BackerKelly

BackerKelly

Kelly "Nerdzilla" Mendenhall

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I am a recovering nonprofit professional who, after becoming suddenly medically disabled in 2017, began working in the digital space. I am now an author as well as being a content and community engagement specialist for BackerNation.

I have had three neurosurgeries from December 2018 - October 2019. My diagnoses include degenerative disc disease, myelopathy (spinal cord injury,) osteoarthritis, and piriformis syndrome (contributing to chronic sciatica.) I am very familiar with nerve and muscle pain. I have spent the last three years of my life learning how to best honor my body and control my discomfort as much as possible while moving forward with rehabilitation.

You can learn more about me and my personal story at Nerdzillakelly.com. I hope that you'll join me in the support groups, especially the Sciatica and Piriformis group as well as the Spinal Fusion support group.

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1d

It has been 14 days since I had Edema in my left leg. I have only had three days of sciatic nerve pain since surgery on September 4th. It's taken 5 surgeries (with a 6th surgery scheduled) and four years, but it seems we have finally found all of the pieces to my very complicated health puzzle. To say that I am hopeful and excited is an understatement!

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BackerKelly

14d

Post-op recovery so far:

🥳 Holy crap, this is so much easier than spine surgery.

🥳 Today is my first day with just extra strength Tylenol, ice, and muscle relaxers, and it’s going great!

🥳 Glad to be done with opioids because they won’t let me sleep, which is probs why I’ve been sleeping since 8am today

🥳 THERE IS NO FLUID IN MY LEGS. I repeat: MY LEGS LOOK LIKE THE LEGS OF A NORMAL ASS PERSON.

🥳 I purposely slept on my left side for hours. My leg is still normal. I’ve been able to walk around the house, stand and get food in the kitchen, take a shower, and use the restroom and my leg stays regular size!!!!

🥳 I’ve lost INCHES off my waste and abdomen. My abdomen had been so distended that it physically hurt to eat, I’d often be full after 3 bites. It was hard to sit upright at all because of the pressure in my abdomen and how easily my leg pain and swelling would flare. It’s hard to describe just how bad it was unless you see photos.

🥳 My digestive system was struggling for 2 months. Everything is getting back to normal now.

🥳 I’ll see my surgeon on the 17th to find out more details, but it seems to have been a couple of pounds of endometrial tissue they removed from my abdomen, not to mention all the fibroid tumors and polyps and such.

🥳 I am INCREDIBLY hopeful. Going into the surgery, the working theory was that there was so much endometrial tissue in my abdomen that it was pressing on my glutes and piriformis muscle, as well as interrupting the flow of my lymphatic system, causing the retention of fluid and chronic sciatica in my left leg.

🥳 I haven’t had the sciatic nerve pain in my left leg since pre-op. I have been reclined pretty much entirely since surgery because of my sore abdomen and incisions, but this still feels like a big deal.

Once again, I’m so glad that I fought hard, followed my gut, and pushed for answers. And some day I’d like to line up all the bad doctors I’ve had and go full-blown petty and shoot them with paintball guns. And then put signs in their front yard that say, “I’m a medical gaslighter.” But the best revenge is a life well lived, and I’m determined to make the absolute most out of my life, come what may.

I know for certain that having my mom here for several days was the best medicine of all.

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<div> </div><div>Post-op recovery so far: 🥳 Holy crap, this is so much easier than spine surgery. 🥳 Today is my first day with just extra strength Tylenol, ice, and muscle relaxers, and it’s going great! 🥳 Glad to be done with opioids because they won’t let me sleep, which is probs why I’ve been sleeping since 8am today 🥳 THERE IS NO FLUID IN MY LEGS. I repeat: MY LEGS LOOK LIKE THE LEGS OF A NORMAL ASS PERSON. 🥳 I purposely slept on my left side for hours. My leg is still normal. I’ve been able to walk around the house, stand and get food in the kitchen, take a shower, and use the restroom and my leg stays regular size!!!! 🥳 I’ve lost INCHES off my waste and abdomen. My abdomen had been so distended that it physically hurt to eat, I’d often be full after 3 bites. It was hard to sit upright at all because of the pressure in my abdomen and how easily my leg pain and swelling would flare. It’s hard to describe just how bad it was unless you see photos. 🥳 My digestive system was struggling for 2 months. Everything is getting back to normal now. 🥳 I’ll see my surgeon on the 17th to find out more details, but it seems to have been a couple of pounds of endometrial tissue they removed from my abdomen, not to mention all the fibroid tumors and polyps and such. 🥳 I am INCREDIBLY hopeful. Going into the surgery, the working theory was that there was so much endometrial tissue in my abdomen that it was pressing on my glutes and piriformis muscle, as well as interrupting the flow of my lymphatic system, causing the retention of fluid and chronic sciatica in my left leg. 🥳 I haven’t had the sciatic nerve pain in my left leg since pre-op. I have been reclined pretty much entirely since surgery because of my sore abdomen and incisions, but this still feels like a big deal. Once again, I’m so glad that I fought hard, followed my gut, and pushed for answers. And some day I’d like to line up all the bad doctors I’ve had and go full-blown petty and shoot them with paintball guns. And then put signs in their front yard that say, “I’m a medical gaslighter.” But the best revenge is a life well lived, and I’m determined to make the absolute most out of my life, come what may. I know for certain that having my mom here for several days was the best medicine of all. </div>

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