AND IT BEGAN . . .

June 16, 2004.

I woke up to indescribable back pain I had never before experienced in my lifetime. Stabbing pain in my lower back layered over a dull, throbbing ache. I had burning in my legs that rushed down to my feet, often resulting in loss of sensation in my feet and toes, making walking and driving difficult since I could not feel what my feet were doing. Years before, I had bouts of back spasms that would crumple me to the floor until they subsided, but this was a hundred times worse.

At the time I was working over 65 hours a week implementing new computer systems in a very large company. It was a fast-paced, stressful environment that I had thrived upon, but now, everything I did caused pain and moving around was simply exhausting. I would come home after work, take some pills, chase them with a glass a wine, and stretch out on the couch until I could summon the resolve to move to the bed. Life became not so fun.

I knew I had a serious problem when my assistant, who was such a kind soul, would do everything she could to prevent me from having to get up and walk: picking up documents from the printer, getting office supplies, a cup of coffee, sometimes lunch. I still love her for it.

Since I was so busy with work I put off seeing the doctor, thinking I must have twisted wrong or pulled a muscle unloading the dishwasher or something, and that the pain would eventually go away given some time to heal. Little did I know at that time that this pain would transform my life over nearly a five year period. This was just the beginning.