Most of my readers are doubtless aware of my ongoing medical issues, including the removal of a kidney back in September, and your generous response to my appeal for funds to help pay for previous expenses plus what lies ahead. I'm very grateful to you all for your ongoing support.
I'm in the middle of a series of follow-up consultations on what the various tests have discovered. Briefly, my lower spine has deteriorated rather more than anticipated, partly due to the injury I suffered in 2004 and its treatment at that time, and partly due to my advancing age. There's no doubt that further surgery will be needed. One "side" of the medical fraternity thinks that it will be best to extend my existing spinal fusion to take in two adjacent vertebrae. The other "side" says that won't be enough, and instead wants to remove the existing fusion altogether and encase my lower (lumbar) spine in a sort of cage or mesh, supporting the whole thing in all directions. Both sides agree that surgery is necessary, but not what surgery, or how to go about it. Me, I'm the "piggy-in-the-middle", a playing-ground for neurosurgeons who are having a fine old time arguing with each other about what they (rather than I!) want to do next. It's . . . frustrating - and while all the arguing is going on, I'm paying for their discussions. That's even more frustrating!
There are trade-offs to be considered as well. It seems that whatever surgical solution is adopted, my lumbar vertebrae are likely to end up pretty solidly fixed together. That's going to make bending and twisting a lot harder than it already is (even though pain levels should improve). The mesh solution will be more restrictive than extending the fusion, but will offer greater long-term support. Which to choose, and why? I'm a layman. I can't answer that - but the doctors won't give me a single, straightforward answer. They simply tell me the alternatives, then say "It's up to you which one you want to choose." Since I'm not an expert, and I can't predict the future or its challenges, how am I supposed to know which to choose? I may as well glue some gears on my spine and call it steampunk!
So, here's what's going to happen over the next six months to a year.
- I'm going to work with a pain management specialist, a neurosurgeon (possibly more than one) and a neurologist, to try to pin down the best approach to solving my spinal problems and getting into the best shape I can for whatever lies ahead. In the short term, I may get a Spinal Cord Stimulation unit implanted in my back; that's currently (you should pardon the expression) under consideration.
- I'm going to try to get a lot fitter and lose a lot of weight. I'm going to find that very difficult, because my pain levels increase drastically when I exercise (even walking a short distance); hence the SCS unit and/or increased doses of analgesics (to be determined). It's a high priority. I'll probably follow Dr. Jason Fung's fasting protocol (adjusted to suit my needs) for several days each week, in an effort to speed up the weight loss, but that will have to be carefully monitored to see whether or not my medication doses need to be amended to compensate. If it's not one thing, it's another . . .
- I'll continue physical therapy and other exercises, so as to be in the best possible condition (which isn't saying much!) for whatever the surgeons may determine is the way forward.
Ongoing care at this level will continue to be a drain on the funds I've saved up (and you've donated) for hospital treatment, but it's unavoidable right now. As I recover from the loss of a kidney, I find I'm able to write more easily, so I'll try to get a new book (perhaps a new series?) out during 2026. God willing, that will help to fund more medical misadventures.
Thank you all for your prayers, support and understanding. I'll continue to "fight the good fight" as long and as hard as I can.
Peter
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