What happened to September?

Yes, an entire month went by with no post. It's amazing how quickly that can happen. But there really hasn't been much to blog about. School started, the weather was unbelievably warm for this time of year, and we didn't really do much to enjoy it. Unfortunately the 2nd of September I hurt myself moving some furniture and was in pain most of the month. It didn't really hurt when I did it, but the next day my left shoulder was really sore. It just kind of felt like I had slept funny and I though for sure it would go away. But, as the days went by, the pain was shooting down my left arm and I was having tingling, numbing, and muscle spasms. I Googled it of course. I looked up pulled muscles and pinched nerves. It could have been either one judging by my symptoms, and the treatment for both was ice/heat and anti-inflammatory's like ibuprofen and naproxen. So, I did all that. It got a little better for a couple of days, then came back with a vengeance! It was non-stop 24/7 pain. I couldn't sleep, couldn't find a comfortable position. I went for a "trigger point" massage. That didn't help. I just knew if I went to the Dr., like always, they would just say "heat/ice, rest and ibuprofen". Finally I couldn't stand it any longer so I went to the doctor last Monday. I fell apart. She understood that I really was in pain. She told me right off that she didn't think it was my shoulder at all, but more likely a herniated disk in my neck and it was pressing on the nerves causing the pain, numbness, tingling, spasms, etc. She started me on prednisone and muscle relaxants and sent me for an MRI. Sure enough, I have two bulging disks in my neck. One that has been there for a long time, and this newly acquired one which is causing the most significant amount of pain. She sent me to see her husband who is a spine specialist. He told me he would try everything he could, shots, physical therapy, etc., but that surgery is most likely in my future. He hooked me up with an epidural shot of some steroids last Friday. The pain has graciously subsided, but I still have the problems in my arm. I am doing some exercises the physical therapist gave me to help with that. I will most likely need another shot in a week. It's supposed to help in the healing process. I know at least 4 different people who have had the surgery and they say it has fixed them 100%. That's good to know, but I was so hoping to get through 2010 without another surgery. Is this what happens when you get older? What will 2011 hold? I still have my appendix....