The last year has been a bit of a mixed bag. Some positive elements but predominantly negative.
The whole year was overshadowed by Gerrys back issues and a general lack of mobility which curtailed much of our normal socialising.
Ultimately the back issue was diagnosed as Stenosis. It cannot be underestimated, the impact of that diagnosis, initially on a mental level. A sense of relief that finally here was a real diagnosis, with a name, and with a treatment plan.
I believe that many back pain sufferers have to live with a degree of guilt brought about by the invisible nature of back pain. After all, there are no visible indicators, no broken bones, no hacking cough or streaming nose. You aren’t ill !!!
Those non sufferers only have your word that you are in pain and there is no standard measure for that as we all have differing pain thresholds.
Anyway, that diagnosis lead to surgery, Gerry being pain free, and able to walk upright for the first time in many many months.
So surgery ended the pain caused by the stenosis. However it seems that the stooped posture, may have been masking, or indeed causing some sciatic nerve issues.
Since the surgery, Gerrys posture has returned to a more upright form, and it seems, this in turn has apparently revealed, may have even caused, some issues with her sciatic nerve. It may be that Gerrys muscles, in adjusting to her posture and now having to relearn a new position following the surgery, maybe causing some pressure on her sciatic nerve. This is supposition on my part but we will have to consult the medics and also see what effects the physio has.
For now, Gerry is currently experiencing intermittent severe pain through her buttock, down her thigh to her knee. A consequence of this is that Gerry is still taking paracetamol on a regular basis
So it seems this is the next challenge for 2024.
WrAnTz 