NOW, FAYE NEEDS SPINAL SURGERY!!!

Fri, Oct 09 - As most of you know, I have been suffering for years (since 2008) with pain in my Sciatica.  Sometimes the pain was worse than at other times.  Eventually I had to give up Line Dancing, Water Aerobics and Pickleball.

When I was first released from the hospital following my Hip Replacement Surgery, I felt Wonderful!!  No pain!!  I had no difficulty doing my physical therapy.  I thought I was well!  Everything was going great; but soon, that old pain started to come back.  It seemed to get worse every day until the pain has become almost unbearable!!  I finally convinced my hip doctor, Dr. Dobzyniak, that something had to be done to fix this problem that I had been suffering with for years.  He said he could not fix it because he was not a back doctor,  but he did order an MRI of my spine and referred me to a Neurosurgeon, Dr. Peter Alexander.  I discovered that Dr. Alexander is a highly regarded Neurosurgeon in the Richmond, VA area.

The MRI Report indicated that I had Spinal Stenosis; however, when I saw Dr. Alexander today, Friday, October 09, he had a different diagnosis!  He said I do have Stenosis and instability L5-S, > L3-4 (whatever that means), but the main problem causing so much of my pain is a Large Facet Cyst at L4-5.  Dr. Alexander showed us the images in the MRI.  He pointed out how my spinal cord up high in the cervical area was nice and wide; as he came down my spine to the Lumbar area it became more and more narrow.  Then he touched the screen:  "Look at this big thing!  That's a large facet Cyst.  That is pressing on your nerve and causing most of your pain."  We were looking at a side view of my spinal column and we could see the dark spot to which he referred.  (Sample Pictures from: http://radsource.us/lumbar-synovial-cyst/)

Then he showed us a cross-section view.  My Cyst looked like a large acorn laying sideways across my spinal column.  No wonder I'm in excruciating pain!!

Dr. Alexander advised I would have to have extensive surgery to remove the Cyst.  It has been growing there for almost a decade, he said.  In addition, a section of my Vertebra would have to be removed to gain access to the Cyst.  Then the Vertebra would have to be rebuilt.  I will be in the hospital for about five days followed by four or five days of rehab (in a rehab facility if I qualify).  WOW!!

Dr. Alexander assured me that the surgery should remove a lot of my pain and I will be able to walk again without a cane.   I CAN'T WAIT!!!  Dr. Alexander did say I may not get back on the Pickleball court anytime soon.  I am just so glad that after all these years of pain, doctors' visits, X-Rays, MRIs, Steroid Shots, and Injections under Microscope, someone has finally identified the problem and it can be fixed!!

It looks like we will be staying in the Richmond/Gloucester area for another month or two!  I will let you know my surgery date as soon as possible, and tell you of some of the other "exciting" events of this past summer!!

Incidentally, I cancelled my pending left shoulder replacement surgery until I can walk again without a cane!  Again, I CAN'T WAIT!!!