Update: It's now three weeks past surgery. The shooting leg pains continue to be gone. And some other pains that (I thought) were unrelated to the spine ... are also gone. The pain at the surgical incision is also gone. And I can walk like a normal person again. Yippee!
Update: I said earlier that I'd try the tramadol in place of the oxycodone. Well ... it didn't work well at all. That was unexpected. So I went back to the oxy for another day. Then no more was needed.
Also, the surgeon called on day two or three to say that the shooting pains might recur as a result of inflammation. Perhaps because he removed a cyst pressing on that nerve. The pain did return, though only in mild form. So I took prednisolone for six days. And then the pain was gone ... and stayed gone.
Next week: an ultrasound to check the arterial flow in my legs. I have edema and the doc wants to know why. (When does this sh@*#~ end?)
But I ought not complain. At least I'm still alive. Unlike my best friend who died a week ago after suffering from ALS for over twenty years.
Reiteration: Retire early. When you still can. And enjoy NOT working for more years of your life.
