Cindy has been home now for two months, and I thought her followers would appreciate an update. Until a month ago, Cindy's strength and mobility continued to improve. We celebrated toward the middle of March when she was able to walk 30 steps with limited assistance and go up a flight of stairs using the hand rail. However, the last couple weeks, she has had intense pain in her chest and back that make even sitting up difficult. This pain is different from the severe headaches she had in Dec. She has a 5 inch band or ring that starts around her incision site on her back and makes a circle around her body. She had it a couple days after leaving the hospital, but it was tolerable most days. The pain has since increased from mild to severe. Warren brought her to the Mankato clinic on March 26th, and they sent her back to Rochester Mayo. After two MRIs, blood tests, and consultations with three doctors (including the surgeon who performed the operations), nobody could tell her the source or reason for the increase in pain. One theory they have is that the source of the pain could be related to nerve damage/bruising from the surgeries. The next step is consulting with the Pain Management Team at Mayo.
This is all quite depressing for Cindy and her family. She was excited to make significant progress with PT the first two weeks of March and is SO disappointed now that the pain is preventing her from doing much of anything, especially past the middle of the afternoon when it becomes sharp and searing.
I debated about providing this update to you all, but as her friends and family, I thought you would appreciate knowing what she's going through. Ongoing thoughts, prayers and support mean so much to her, Warren and her girls.
Thanks for checking in. <3
