Celebrating one year since being diagnosed with a spinal AVF (neck) and receiving spinal dural embolization - 14 platinum coils. What a year it has been…so grateful to be on the other side of it all. Recovery is still a work in progress…still doing physio to regain strength in my neck/shoulder etc. and adjusting to a new sense of normal. Enjoying decreased neck and lower back pain as well as regaining the ability to run…not something I was counting on! Still getting used to the strange feeling in my head and the feeling of being slightly off balanced. Energy level is still low - especially in hot weather but thankfully headaches are less and less. Arm and shoulder strength coming back. So grateful for medical technology and what was accomplished! My healing is now more focused on the emotional side of things…doing work with a psychiatrist who does rapid eye movement therapy. Hoping this will help with the post traumatic stress that came with the months of tests etc. before the diagnosis as well as the stress and trauma of the procedure and recovery. I now take time out of my day to pray for continued healing and for the amazing blessings I’ve received. I no longer take my life for granted. Wishing love and peace to you all.
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Hi @hmg
You’re sounding pretty good to me! Good to know you’re working on your mind as well as your body.
I completely agree about taking life and health for granted. I’d say I took my health for granted for about fifty years before being shocked into reality by my diagnosis. It is the most fantastic thing to trust one’s health in that way for so long but it isn’t altogether realistic, is it?
It’s great to celebrate your year! May you continue to get better in every way through the twelvemonth ahead! It took me two years to decide I was ok and refocus on life ahead rather than life behind.
Very best wishes!
Richard
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