A REAL Pain In My Back!!

Ready for a lesson on... ME?

Okay, here it is:

The picture below shows discs and problems that can exist. I have:

degenerative disc disorder (degenerated discs)

herniated discs (well, had two surgeries on those)

arthritis in my facet joints

Those surgeries consisted of having a discectomy, so I have a barely-there L4 and a barely-there L5-S1.

This is my back doctor, Dr. Cunnif. He likes me. I make him smile, laugh and shake his head. He is the BEST at giving intradisc injections. They hurt like HELL, but he is very, very good at it. I like him.
This is my back surgeon, Dr. Adelman. He is the best at what he does. I don't know him because whenever I am in the same room as him, I am asleep. But, I hear he is a nice guy.

This is what a back should look like. Mine doesn't look like this. Too many car accidents, too many falling down the stairs, too much bad stuff.

So, I visit the Smart Clinic at least weekly and bring them cheer and tidings of gladness, or at least silliness. They either poke me with really long needles or poke me with kind of long needles or they do physical therapy (inflict all kinds of cruel and unusual punishment)!!!
Usually after these visits, though, Jeremy gets me a treat for my bravery and all is forgotten, until the next visit...