Note
Update to my back problem(s): After X-rays the doctor sent me to Berkshire Medical Center for an MRI. Follow-up discussion revealed that I also have Stenosis between two vertebrae, plus the Spondylolisthesis that the X-rays picked up.
Since I'm still hoping to get to Germany and hike the Westweg with Colette, plus a short excursion on the E5 from Germany to Northern Italy, I had to ask if he thought it was still a good idea. Yes, but he suggested an epidural cortisone inejection, if we could schedule once before we leave on June 5th.
In the meantime, he gave me a prescription for Prednisone, an oral steroid, to see if it could reduce the inflammation enough to stop the sciatica pain. I'm now in the second day of an eight-day prescription, and much of the sciatica pain has gone away.
And also, the earliest epidural injection that I could get would be sometime in July, so going with just the Prednisone is the only option. Still to early to say if that will work well enough to do the hikes, and the alterative is cancellation of the trip. The doctor will give me another prescription that should last long enough for the duration of my trip to Germany, if we end up going.
As for the long-term solution, it's spinal surgery, which I'll probably have done ASAP upon my return from Europe. Not exactly sure what needs to be done, but Dr. Whittum says that there's a good surgeon at Baystate Medical in Springfield.
Walking (dirt roads) 50:28 [3] 2.5 mi (20:11 / mi) +344ft 17:52 / mi
On my way back from the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, where I picked up copies of my MRI scan for future review by a surgeon, I headed over to New Lenox Road to see if I could walk a couple of miles without sciatica pain.
On the advice of my orthopedist, I used walking poles to help with my posture. And I walked slowly while trying to get used to the poles once again.
And I'll call this a success; it is the first time I've been able to do 2 miles without any sciatica pain. But two miles is about one-sixth of what I'll need to do on the Westweg, if I get there. But the odds are increasing, at least, that I might be able to do it.