To fuse or not to fuse

[annapurna]

I agree completely Maria!

For someone with some significant spine issues, I'm doing quite well. My problem is, I allow myself to feel pressured to be 110% healthwise - maybe because I live in a very young community? I have SO many friends and family members who just can't understand that I cannot sit in a coach airplane seat for five hours, cannot drive across the state in one day, and cannot sit at a desk uninterrupted all day. My family is still giving me grief about getting an ADR as they think that if I would simply give up walking - the one thing that doesn't hurt - I would be just fine. Either that of they accuse me of being a malingerer and using my spine problems to justify a "lazy" lifestyle, i.e. only working 40-50 hours per week instead of 80-100 hours.

Your perspective really helps me to put all these comments and accusations in their place. I think that I need a self confidence spine much more than I need a physical spine, so to speak. You've helped me grow one. Thanks very much.

Best,
Laura

[ans]

Hi Laura,

I had another repetitive dream that I was hiking/backpacking in the mountains and in a tropical forest. I can't even carry a pack with water which is heavier. Then the dream shifted to me being in the wild (well, chaparral shouldn't count!) with my rolling daypack over uneven terrain and how lame this was b/c I couldn't get anywhere. I might risk surgery precisely to get back to this and especially to work out for not doing so is dangerous.

I take tramadol every day and munch NSAIDs a lot - hoping that Prilosec will protect my stomach lining. Sometimes I take Vicodin which is gross.

You're high powered and subject to v. high expectations. I'm glad you're grateful more for what you have. Running uphill like how Reinhard Messner used to train!!

Wishing you well, Allan

[Maria]

Laura,
I sent a pm