My official retirement date was April 1 of this year. On May 5, I had "emergency" back surgery. A back problem I had managed for years got worse and worse until on April 29, I couldn't hardly walk. It just got worse and worse during the last week or two of April. When my regular doc saw me on May 3, she almost panicked. She ordered an immediate MRI that showed a huge glob at the L3-L4 level. I had drop foot in both feet. My calves and butt muscles were in constant spasm. They stuck me in the hospital and told me I was in danger of permanent nerve damage. The MRI referred to the mass as a tumor, but I later learned from a biopsy it was just disk material and the stuff in between the disks and some blood, but a lot of it.
Had surgery on May 5. Within 10 days, the foot drop was gone, but now I'm looking at 6 to 12 weeks of therapy and a good chance of a full recovery.
This retirement thing hasn't worked out exactly as I had hoped, but it's coming around. Had my first therapy today and the guy was very positive. I'm guessing I'll be back to my usual bicycling and gym workouts by late July or early August. Sure not the way I planned to start retirement!
BTW, my wife has been more than a saint through all this. She deserves a medal.
On the positive side, we've had some extra money come in from tax refunds and some other minor stuff, so that part is working out great.
Had surgery on May 5. Within 10 days, the foot drop was gone, but now I'm looking at 6 to 12 weeks of therapy and a good chance of a full recovery.
This retirement thing hasn't worked out exactly as I had hoped, but it's coming around. Had my first therapy today and the guy was very positive. I'm guessing I'll be back to my usual bicycling and gym workouts by late July or early August. Sure not the way I planned to start retirement!
BTW, my wife has been more than a saint through all this. She deserves a medal.
On the positive side, we've had some extra money come in from tax refunds and some other minor stuff, so that part is working out great.
