Back, and My Back

Hello! Is anyone still here? 

I've been away for a while, and courtesy dictates I should explain. 

I've had to take an involuntary break from sewing these last few weeks. You see, I had been having backaches and a horrible pain down my leg for a long time. In the past year the pain (which I've since learnt is sciatica) had been getting progressively worse. I finally went to get it checked in early January. An MRI showed a herniated lumbar disc, aka a slipped disc. In doctor speak it's S1, L4-L5. 

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_disc_herniation

I have no idea how I got it, I have no recollection of any particular incident (or accident!) that may have caused it, but that's not really surprising as the medics say the herniation looks many years old. I must have left treatment to the very last, because as soon as I was diagnosed the pain came fast and furious. I was reduced to a wheelchair. Painkillers did little. Physiotherapy did nothing. The level of agony was such that I was prescribed immediate surgery (twice!). But it turns out that I'm a real chicken when it comes to these things because I found myself wheeling myself as far away from the OT as fast I could.  

By luck, a friend suggested something called acupotomy, which is a scary version of acupuncture. At the time the thought of being stabbed by a hundred needles seemed infinitely more attractive than having my back sliced open and my insides fiddled with, and anyway I was pretty desperate by this point, so I willingly submitted myself to a string of intensive acupotomy sessions. I had never hear of acupotomy before, and it's really something to be experienced to be believed, so I'm not even going to bother trying to describe it here. Thankfully, it seems to have worked, and I've since graduated to one (painless) acupuncture session per week. 

Happily I'm now up and about, although I still have residue sciatic pain in my leg and haven't quite resumed my previous levels of activity.  But I have to say that I'm so, SO grateful to have recuperated this far. There were days when I couldn't walk more than a few steps and inevitably some low moments followed where I wondered if life would ever be the same again. I'm sorry if all this sounds a bit dramatic, but pain does things to your mind, do you know? 

Anyway to cut a long story short, I've now re-entered the sewing room, and am slowly, carefully, trying to pick up where I left off. 

You will not believe how I'm SO looking forward to playing with fabric again, creating more fabric things and sharing them with you in this forum. Taking this break has also reminded me not to take things for granted and to always, ALWAYS count my blessings. Every single day.

To my Yummy Hubby, I can't thank you enough just for being there. To everyone who takes the time to visit this blog, please know how much I appreciate you. I wish you all health, faith and happiness  and as always, happy sewing!