Surgery here we come...

Yes, it is down to this - surgery is necessary for Tramp 1. And it needs to be sooner versus later. It could be scheduled as early as Tuesday. The neurosurgeon isn't certain what the outcome will be with regard to the nerve issue. But if this issue is not addressed, it will surely escalate. He said the disk material that is pressing on the nerve is the consistency of crab meat and they need to go in and clean it up, leaving as much of the disk as possible but taking whatever is required to free the nerve and promote healing. So we are saying that he is going to "crack the crab". (Made us very hungry for our wonderful Pacific Northwest Dungeness crab!)

While we knew this possibility was looming, it just doesn't hit home until you know it is inevitable. Now it is game on to get everything ready around here. That includes moving the five twelve foot high trees that we dragged into the shop when the weather was below zero back outside and heeling them into the side of the dirt pile so they can survive the next round of icy weather that will surely come eventually. This morning I asked Tramp 1 to please ask a buddy who lives down the road to come help us move them. He hates to ask for help - he literally shrugs with anguish whenever we broach the subject. I told him it was for me - to try to avoid more issues with the herniated disk in my neck - and that helps him feel better about it. Sure, we could do it alone but it would not be a good idea... There are plenty of other things we can deal with instead.

One thing high on the priority list is to suspend insurance on several of our vehicles as he won't be driving again for some time. Our two trucks will not be used, so they will be the likely candidates for this. That still leaves me with the car that has front wheel drive and my little Suzuki Sidekick with four wheel drive - both have studded tires all the way around - so we should be able to get to Dr. and therapy appointments no matter the weather.

Today he is sharing the news at work and making arrangements to telecommute for the first weeks while he is unable to ride in a car. After that, he will be back to work a few hours at a time and will need to take his zero gravity lounge chair - we got this for his last back surgery in 2005 and it is the type you have outside and we put a cushion on it. It is fairly easy to move from room to room. I need to get our home office ready - he has a chair in there that reclines and will most likely either use a special small room speaker phone or Skyping to "attend" necessary meetings at work. Yes, I know it sounds nuts - but he needs to remain active and I have learned from his past many surgeries that he will do much better if he feels he is pulling his weight at work.

Now I need to make a list of what I need to pick up in town. During the first week after surgery it is difficult to leave him alone due to the schedule of medications he will be taking. I still have the time chart from 2005 - what a lot of drugs he was on. I remember feeling very stressed trying to be certain he was on time with all the meds as I know that he will heal faster when he is pain free. And I need to be with him 24/7 to be sure he follows the rules - last time he took off walking the day after surgery and went too far - isn't more always better?! This time I am going to be tough on him, really tough! It will be my rules or I will call in reinforcements - my Mom's sisters spent time with us when he had his shoulder surgery in April and he minded them when he would not mind me or my Mom. They don't live nearby but just the threat of them should keep him in line! Don't make me call in the Aunties!

Really bad - I am still thinking about crab, tasty fresh crab. I think it is going to have to be on the menu this weekend. Plus I am going to fill Tramp 1 with all the fiber he can eat and all the vitamins he can swallow. Nothing but fun and games here at Tramp's Camp!