangible that will help me heal. If I have the piece outside, then I can heal knowing that it is no longer inside, causing symptoms. I know… It’s weird but it works for me.

With all that said… my surgery is tomorrow, Monday, October 3rd 2011 at 1:00pm at Shady Grove Hospital. The Doc said he wants me up and walking around as soon as possible after the surgery. Either standing or laying down, but no sitting for more than 30 minutes. The recovery time should take roughly six weeks…. Just in time for wrestling season. :)

Who knows how long it will be before I can get back on the mat, ready to roll or wrestle, but I can GUARANTEE that is will be as soon as physically possible. One thing that I have been purposely leaving out of my blogs is that I have put on about 30-35 pounds since this all began. The lack of exercise has not been good to me. This will be like a new beginning for me in so many ways, and I will not waste this opportunity to get back on track! That is a promise that I have made to my self!

Thanks for reading, and if you would like to send some good vibes my way tomorrow at about 1:00 pm EST, I welcome them…. You can keep the negative ones. No food or drink for me after midnight tonight… I’m a Gremlin.

See y’all tomorrow!