Here's to 2014, a second time!

OK, I know I already made my New Years blog but things kinda got screwed up and I forgot all my plans!  The good news is I don't need a neck fusion and I don't have thyroid cancer. So a couple of days before New Years I woke up with some neck and arm pain, like I slept funny. It was just kinda sore and not limited in anyway. Activity seemed to help me feel better but it would ache with rest and sitting.  Well, since it was New Years I wanted to try a new type of workout.  Mostly I run and do spin classes but I've always wanted to try crossfit.  Google it if you don't know what that is.  Anyway, I found a gym and talked to the owner/coach about wanting to make sure I didn't get injured and so he was very attentive to my technique and I never felt like I "injured" myself.  Well, the workouts are kind of insane and I was getting wicked sore, like couldn't roll over in bed sore but I liked it.  However, the neck and arm pain didn't get better, in fact got worse, but exercise felt good, it was laying in bed or sitting in a chair that bothered it most. I tried lots of motrin, heating pad and massage without relief. Well, a couple of weeks into the new year I started noticing my left tricep was weak. I attributed it to muscle fatigue from the workouts, but it didn't get better as the soreness went away. The weakness was so strange. I couldn't hold my hair dryer above my head, pull my shirt over my head using my left arm, do a push up. The pain was pretty bad too. Then the next week my pointer and middle finger on my left hand went numb and I new something was wrong with my neck. I went to the doctor, not my regular one, he was out of town. The doctor seemed nice enough but didn't really assess me like I think he should have been done and he just asked if I wanted some pain meds.  "Uh, no, I want an MRI."  He just said "Hmmmm, well I didn't think of that." Anyway, I got the MRI of my neck and it showed a C6-7 disc herniation into the left nerve canal severely compressing my C7 nerve. Of course I was instantly freaked out. I stopped going to crossfit, running and all activities that involved axial loading (head bouncing). I know it was vain of me, but I was concerned for my waistline and continued to do spin classes and swimming. (I did gain 5 lbs from not running the last two months.) No one really gave me any news about what to expect or what the course or recovery might be. The specialist who read my MRI said it was a soft disc herniation and didn't need surgery. I was started on steroids to help with the inflammation and physical therapy to help with function and rehabilitation (I mostly thought it was a waste of time, I could have just used a handout or something).  The steroids helped the pain go away but I still had the weakness weeks afterwards. My neck mobility was limited because of stiffness and pain. Fortunately I was able to keep working.    I finally insisted on seeing a neurosurgeon about my neck because the weakness continued through February. I had to get some neck x-rays too.   He was pretty impressed with my weakness.  His advice was to schedule surgery to replace the damaged disc in my neck because it takes a while to get a surgery date and he wouldn't want me to wait longer if I didn't improve, however, he assured me I probably would get better, usually the soft disc herniation gets absorbed by the body.  Well, I was scheduled to have surgery on March 26 and I'm happy to say it's canceled!  I still have some stiffness in my neck and I have to pay attention to my posture but I just started running again with no problems so far.  I've really focused on my core and lower body strength this last month because that it's supposed to be protective of the neck. Of course I'm not all in the clear, I have to be cautious of  activities that strain the neck: jumping and lifting. I'm glad though because I really was down, thinking my life was going to change. I was afraid I'd be in pain and need meds and be an invalid.  It was disturbing not having control over my own arm.  So I'm grateful and blessed to be fully recovered. Oh yes, by the way, on my MRI there was a thyroid mass that was incidentally picked up. I had never noticed a mass before but when I read the report I felt for it and found it.  Ahhh!  I had to have an ultrasound, which showed a "concerning mass". Then I had to go have a biopsy and blood test.  All is well! I only have a 0-3% of having cancer, which is as good as zero to me and my thyroid function is normal.  I only have to follow up yearly. Did I mention over the last two months I went to half a dozen doctor appointments, plus PT, plus all my imaging appointments, and I'm healthy. One thing I'm super grateful for is my health care, paid for by my job.  I paid about $30 in copays for everything. One lady in front of me in line one day chose not to get her MRI because her out of pocket cost was going to be $700.  Insane!  I know our health care system is not perfect and it's sad when someone can't afford to get what they need. Who knows what's going to happen in the next few years.  Anyway, so long winded but that's why I haven't blogged lately.  A little busy!  I have great hopes that the rest of the year will be a little less eventful!