I posted this on Chica Chic’s blog as a comment to her latest entry:

I have a herniated or pinched disc, a bulging disc, a disc that’s dessicating, and the beginnings of arthritis in my spine. The bulging disc is at risk of pushing against my spinal cord, which could create permanent damage in my leg muscles. The herniated disk creates intense pain often. The dessication will ultimately create a need for surgery. And the only thing I can look forward to with the arthritis is pain, lots and lots of pain.

Today I am at home, bed-bound, since I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed and make it into work. Normally, on those mornings when I have to literally roll out of bed because sitting up is too painful, I put on a hot pack, take my Valium and Vicodin and make myself go into work anyway. Today was not one of those days.

Having been through the MRI experience myself, I understand what you’re talking about. Being told, after that awful experience, that there’s very little medical science can do for me right now other than medication, was not a pleasant experience.

What I look forward to is a lifetime of pain management. Doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, precriptions to things that are habit-forming (for which my doctor will monitor me), and the knowledge that I’m never going to be well again.

Of course, as a fat girl, I don’t see the mushy you’re talking about. Tell JR that you look forward to seeing what childbirth does to his body…