Personal Narrative: From Surgery To My Spine

I was so upset by what had happened, but the only thing I could think about was if my mom and sister was okay. As we arrived to the emergency room, I didn’t really feel any pain and thought I wasn’t hurt. Since the initial x-ray at the emergency room showed that there was nothing wrong with me, I assumed that I would still be able to participate in my normal school activities. However, within the first week of school, I had a debilitating pain in my back that would leave me feeling as if I was frozen. The agonizing pain prevented me from being able to take deep breaths, turn my neck, or move my arms, let alone carry a full backpack or participate in the marching

There’s things in life that everyone takes pride in, things that they won't ever be ashamed of. I have so much to be proud of especially in myself. After having Spinal Fusion surgery, i’ve done things I never thought I would be able to do, and one of them is learning to find my balance and walk again.

Growing up, I was a competitive cheerleader but was forced to quit three and a half years ago when I was struck with chronic back pain for the second time in my life. I was pain free for just over a year and a half, and during that time I was involved in cheerleading again. After the pain relapsed, I endured countless needles and numerous procedures. I was home bound and on bed rest for seven months during my junior year of high school, which is considered the most important and determinant year. I wasn’t able to go to school and sit at a desk all day, because the pain was too excruciating. Because of this, my teachers were reluctant to help and didn’t think I deserved to continue their classes with passing grades since I was not in class,

Education has always been a key importance in my life, but I have had some challenges along the way. In August of 2013, I injured my left ankle, while at work and I would have never imagined the long road I would have ahead of me and how it would take a toll on my education. When I originally injured my ankle, I was told that it was just a simple sprain, that ended up not being the case to any extent. I was transferred from doctor to doctor to doctor, each one telling me something different, and each one being wrong about their diagnosis. The second physician I saw, but my first ankle specialist, repeatedly told me that he felt that I was lying about my injury and was only looking to get attention. This took a strong emotional toll on me, repeatedly being told that they could not

I'm professor of biology and chemistry. I'm 26 and from Croatia so sorry for my bad english. I went trough hell lest couple of years. I was in wheelchair because of my hips and my back. I had two hip surgeries (left and right). I was suffering from back pain and sciatica last 10 years. Last year was the most difficult but I recovered successfully.

It was around 8:15 A.M. and I was on my way to Midwest Orthopedic in Pekin for my foot to get X-Rays because I had a boot on and the wanted me to have a check up. I was in the car with my mom and we just finished getting Starbucks and were driving on the way there. Once we got there we had to fill in some paperwork and wait for the nurse to come and get me.

Then my back pain began it really affected my academic and outside life. I wasn't the best student but I would always try my best to

First I explained my knee dislocation and operation. Then, in return, she told me about her brain tumor and numerous operations. Her storytelling skills were spontaneous. Although I expected her to be pitiful of her condition, her tone was lovely and she embraced her condition fully. I admired her for her bravery and the beauty of innocence within her character. When my therapist began to approach me, she surprised me with good news. I had, finally, received clearance to walk without crutches. Immediately, I began to walk, but within my first few steps, I began to cry. I was overwhelmed with joy that although my knee still had a torn ligament, I was satisfied with the performance it was doing. After completing a set of balancing exercises, I saw my new friend. She waved at me and in seconds, I felt guilty and embarrassed. Unlike my new friend, who embraced her special qualities, I hated mine. However, I realized that my depression and self-hate were unnecessary and immature. I admitted to myself that I had become desperate for an opportunity to escape my reality. That I wanted to deny the reality of my injury, and live in an imaginary

I once went with my aunt to an event for season seat holders at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles to get autographs from some of the Los Angeles Kings, to tour the locker room, and to get pictures with all of the banners in Staples Center that hang way up high over the cold ice. I went with my aunt because my uncle had hip replacement surgery earlier that month, which he was still recovering from, causing him to not be able to go. I was so excited that the day felt like it took forever to come. Most of that day, I was in a pensive mood, thinking about what was to come.

I was not an eligible candidate for surgery. The procedure would leave behind scar tissue, which would cause issues later in life. For a middle-aged man, this would not be a problem. For a fourteen year old, this would not be ideal. The radiologist said I was the youngest patient he had ever seen with such an injury.

“At first I didn’t think it was that serious, I thought the BB pellet had just irritated my eye,” Matthew said.

Summer of 2016, I was diagnosed with grade 1 spondylolisthesis, or also commonly known as “spondy”. This is a chronic spinal disorder caused by forward slippage of my L4 vertebrae. At my age, this poses a lot of problem for me both in my daily life and my sports performance by giving me constant lower back pain. Since I’m naturally athletic and also very passionate in soccer and fitness, my inability to train consistently and with variety have given me a lot of physical distress and mental anxiety. Through my months of rehabilitation and physical therapy, my commitment level in getting better has given me the strength to persevere through this never-ending battle.

I had my fourth knee surgery this past winter and my goal is to let go of my fear. I have one more sports season left before graduation. If I complete the full season, it will be the first time since my sophomore year that I have done so. I know that I will not be able to achieve the goal of playing a full season without letting go of my fear, and after four consecutive seasons on the sidelines I have come to fear more then just injury. I have come to fear not having the talent to play at the high school varsity level. I fear that the coaches will only see my as a injury waiting to happen and not as an athlete. I fear a season spent worrying about what could happen oppose to whats happening in the moment. I fear another season on the sidelines.

It all began with excruciating pain in my right shoulder, then came many amount doctors, and finally devastating news, I was going to have to have surgery. The news hit me like a semi-truck, I had to face my worst fear on January 27, 2016. When people first heard of my unfortunate situation they would pity for they knew what happens to softball players after surgery. Surgery is one of the hardest things to come back from in the softball world. Most players do not come back from arm surgery because it is a long and painfully process. This information terrified me, I loved softball it was my passion the idea of it being taken away from me broke my heart. I could not face the facts,therefore, I pretended my surgery date would never come. I took

My parents had set up an appointment with the local Physical Therapist, Dr. Winchester, for the following week. Upon arrival, I was still in disbelief but I continued on. For the next couple of weeks I went every week, twice a week. I had made good progress in recovery, but it wasn’t good enough for me. I asked for stretches and other activities that would enhance my progress. Fortunately, he was able to give me such activities. I had made it a point to do my stretches everyday with the aspiration of being able to at least try out for my high school. I had to be able to overcome this in a short time without damaging my arm further.