Trials and tribulations

So I have been through the ringer in the past 2 years. It all started when I was hit by a car while crossing the street. At the time it did not phase me much other than being extremely sore. Well it turns out it exacerbated my existing neck and back issues from my Paramedic career ending tumble down some stairs when I was 31

Since the day of my initial injury I have been in semi constant pain in my lower back and hip from sciatic nerve damage. Some days are worse than others. I have also had a hitch in my neck where some days I have a hard time turning it more than 20 degrees without excruciating pain. Mind you this was all prior to getting hit by the car.

Not much changed after the car incident well that was until six months later. That is when I started having twitches in my left hand and right foot. They were minor at first, but at the same time my sciatic nerve was the most painful it had been since the initial injury in 2001. So I promptly got off my feet per docs orders to alleviate the pressure on the sciatic nerve.

We it turns out old age and a few years of type 2 diabetes (which mind you I had completely cleared myself of in early 2011 through exercise and diet)  caught up with me. It turns out I have a circulation issue called venostasis and over the 3 months of being pretty immobile recovering from the sciatic pain this new issue reared its ugly head.

My leg had swollen and turned almost black like a giant bruise. I thought it was something far worse, but thankfully it is completely treatable, if managed properly. That said, this again put me on bed rest for recovery. That is when the issues with my neck really showed up, my left pinky and ring fingers were twitching constantly.

It has been almost a year since all this bad stuff started showing, but through diet and exercise the issues are slowly going back to a normal for me state. I have lost an additional 35 pounds, but have much more to go. The docs say that if I can get another 80 pounds or so off I should have very little in the way of pain or twitching and should be able avoid surgery, my weight is exacerbating the problem. 

As you can imagine my hobby time has been pretty much gone, short of a few games here because of this recovery. I am glad I am finally at the point that I can sit down and start hobbying again.

Anyway I am honestly on the road to a leaner more healthy Jim. I thank the lord for that every day. Sometimes you have to hit your lowest point to realize that your life needs a change.

Until Next time keep your powder dry and bullets flying!