"Man is harder than rock, more fragile than an egg" (Yugoslavian Proverb)

I wish I was there right now. That hot tub was one of the
only things which temporarily eased the pain.

Last night was one of the worst nights that I've had in a long time.  I am getting quite nervous as my surgery got pushed back a week as we dealt with the insurance company and the pain, numbness, and muscle spasms have gotten worse.  I think I maybe slept a grand total of an hour last night, and it didn't help matters that my fiancee/co-worker dislocated her shoulder around midnight while trying to figure out a better way to make me comfortable here.  The times I can no longer type or handwrite, she is usually my note-taker and my typist and I've spent many hours dictating things for her usually-able-to-type-120-words-per-minute self. That being said - she can barely hunt and peck right now, and I finally got enough coffee to at least get myself going (if only coffee could cure my pain!).

In short, that means my article is not ready to publish.  (It also means I really need to get Dragon Naturally Speaking working again before the surgery).  Since I didn't make the 10AM EST deadline I will be pushing it back.

(Although, seeing as the first article was meant to show you just why I need the surgery in the first place, I guess the fact that I can barely write right now shows just how horrible this disc really is making things).

Thank you for your understanding. I promise it will be worth the wait!

Seeing Further and Standing on Giants

looking forward to my future without pain!

find out more:@thetaleofalan

     If you know anything about me, you know I question everything.  I have been and always will be a scientist to my core and, as such, I never make claims about facts that have not been supported by empirical literature.  In my campaign trying to convince my health insurer to cover a FDA-approved cervical spinal implant over the mandated - but antiquated - spinal fusion surgery, I made some rather strong claims and (as a good scientist) I am compelled to cite myself.  I am not only doing this for my own benefit but for others also going through similar experiences with their insurance companies as well as those facing the prospect of spinal fusion.

     I plan on documenting every part of my journey; going back to the moment I found out how bad my neck was (they wouldn't believe it was my MRI) through my recovery from the Total Disc Replacement (TDR) with "Pro-Disc" (Synthes/J&J). 

Here is a partial list of the references I used when arguing my case for the prodisc c.

- The approval letter from the FDA

Updates will be added daily once my surgery is complete!  

@TheTaleofAlan - Twitter Feed - Please #SaveAlansBack Sign @change - goo.gl/GQiKS

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"Genius is eternal patience" - Michelangelo

Please keep and eye on GreatTimesNews.com - A 'silver lining' look at current and past events.

After many years of "one day I want to start a newspaper that focuses on the good news, stuff that really matters," my fiancee Alaina finally started the Great Times-News, a newspaper devoted to looking at the good in past, present, and sometimes even future.  Without asking she has put her entire project on hold, in order to help with my campaign trying to convince Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to cover a much improved version of a surgery I need for my spine.  (But that is another story..)
Thank you Alaina - You continue to surprise and amaze me everyday.  So with all that in mind please be patient and keep an eye on MyOutdoorNetworks.net and GreatTimesNews.com - Good things are in works -- Cheers! AG

Keep an eye on this site.

Something amazing is about to happen.

(In the meantime, check out Great Times News.)

~ The My Outdoor Networks Team