It has been 18 weeks and 5 days since my surgery and I have come a long way. I have completed my official physical therapy! I reached the point where my strength and balance had come to the point where she felt that I could continue it on my own. I have even been cleared to try running which I had not been able to do since November 22, 2009.
Before the surgery, my surgeon said the surgery would help the headaches, and possibly some of the symptoms above my waist but he was not sure that anything more would be helped. My symptoms included debilitating headaches that even dilauded didn't even touch, right sided weakness and rigidity that began to cause me to fall and drop things. I began to lose the ability to use my right hand which is critical as a nurse for things like drawing blood and putting in IVs. I had chronic pain and horrible fatigue. I forced myself to get through work daily but it was becoming more difficult. In my last hospitalization they were testing me for a stroke and for seizures because of some of the symptoms that were appearing. And the symptoms didn't end there.
Well, in the 4 1/2 months since the surgery, the headaches are gone. My strength and use of my right side has returned with very little difference between the right and left side. And even the chronic pain is all but gone. Far beyond that I have regained my hearing and some of the loss of my eyesight which was not even known to be caused by this condition.
4 weeks ago the doctor cleared me to begin lifting more than 10lbs. Because of the fact that they removed the muscle to have access for surgery and then reattached them the one lagging pain from the surgery has been the pain in my neck and shoulder muscles. They would seize up and cause a lot of tension pain. But this week, I have hit a point where I can push myself and not struggle with that constant pain. I have felt energetic and able to go about my every day life without having to make modifications.
This is perfect timing since I return to work next Tuesday for the first time in months. I will return to work the first week for 3 days to ease myself in. I am really looking forward to returning to real life and putting all this behind.
God has been so faithful through all of this! Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; HE is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands. Deut 7:9. I look back on the last couple years and can see how God has orchestrated every little detail to bring me to this place. From moving me to NJ 40 min near the Chiari Institute and having the great church I have, that has been so supportive. To how God has brought me through a condition of such unknown and little guarantee and now I'm feeling so much better than anyone could have ever expected. I have loved God but this has brought me closer in a very real way. Jesus has become my strength in the littlest thing to the biggest thing. You find yourself in utter dependence on Him when you are in a situation like mine but you also find yourself so incredibly peaceful despite the crazy circumstances swirling around you.
I pray that you can find that same calm and peace in the storms of this life. I would not trade any of this situation for a moment. I have gained so much because of it!
"Your love oh Lord, reaches to the Heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies!" Psalm 36:5
