40th operation celebration

I had my 40th succesful operation at Stanford on Feb 15th. Before the procedure I was told a different technique than what was planned would be required to reach the nerve causing my pain in my right arm and shoulder. The continuous radiofrequency of the nerve worked. My pain is 90% gone but I'm still healing so I expect it to get better. Unfortunately I lost some mobility of my right arm and more than 70% of the strength. 

My back has healed up nicely from my prior RF procedure and I have no pain there now. I still need my cane to walk as I have no feeling in my lower left leg and I have some weakness in my rt hip and balance issues. 

I'm going to celebrate not having to take pain medication. For the first time in nearly 13 years my pain is under control. I now have a way to manage it with RF procedures should it return. My plan is to be very careful and protect my injuries by not doing anything that may inflame them. Walk gently. Smile big. Thank you Stanford Pain Management Center. 

My pre Valentine update.

As Valentine's Day nears I awake again riding my rollercoaster of pain. My loving wife gets me coffee and something for my pain. I have had wonderful progress in Physical Therapy as of late. I also have had some success with my treatments to better control my pain at Stanford over the last year. I have my 40th procedure scheduled for this following Wednesday. Cryo ablation on my rt shoulder to reduce that pain. After this I may be good for up to a year before I need any more procedures outside of anything that can be accomplished in a office visit. 

It took just over 12 1/2 years to get me to a point to where my pain will not be the number 1 thing on my mind 24-7. I can not wait until this Wednesday and this is done. 

Moving forward I will need to remember to be careful as the injuries are still there and the pain has only been killed at the nerves. I will use this time in physical therapy to strengthen my legs, arms and my core as I have not been able to due to my pain in the past. 

To think I was 37 when this started and now I'm 51. I am scared to take chances that may set me back and I'm scared that if I don't I may miss out on the opportunities and experiences that I truly have a desire for. 

Everything that could possibly be done has been done. What happens in my future is a mystery.