From Workshop to Recovery: Navigating Back Surgery Amidst Our Kitchen Remodel

Life as the “Sawdust Girl” is typically a vibrant whirlwind of sawdust, power tools, and the exhilarating satisfaction of bringing custom creations to life. My passion for building and home renovation often keeps me busy, hands-on, and deeply immersed in projects. However, the last couple of months have taken an unexpected detour, shifting my focus from the workshop to a more personal journey of recovery. It all began with a sudden, debilitating pain that brought my usual bustling pace to an abrupt halt, forcing a significant pivot in both my personal life and our ongoing whole-house renovation.

The Unexpected Onset of Crippling Back Pain

Just before Christmas, I shared a brief account of how a simple act – stepping out of the car – unleashed an agonizing jolt of pain. It was a searing sensation that originated deep in what Madison affectionately calls my “batoosky” (a charming term for my posterior) and radiated intensely all the way down to my foot. What initially felt like a bad strain quickly escalated into something far more sinister. This pain wasn’t fleeting; it was a persistent, unwelcome guest that settled in and worsened with each passing day. The initial shock gave way to a constant ache, then progressed to excruciating pain that profoundly impacted my daily life.

One of the most immediate and challenging symptoms was my complete inability to sit down. The pressure of sitting exacerbated the pain to unbearable levels. Ironically, walking around and lying down offered some relief, becoming my only comfortable postures. This meant that any necessary travel, even short distances, transformed into an arduous ordeal. As pictured below, I often found myself in precarious positions in the car, trying desperately to alleviate the agony. Rest assured, I certainly wasn’t driving in such a state!

The Renovation Forge Continues: Wes and Madison Step Up

Despite my personal struggle, our commitment to advancing the kitchen renovation remained strong. While I was forced to “take it easy,” the project couldn’t simply grind to a halt. This is where the incredible support of my family became absolutely invaluable. My husband, Wes, and our daughter, Madison, bravely stepped into the breach, taking on the heavy lifting and intricate tasks that typically fall to me. I transitioned from lead builder to project director, guiding them from the sidelines and offering instructions, design insights, and encouragement.

They became my hands and feet, meticulously carrying out the various stages of cabinet construction. Hauling lumber, a strenuous task even on a good day, became their responsibility. Their dedication was truly remarkable.

Wes, in particular, embraced the challenge with an impressive aptitude. He essentially became my latest “Sawdust Diary” student, immersing himself in the craft and mastering new techniques. His motivation was twofold: his concern for my well-being and, admittedly, a deep desire to have a functional kitchen again! This unique situation provided him with an accelerated woodworking education, and he truly rose to the occasion.

He diligently picked up the slack, meticulously crafting the last of the island cabinets – the essential carcasses that form the foundation of any sturdy cabinetry. His precision and patience were admirable, ensuring that despite my incapacitation, the kitchen progress continued steadily forward.

Diagnosing the Debilitating Pain: A Ruptured Disc’s Grim Reality

While Wes was diligently moving our kitchen forward, my own condition continued its relentless decline. The pain, initially localized, began to spread and intensify, transforming into a constant, excruciating presence. It reached a point where even lying down offered little solace, and sleep became an impossible dream. The relentless discomfort was mentally and physically draining.

Finally, the results of my MRI came back, confirming what we had feared was a severe issue: a “SUPER DUPER ruptured disk.” The diagnosis explained everything – this particular disk was aggressively crushing the sciatic nerve that ran down my leg, causing the characteristic radiating pain, numbness, and weakness known as sciatica. My doctor immediately understood the urgency and arranged a consultation with a spinal surgeon to explore treatment options. To ensure I made the most informed decision, we scheduled appointments with two additional orthopedic surgeons for second and third opinions, a crucial step in navigating complex medical choices.

By the time my first surgical consultation arrived, I was in a state of nearly constant, agonizing pain. Every movement, every attempt to find comfort, seemed to worsen the problem. Traveling to these critical appointments was a testament to sheer willpower, often requiring me to contort myself into awkward positions in the car, as my seatbelt was rendered useless in my quest for any fleeting moment of relief. At that point, my priority was simply getting to the doctors; safety protocols like seatbelt positioning felt secondary to the overwhelming need for pain management.

The Path to Relief: My Decision for Spinal Surgery

Wes and I met with all three surgeons, carefully discussing each proposed course of action. They presented us with four main options:

1. Do Nothing: This option was quickly dismissed given the severity and progression of my pain, which was profoundly impacting my quality of life and showing no signs of improvement.
2. Physical Therapy: While often beneficial for less severe disc issues, the extent of my ruptured disc and nerve compression made it an unlikely sole solution. It might alleviate symptoms temporarily but wouldn’t address the underlying mechanical problem.
3. Steroid Injections: Epidural steroid injections are commonly used to reduce inflammation around compressed nerves. While they can provide significant pain relief for some, they are typically a temporary measure and might not be effective for a disc rupture as extensive as mine.
4. Surgery: This option, a microdiscectomy, involved surgically removing the portion of the disc that was pressing on the nerve. It offered the most direct and definitive solution for my specific condition.

After much deliberation, weighing the pros and cons, and considering the expert opinions, I made a decision that felt unequivocally best for me and my long-term health. The constant, debilitating pain had become unbearable, severely limiting my ability to work, sleep, and even function normally. The promise of immediate relief and a chance at a full recovery through surgery ultimately guided my choice.

Friday morning, bright and early (or rather, “0Dark:30”), marked the beginning of this pivotal moment, as I prepared for the procedure.

The transformation was nothing short of miraculous. By Saturday morning, just hours after the surgery, I was already experiencing a profound sense of relief. The crushing nerve pain was gone.

The ruptured, nerve-crushing disc was finally gone. The change was so dramatic that I haven’t even needed an Advil since, let alone the “horse pill” pain medications they initially prescribed. This immediate and significant improvement, despite the small incision and the inherent invasiveness of spinal surgery, underscored that I had made the right decision for my body and my future.

The Road to Recovery: Rest, Healing, and Brody’s Company

My recovery journey has just begun, and it’s a phase that requires patience and adherence to medical advice. For now, my activity is limited to frequent short walks, followed by extended periods of laying down. This balance is crucial for healing and preventing any setbacks. It’s a slower pace than I’m used to, but essential for proper spinal recovery.

Fortunately, I have the best recovery companion a girl could ask for: Brody. He loves keeping me company during my many hours of rest, offering silent support and a comforting presence. His unwavering companionship makes these quiet moments of recuperation much more pleasant.

While the focus momentarily shifted from kitchen cabinets to my back, I am feeling incredibly well and recovering beautifully. The progress I’ve made in just a short time is a testament to the success of the surgery. The mental shift from constant pain to gradual healing is truly liberating.

Wes: The Unsung Hero of Our Home and Renovation

During this challenging period, Wes has been nothing short of a superhero. He has shouldered an immense amount of responsibility, taking incredible care of me and Madison, managing his own work commitments, and flawlessly handling all the daily household tasks – from preparing dinners and tackling laundry to keeping the house clean. On top of all this, he has continued his incredible efforts on the kitchen renovation.

He’s been working tirelessly to finish a few more cabinets, ensuring that we can proceed with the next critical stages of the project. These include bringing in the contracted professionals for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC installations, which are all dependent on the cabinet structures being in place. Once those vital services are installed, we can finally move forward with ordering countertops, bringing us one step closer to a functional kitchen. Wes truly is the bomb, and his unwavering support and dedication are deeply appreciated.

Brody and I are embracing our current routine of rest and recuperation, allowing my body the time it needs to fully heal. His quiet companionship is a constant comfort.

A New Chapter: Designing Dreams from the Comfort of My Couch

It will be several more weeks before I can return to my usual hands-on building activities that you’ve grown accustomed to seeing from me. My recovery mandates a significant amount of laying around, but this quiet time doesn’t mean my creative brain has stopped working. On the contrary, with my laptop by my side, my mind is constantly buzzing with new design ideas, innovative building concepts, and creative projects.

This period of forced rest has sparked a new direction for me: I’ll be channeling my energy into creating a lot more detailed plans for YOU ALL TO BUILD. This way, I can live vicariously through your incredible projects! Expect a steady stream of fresh woodworking and DIY home project plans, meticulously designed for various skill levels. While I won’t be taking specific requests at this moment – as that adds a pressure I need to avoid during recovery – I’ll be designing whatever truly sparks joy and creative inspiration in my heart.

Over the next few weeks, as my recovery progresses, I’ll gradually begin to take on more client projects, delve into custom plan design, and offer more consulting and coaching sessions. But for now, my focus remains on healing and creating for the sheer love of it. If any of my upcoming plans resonate with you and inspire you to build, I would absolutely LOVE to see your creations! Please submit pictures directly to The Sawdust Diaries. Your projects might even be featured, inspiring others in our wonderful DIY community!

A heartfelt thank you to all my friends for your incredible well wishes and thoughtful “Care Packages.”

Your kindness and support truly brought a smile to my face when I needed it most!

I <3 U all!

It’s important to me that you understand I don’t typically share every bump and bruise or detail my personal health challenges on this platform. My decision to undergo surgery for this severe ruptured disc was not made lightly. It came after months of escalating, debilitating pain, thorough diagnostic testing, and extensive consultations with multiple medical professionals.

Therefore, I would genuinely and respectfully appreciate it if anyone who feels the urge to second-guess my personal health decisions or offer unsolicited advice on what I “should” have done, would refrain from doing so. My body, my pain, my choice. Thank you in advance for your understanding and respect. 🙂 Sandra