I'm Back!I've missed you all!Thank you so much every one for your wonderful comments! I am so sorry to have taken so long to reply. I have had two major spine surgeries since the MVD-my last one just 3 weeks ago-so 3 major surgeries in 6 months. Talk about exhausted. The MVD was 100% worth it. I do have double-vision, processing/cognitive/memory loss and balance issues, which will be 100% fixed, once I can get back into brain rehab. I'm typing with one eye closed to be able to see right now.
The spine surgeries halted my brain rehab for many long months. No post MVD facil nerve Pain!! HURAAH! Expect for mini-little reminders I get from time to time-nothing really at all comparatively- I am still on a ton of meds though for my spine surgeries, so I don't know what it will be link with no medicine. Still, amazingly better.
I need lots of ways to entertain myself, and learn how to communicate while a zombie with memory loss after 3 surgeries in such a short period of time.My body is so worn out,and I've gained a lot, a Lot! of weight, from being so sedentary after being an active person prior to TN. After the MVD I could eat well. Well with that and 6 months of being on the couch- I'm a rolly poly guacamole. It will come off so fast, as soon as I can move again. For now, starting chicken and vegetables. My goal is to get back to Bikram, running and gym boxing- no body or face hitting :)
A hard part is others understanding why I'm a zombie turtle, with insomnia, or oversleeping who e-mails a lot and can't do anything but play with my kittens. Everyone- get two kittens- they have saved my life. No joke. Its tough being totally dependent and everyone seriously worried about me,my pain and my narcotics. It took me over a year to realize people were not angry at me, but very sad and frustrated for me, and to lose me.
I have many months of spine rehab ahead of me,then can get back to brain, vision and cognitive rehab. I can only walk for short periods of time for the next 2 months, avoiding a chance of needing a spine fusion. Somehow during my MVD recovery- in my first week, still in ICU, I badly, severally herniated my back. 6 weeks post MVD had an l1-s5 hemi-lam microdisectomy.(The exact opposite of an MVD- they take out what is compressing the nerve. It was so awful- the bulging disk, that surgery took 5x as long. Supposed to be a normal, fairly easy procedure, but my nerve root was destroyed, causing tremendous, treacherous nerve leg sciatica pain for months. I couldn't dress myself. 3 weeks ago I had another. My leg pain is gone! My back is not in fun shape, since its had 2 incisions,etc, and my feet are very swollen. Im mentally nutty, but happy and dreamy right now- la di da di, zombie. The nurses know me and my family well now at the hospital, since neurosurgeons also do spine surgery.
I have a cane and home PT- very cool at 31! I'm on a serious amount of narcotics, with which I will need serious help to wean from, since its been so long. A very rough year. I pray I dont fail this surgery and need a fusion, nor need another MVD for ever, or for a while. I'm trying to research the chances of needing multiple MVD's through life, without much luck.
I could go on for ever,but will stop here, Just wanted to let you know I didn't run away after my MVD.