38 Years in 2012

We welcome in a brand new year, and as writing this blog quickly approaches five years, I have attempted to write a type of 'wrap up for the year', note down the greatest lessons learned, touching on the events that held the most weight during the past year in my life in pain.

This has been the one year in my life that has had the most consistent influx, almost a tangible flow, of challenges...Beginning with the fall in January flat onto my vertebrae,  followed 10 days later by the loud POP in my knee, tearing a meniscus; a lumbar nerve causing severe anterior thigh pain/sciatica with a totally numb leg (below the knee) and finishing with a Cervical issue that has given me strong shoulder and arm pain at the very end of the year.  2012 has given me more direct acute pain than I have had to deal with for a long, long time.

Regions of the cerebral cortex associated with pain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The interesting thing is that along with my decision to decrease my opiate intake this year, come many reasons to go right back to them.  Strength of character truly comes into play when faced with such great and direct assault to the brain.  I had made my decision, and I stuck with it.

My checklist for the past year looked a bit like this:

1.  Find answer to right knee injured in January.
2.  Find a competent Orthopedist to diagnose and treat said injury.
3.  Drastically lower pain medications for my chronic spinal pain.
4.  Find and secure a reputable and holistic pain management doctor/center.

And the outcomes:

1.  Achieved a proper diagnosis for knee injury.
2.  Found a fantastic, competent Orthopedist.
3.  Reduced short-acting opiate intake for pain by 80% and completely stopped the long-acting medication!!
4.  Appointment secured for return to a Pain Center (and the Doctors) who have treated me successfully in                                   the past, and whom I trust.


Then there are the Miracles:

1.  Given a great place to live when things looked down.
2.  Endured a huge opiate decrease, and total cessation of the long-acting one, alone, with no physician guidance.

And I save the best for last......also filed under miracle:

Unexpectedly reunited with my boyfriend from High School, and 38 years later, we are back in each others arms.  Both of us consider this a true miracle, the Lord's master plan in the largest of pictures, for as he put it, "It's like a Treasure Chest that has been locked up for 38 years, you brought the key and once the lid blew off, there was no stopping this."  He is my friend-- a man I have always loved to be around, who makes me laugh more than anyone ever before.  The comments from our long-time friends have made us both break down in tears of disbelief- at the utter depth of their love, of true friendship, of such deep caring that a person  they love is truly happy in life, being who they are, and accepted for exactly that.  

For this unexpected, beautiful miracle in my life, I will be forever grateful.


Gentle Hugs....all through 2013

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