7 Month Post-op Update

     Today is my 7 month mark, and looking back over the last month I haven't seen a whole lot of improvements. It's all good though...I'm still continuing to have lower pain days and this is HUGE!

     I have been experiencing a couple of new issues this last month, one old symptom has returned, and a brand new symptom has decided to join in and make things a little more interesting. I'm not too concerned yet, but I do have a couple of thoughts that may be contributing to these new daily annoyances. At six month's some of the areas down there in my in-betweens were still numb from the surgery, it seems like more of the sensations are finally coming back. While this is a good sign, regaining sensation is not always the most comfortable at first. Imagine when your foot has fallen asleep and is trying to wake up, now imagine that feeling in the most private area of your body, see where I'm going with this...a constant prickly needle feeling. My physical therapist and me both think this will go away eventually, at least that's our idea for now. The old symptom that has come back involves bathroom visits, I'll spare the details, but it has been a good reminder of how bad it use to be. I sure hope this is only temporary and not my new normal. The sensations felt while the nerve has been waking up is very irritating for me and my in-betweens, it turns the pain up a little, but is more aggravating if anything.

     My spirits are still high and even though this has been a slow recovery process, I truly feel like I'm heading in the right direction. I'm moving forward and keeping one foot in front of the other. At one point in this journey PNE had taken total control over my life. I am thankful to have pushed through all the pain and devastation and be on the other side of despair. I refuse to allow PNE to define me. I am so much more than PNE! Everyday I make a conscious decision and a choice, I choose to look at the broader picture...I choose happiness over despair. Life still has so much to offer and I choose to be grateful for all the many things I am blessed with despite PNE.