Most human beings walk (alive or dead if you’re friends with
the show The Walking Dead pictured above) – from about the time
we’re a year old until about the time we cash it in. You take it for granted,
walking. Being able to get from point A to point B only thinking about having
proper directions. I took walking for granted.
Over the last month or so, I have been experiencing
increasing amount of pain while walking. Hip pain, leg pain, knee pain, back
pain – sometimes one or two areas at a time. Sometimes all at once.
The doctor prescribed drugs which left me loopy and
vomiting, so I trashed them. I spent a week on crutches and driving to work,
hoping to give things a rest and ultimately hoping that once again I would be
able to take walking for granted. And things did get better and I was hopeful.
But as soon as I went from crutches to cane, and from
driving to public transit, back the pain came.
Yesterday, I spoke with Dr. J. about the whole thing. She
believes that this is / will be a chronic condition for me. What she didn’t
say, but what I know, is that I will most likely experience increasing amounts
of decrepitude. It’s how bone metastases work.
So, I had an MRI and I’m set up to see Dr. P., my orthopedic
oncologist on Monday, and maybe a different Dr. P., a spinal surgeon, too. I’m
not sure why. I think Dr. J. wants to see if they have any ideas on how to keep
me up and moving, or if maybe back/spinal surgery is in order at this point. I
have my doubts. A recent MRI (July) showed nothing much new in that area and
certainly nothing warranting surgery.
In order to sell me on back surgery at this point they’re
going to have to make a very, very convincing argument. Show me pictures of my
spine crumbling or tumors pressing on nerves – something solid. No hemming or
hawing about it because I’m okay walking in the fashion of The Walking Dead for while until I experience that increasing amount
of decrepitude and really NEED to have surgery.
