Chefprefers BLOG

I reached for my support yet again, slipping painfully out of the rented vehicle, I ached towards the hatch and pushed the button to open. I grabbed the backpack and closed it. I shifted my weight onto my crutches, to keep my weight off my left leg. The sciatic nerve was on fire, nothing would settle it, drugs were useless, and all I could do was grim and bare. The 20m crutch to the front door of the Provence rental property was an effort. Sitting in the right pose was my only relief. I reached the living room and settled into the position. I pulled out my phone to read the messages and realised that my glasses were still back in the car. The thought of the discomfort, the pain, the agony was too much to return. A sense of sorrow was creeping in. Why now? I was blurting, and then I finally dropped my head and wept. I can’t remember being this miserable. The tears escaped from being locked away for decades. Perhaps when my Aunt died but today it was self-pity. I had overdone it from the years of abuse. The long hours of running, biking and not taking the time to work on the things that mattered and be able to recover. That time is over and now I’m paying for it.

My wife had started planning our trip months before. The retiree had time, our plan was to go around the world stopping at our wish list spots. She produced a 45 page itinerary, flights, trains, car rentals, accommodation, links to what to do, best places to eat, insurance info, Visa info, passport scans and emergency contacts. Quite detailed and thorough. We purchased flights and accommodation months ahead, the money was committed. No turning back other than a disaster. Travel insurance was paid for including recognising my pre-existing back condition. Last year, I was struck down with pain down my leg which lasted 5 months. I saw a neurosurgeon for my sciatic pain and by the time I attended his practise. I passed all the movements which tells him that I’m getting better. Since I was, he didn’t have to do anything. He said “Go back to your normal life”. This year, I had attended yoga to build up my core muscles, went back to running and cycling. However, I’ve had two painfull back occurrences since then, each taking 6 weeks to heal. The yoga session were helpful but risky. Four weeks before our trip, I did a yoga move which flared up a little pain. It lingered for the time but improved.

By the time we got on the plane, I was painless. Two days into our trip in Darwin, I got off the loo and felt that familiar pain, quite acute. By the following day, I couldn’t walk more than 100 metres. The pain got worse from standing and moving and I couldn’t even lie down to sleep. I had to take sleeping pills and lots of Naproxen. It did nothing for the pain although I knew that the only way to heal was to sleep. I thought, “Should we continue and return home.” ruining my holiday as well as my wife’s. The time and effort she put into it I couldn’t bear to bring it up. We got on the plane to Singapore. I knew it would be at least 4 weeks before I would feel better and so I purchased crutches to get around. It was hard for my wife to carry my bags in the airports and train stations, it wasn’t fair for her. Although, she was prepared for it and she stated, “It may not be the trip we planned but we’ll just have a different trip.” and we did. The airports were quite set up for the handicap, just say you need assistance and Bang! You’re in a wheelchair and priotised through the airport. First in line for security, immigration and getting on the plane.

When touring, the museums have wheelchairs and the hop on and hop off buses were convenient. People got out of your way and giving up their seats on the trains and some were helpful when trying to get your bag up the train station stairs. Although, it did seem like we visited every elevator in the stations.

I decided not to mention anything about my condition in my posts since it takes away the experience and helps to see the brighter side. I started to feel better before Lisbon and was walking unassisted in Ohlao.

The intrepid tour leader was sympathetic but she had others to consider and I shouldn’t even be here. So I was content to keep going and go where we needed to go. My mood improved, and my cheekiness return. Now, we are in Ottawa and ready to keep going. There are many I would like to thank but there’s only one person I need to mention and that is my wife. For her patience and love, she is truly remarkable. We had our 32nd anniversary during this trip, we celebrated with a wine tasting at a Chateauneuf du Pape winery and lunch at a local cafe. I feel honoured and with all the pain I went through, this special moment was worth it.