Having been a trial lawyer for more than 30 years, I have seen a lot in the way of injuries, surgeries and healing.
Through my observations, I have always told myself that I would never have back surgery. After all, in my line of work I typically only see the back surgeries that do not work or that become problematic – not the vast majority that are successful.
Well, never say never.
I woke up in late August to a painful back but not unlike anything that I had experienced before.
I figured that due to the neglect in my yoga and workout routine, I was just paying the price. I thought by just taking it easy the pain would resolve in a couple of days as it always had in the past.
Not so.
Over the course of the next few days, the pain traveled down my leg and ultimately into my foot. A most unpleasant experience. It only hurt – constantly. There was no relief. I went to the doctor who gave me some nerve medicine and a prescription to physical therapy, neither of which seemed to be working and certainly not fast enough.
After about three weeks, my foot began to drop when I walked and otherwise not function properly. That concerned the doctor enough to immediately get me in for an MRI and then into a neurosurgeon.
The rest, as they say, is history.
I woke up from having a discectomy with almost 100 percent pain relief. My foot was still not working properly, but I am in physical therapy and they tell me that over time the nerve will rejuvenate and I should be back to normal.
I now have a newfound enthusiasm to not slack on the morning exercise routine. But what this experience has really reminded me of is the reality of living with pain. I was extremely lucky. So many of my clients have and continue to endure much more significant injuries and pain than I even began to experience. Notwithstanding, this entire ordeal has served to allow me to feel this firsthand, if only briefly, what they go through on a daily basis.
All of this, I believe, makes me an even better lawyer in being able to communicate to adjustors, jurors, and others the very real-life problems encountered by my clients on a day-by-day basis due to their injuries and the pain associated with them.
I am very happy to report that I am back to normal – almost – and feeling very thankful. The experience has left me renewed, refreshed and further enlightened.
Until next time,
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Accident?
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Brad Parker
