Rhizotomy's and you.

[Fenavian]

For those that don't know, I had the misfortune of having my weight balloon up to a staggering 445 lbs. Well I had gastric bypass surgery to lose that weight and now I am a plucky 243. Well that extra weight wasn't without it's drawbacks. I unfortunately did some damage to my back as a result of carrying said weight around. I have been on constant pain meds for a while and I am lookin to stop as things like that aren't healthy. I have had epidurals in my back to remedy the problem, but to no avail. So in comes the Rhizotomy. What is a Rhizotomy you ask? Well the short form is that they basically cut some nerves to dull the pain... in my spine... The long form is HERE.

Yeah I am not terribly excited about this as things could happen and I could, you know, be paralyzed. Yaaay.. paralyzation... Welp I have confidence that this will pan out nicely. But after next weekend if I seem a touch irritated, you know why. Supposedly there is an incredibly painful recovery time, or so my wife says. Well the worst case scenario is I get a brand new set of wheels to roll around on for the rest of my life, and I am one step closer to being that Transformer I always wanted to be... Guess it's a good thing I am in a handy cap accessible apartment eh? *coughs* Anywho, my surgery is scheduled for next Friday at 1 pm. I got a week to consider all the options.

[QuantumDelta]

Hey at least you didn't have it this friday!
G'luck, I certainly wouldn't wanna do this o.o

[Fenavian]

You might consider it if you experienced the amount of pain I am in regularly.

[QuantumDelta]

Potential paralysis vs a significant amount of pain?
:I

[Stracius]

Hmm, that's a tough call. I'd like to say I'd just stay with the pain, but then I'm not the one experiencing it so I don't know how it'd affect my life. Paralysis is a bit more predictable in how it'd affect me.

Well, hopefully the latter doesn't happen. Good luck, hope to hear things go well.

[Fenavian]

Well the chances of paralysis afflicting me are relatively low to be honest, but low chance means there is a chance. My aunts friend went through tremendous amounts of pain and thats pretty much the thing i hear about recovery.. so we shall see.

[Futile Resistance]

Good luck to you Fenavian.

Hearing personal experiences like this reminds how fortunate I am to have a healthy body (minus the extra dry skin).

I suppose if I was put in that situation, I'd try to bear the pain - so long as it wasn't always distracting me (work, everyday life, being with friends, loved ones etc). Otherwise... I'd probably go for potential paralysis.

Granted, I'm not in your shoes, so in the end it's going to be a tough call on your part.

[esd]

Chronic pain is actually a common cause of suicide. The never-ending unescapable unbearableness of it... there's no end... it'll never stop... nothing dulls it, nothing takes it away, nothing gives you even that 5minutes of respite you pray to gods you don't even believe in for.

Chronic pain is also debilitating. How do you concentrate on anything while constantly in serious pain?

I can completely 100% understand your decision Fen. Given the choice between relief from that constant, insessant, oppressive pain with a risk of paralysis (I assume below the shoulders? Retention of arm-use would probably be my yardline), and a lifetime of living with almost waiting to die just so the pain ends? I'd be helping that doctor get ready for the op and asking what's taking so damn long.

Good luck dude. I'd say "I'll pray for ya", but I'm not religious - so keeping my fingers crossed will have to suffice

[BlackDove]

Already had the back surgery with the chance of paralysis (mine wasn't weight related tho).

There is no thoughtful advice to pass on really. All you can do is man up and beat some ass. Well. Let the surgeon beat some ass anyway.

Hope you have some family to be there with you/for you. That's about it.

[Syro]

You are in my thoughts and prayers. You will get through it.

[Kon]

I would have to say that I would try to tough out the pain rather than run the risk of paralysis, but esd brought up the good point that those of us without chronic pain probably don't understand what it's like. If the risk is relatively low, then I understand where you're coming from. Good luck, Fen.

[Padishar]

So we have covered Pain, Paralysis and Suicide all in one thread.

Not much more to add to that combo...
Except, good luck bro and I hope it goes well.

[M.Steiner]

Good luck dude, hope everything goes well.
Will keep you in my thoughts.

[Fenavian]

So we have covered Pain, Paralysis and Suicide all in one thread.

Not much more to add to that combo...
Except, good luck bro and I hope it goes well.

Yeah I wasn't expecting deep philosophical dialogue in the thread but hey its all good right? I am sure everything will be fine and dandy. Well I have to think that way else I will go batty... (well more so than usual..)

[W11chter]

Philosophical whatnow?

[Syro]

Here is the deep philosophical stuff...

1. You are not alone, and people care about you. (Regardless of how you might feel on the inside - you are not alone).

2. The challenge is within you. What will you decide to do? I think I can speak for many of us here: we will support you as best we can in your decision. We appreciate your sharing with us. Ultimately, you know in your heart what you want to do and will do. You will decide something. What will you decide?

3. Our great philosophical issue is fear, ie. fear of unknown future events and outcomes. This is where faith becomes instrumental. I am not suggesting God as an answer (although I am a theist - not of the agnostic variety). I would suggest that faith in a power greater than yourself will take you a long way. Your doctors, real life family or friends, online friends, and other support groups are a power greater than yourself. Will you have faith? Not blind faith, but genuine faith.

4. Finally, we land on the philosophical concept that alludes most people in life: acceptance. This is a difficult matter. In my philosophical opinion, true peace and happiness rest on acceptance. Can I accept my pain as is? Can I accept the outcome of an elected medical procedure? Can I accept my fears and move forward on a given path? This all goes back to point 1 and 2, that the challenge is within yourself even though you are not alone.

Peace, friend. You can find wellness inside even if the pain remains.

[enlightened]

Ahh good luck man, hope it goes well for you !

[Fenavian]

I hurt, I live, I need meds, I need sleep.

[undrin]

Great to hear except for the pain!

[Syro]

I hurt, I live, I need meds, I need sleep.

You are where you need to be for the moment. You'll make it.