Habeba Elkhouly has given dauntless a meaning, undergoing surgery over and over, for 4 times despite the horrific pain and physicians’ differences. She said three words that always sum up every strong recovery “ I’m getting back.” This is her story, as she narrates:
I regularly used to go for MRIs and X-rays on my right leg, because of a dislocated vertebrae. I also used to always train at the gym and/or go to my swimming practice. One day I was normally stretching my hamstring after working out, and coincidentally, the gym’s doctor was passing by, and told me to get checked because something seems wrong. In 2007 I found out about my spine, I went to multiple physicians until I ended up with Dr. X, specialized in the spine medicine. If you take a side look at my back, it would look S shaped, and my ribs were quite protruding, which put too much pressure on my vertebrae and nerves.
“. One day I was normally stretching my hamstring after working out, and coincidentally, the gym’s doctor was passing by, and told me to get checked because something seems wrong.”
My Dr (X) fused my vertebrae, yet the dislocated vertebrae were not back in place, it was merely cosmetic as it seemed. At first, I only felt pain in my right leg, until after that surgery, I noticed my back hurt terribly with the least effort. My skin is normally very thin, the screws the doctor put in were barely beyond the surface, and I used to get electric shocks and feel lots of pain. In 2017, I was casually bending to do something, and I couldn’t get back up. Physical therapy was useless. I had to visit another Dr (Y) and he gave me the news, I need to do another surgery!
“My skin is normally very thin, the screws the doctor put in were barely beyond the surface, and I used to get electric shocks and feel lots of pain.”
I went to yet a third Dr (Z ) in Egypt, and he, alongside a French physician who would assist in my surgery, decided that it is extremely important to go for it ( a 3rd surgery ), and so I did. The surgery lasted around 9 hours. I could not feel my left legs after, but I was told that such reaction is okay right after surgery.3 weeks have passed, and I woke up screaming to an unbearable burning pain in my legs! I contacted the Drs, and had to rush for an MRI, which showed nothing. I needed support to move, as I couldn’t put my legs on the ground..
“3 weeks have passed, and I woke up screaming to an unbearable burning pain in my legs!”
I stayed for a week in the hospital, and my Dr decided that my case is a psychological case, before I was sent to neurology. The neurologist said that I have inflammation in my nerves, and that I must take a course of 8 drugs, I felt helpless. The second neurologist told me I have a nail pressing on a nerve, and another broken nail, which I knew of, and was told that it’s okay to live with .
“The neurologist said that I have inflammation in my nerves, and that I must take a course of 8 drugs, I felt helpless”
My fiancé told me about a doctor in Germany , let’s call him Dr W, I sent him all my medical information. He told me I have ” a broken nail, a dislocated nail, and a nail pressing on my nerves, and because you haven’t been cured in a year and a half, I cannot guarantee full recovery.”. As the doctor said, I haven’t…I still feel electrical shocks, and some pain, yet less than before. That last surgery took about 11 hours, and it was beyond difficult. I was asked to get up, and get moving, to help my back adapt on the second day, unlike being asked to just rest before.
“As the doctor said, I haven’t…I still feel electrical shocks, and some pain, yet less than before”
I follow up with my Dr (W) every 3 months, sending him all my scans, up until today. I have started training again since February, starting small, then bigger, carefully, and on my own pace. I’m getting back..
“starting small, then bigger, carefully, and on my own pace. I’m getting back.”
