Lucky Friday 13th

Thank God for second opinions!  I went to the neuro surgeon last Friday.  I had to wait FOUR HOURS in his waiting room, which just about did me in, but maybe it was worth it!  He wants to hold off on surgery for now.  He wants to do the third lumbar injection (LESI) and thinks he can do a better job than the anesthesiologist who did the other two.  He wants me to pursue aggressive physical therapy (which I've already been doing now two weeks) and believes my back/body may can adapt to my current situation.  He believes I was born with the condition, it's just been getting progressively worse through the years.  For that reason, he thinks with therapy, I can adjust and deal with it without surgery.  He said it may take several months, and he wants me to stay on light duty until it improves.  He says we can review it after a few months, and he CAN do the surgery if need be, but hopefully I WON'T need it!  And the best news, he says my doctor was wrong to tell me I could end up dragging a foot or "pooping my pants" if I don't have surgery soon.  He said if there was going to be permanent nerve damage, it would have already been happening, and the possibility that it will now is RARE!  That was the best news of the day - possibly since April!    I got the sense that he was a lot more caring and down to earth than the orthopedic spine specialist I had seen.  The neuro wore jeans and a cotton shirt, where the ortho wore this fancy shmancy suit.  And it was like the difference in talking to an optimist and a pessimist. The physical therapy does seem to be helping quite a bit.  I still have a lot of discomfort sitting and still can't sit long periods, but for the most part (when I don't overdo, and I generally don't much any more) find the pain manageable - especially since I can leave at 2:00 and either go to PT or to the pool.  Also, my job is supposed to be reconfiguring (?) a laptop I can use from the recliner or couch, so I'm in pretty good shape.  I have to admit, I passed my five month quit mark without noticing.  It was the day after the dr. office trip, and frankly I was hurting pretty badly after the long ride and the long wait, and the long ride back.  I know I spent most of the day in the pool, because I got sunburned.  I took more pills that day than usual, and Sunday, too, for that matter.  I was still hurting pretty badly Monday, so I called in to work.  Maybe that was my five month reward.  I laid off the pain pills that day, except for a half in the AM, and just laid around on my heating pad most of the day sleeping.  THe rest of the week I've done pretty well, and have to say my attitude has improved immensely.  Thanks to all of you who continue to check on me and send hugs/express concern.  It means a lot.  And things are LOOKING UP!!!