I’m back to a normal routine, as I continue to write my daily post. There is a hole in my lower back, now exposed after the bandage fell off. The sutures will come out in a few days and there is little pain and only hints of the burning sensation that kept me up at night. I’ve slept peacefully since the surgery but still find myself limping, as the nerves continue to heal. Day-to-day progress is hard to measure but any discomfort has moved from my upper thigh to the back of my leg, similar to a hamstring injury. I hobbled down the street to a birthday party two nights ago and to and from a Super Bowl Party last night. In both cases, I confined myself to a chair once I got there.

My muscles are very weak, and it will probably be weeks before I get back to the gym. I’m very confident that the cyst they removed in surgery was the cause of my sciatica, dating back to nearly a year ago. I’ve suffered through physical therapy, steroid injections, and failed painkillers. Natural healing, followed by exercise will eventually get me back to normal. I’ve done my share of whining and feeling sorry for myself, but at least I now have a solution. I feel for those who suffer from ailments that seem to have no specific cause. 

The Super Bowl was meaningless to me and I.U. basketball is as good as dead, so my passion for sports has disappeared. I watched some golf yesterday that looks so easy with these pros. Pickleball and tennis have little appeal, even when I’m healthy. Movies, books on tape, and documentaries occupy most of my idol time.

My poor wife is frustrated because of my recent snoring habit, certainly a biproduct of the pain killers I’ve been taking. I’ve eased myself off everything but Advil, so maybe now she can get some rest after taking care of me all day. I’m on the road to recovery!