Jake Perez Story Tools

(CNN) -- Jake Perez kept a journal of his experience undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy:

November 7, 2003

Pre-Surgery: Well, this is it ... the big day. After more than six weeks of preparation -- intense physical therapy, dozens of self-directed gym workout sessions -- I'm finally set to undergo selective dorsal rhizotomy, a surgical procedure that will undoubtedly change my life.

For 28 years, I've lived with mild cerebral palsy, a neurological condition I acquired at birth. Muscles in my hip and legs are spastic/tight because of the condition, causing me to walk with a limp. After today's surgery and some post-op rehabilitation, the limp could very well disappear.

The surgery involves cutting a thin piece of bone from a vertebrate in the middle-to-lower part of my spine, isolating sensory nerves, and cutting nerve connections that are overloaded with messages from the brain. Those overloaded connections are the cause of my spasticity/tightness. Disconnecting them will give me access to muscles I've never been able to use.

I'm not at all nervous. I've been working very hard to get to this place, this moment. I know everything will turn out well.

Post-Surgery: I'm in the intensive care unit. It's dark. I'm lying on my back. I feel some pain along the middle of my spine. The pain intensifies at any attempt to change position.

The entire length of my legs feels heavy and numb. My feet, especially the tips of my toes, are extremely sensitive to the touch.

As expected, I'm uncomfortable. I was prepared for excruciating pain, but strong painkillers seem to be doing their job. I feel intense pain only when changing positions.

November 8, 2003 - November 9, 2003

I've been transferred out of the ICU and into a hospital room. The discomfort along the incision site has lessened a bit. Changing positions is still painful, so deep sleep has been hard to come by.

My legs still feel numb. My left leg is able to feel some sensation (temperature, pressure). My right leg is only able to feel deep pressure. Doctors say the numbness will fade away over time.

November 10, 2003

My first bedside physical therapy session didn't go as smoothly as I would've liked. The physical therapist and her assistant helped me sit up on the hospital bed, but the change in position brought on intense back pain and an equally intense bout of dizziness and nausea. I was a bit frustrated and disappointed. After three days in bed, I wanted to get up and start moving, but my body wasn't quite ready.

The therapist and I compromised. We would try again later in the day.

The second attempt was extremely encouraging. Despite some pain and dizziness, I learned how to sit up and transfer myself from the hospital bed to my wheelchair. I also took my first steps using a walker. It was a scary, wonderful feeling. My legs felt numb, fragile. My strides were small, tentative. My back and torso were sore ... but I was happy.

November 11, 2003

The pain from sitting and standing up has become much more tolerable. As a result, getting into and out of bed is becoming easier.

With the guidance of a physical therapist and the help of a walker, I ventured out of my hospital room. I toured the entire floor of the hospital, and got a truer sense of changes in my mobility. My legs felt weak, loose, rubbery. I felt like I couldn't quite control my strides. I had trouble keeping my balance.

But looking down at my feet as I was walking, I could tell that the quality and fluidity of my movement had improved immensely. I immediately noticed my toes weren't pointing in nearly as much when I took a step. In fact, the scissor-walking was just about gone! Because the muscles in my hip and legs were freed up, I felt like I stood taller. My strides became more confident as I became more comfortable with my new abilities. It was an extremely encouraging day.

November 12, 2003

I'm anxious to get up and move around. The numbness in my left leg is just about gone. My right leg is still numb, though the loss of sensation is now confined to the front of my leg, along my quadricep muscle.

Walking is getting easier and easier. I'm now placing less of my body weight on the walker, consciously trying to progress toward moving independently.

Today's physical therapy session was amazing. Therapists showed up with a full-length mirror. By looking at my reflection, I was able to observe my improvement. The surgery had almost instantly improved my posture, alignment, and gait quality. I was blown away.

November 13, 2003

Today's my last day in the hospital. Dr. T.S. Park, the surgical team and the nursing staff at St Louis Children's Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital have been absolutely amazing.

During my final physical therapy session, I walked with very little assistance from the walker. With the physical therapist alongside me, I took careful, confident steps. I'm astounded at my improvement.

Before leaving the hospital, I met with a coordinator/physical therapist. We discussed my post-operative physical therapy protocol and my home training regimen. I still have a lot of work ahead of me.

Despite some slight discomfort along the incision site, I feel great. I'm enthusiastic about returning to Atlanta and beginning the tough task of long hours of post-operative physical therapy.

Week 1 Post-Surgery

Walking is getting easier with each passing day. By midweek, my confidence and comfort level have grown to the point that I'm able to walk without the use of the walker.

My first physical therapy sessions in Atlanta go well. I was evaluated by my therapist, Aaron Small, and placed on a regimen of walking, stretching, and light weight training.

I will be attending physical therapy four to five times a week for at least the next six months. I've also started a home regimen of intense stretching and balance exercises.

Week 2 Post-Surgery

Week 2 is my first full week of physical therapy. Our sessions begin with a 10-minute warm-up walk on a treadmill followed by a series of stretches. The more difficult part follows: a series of balance and coordination drills, core strengthening exercises and light weight training.

The stretching sessions already show an improvement in the range of motion in my legs. Numbness continues in my upper right leg, but it is slowly fading away.

Week 3 Post-Surgery

Physical therapy sessions have become more intense. I am progressing to more difficult balance exercises. Weight training continues at a higher, more challenging level.

Everyday activities, like driving and walking up and down stairs, are becoming easier. There's very little discomfort remaining at the surgical site.

The numbness along my right leg is improving. I am now able to feel hot or cold sensations. The development is encouraging.

Week 4 Post-Surgery

My physical therapist and I evaluated my progress less than a month after surgery. According to the expectations of Dr. Park and his staff, I am already performing some tasks one year ahead of schedule.

My flexibility has improved immensely. An intense home regimen of leg stretches has proved instrumental in increasing my range of motion.

I am now incorporating upper body conditioning into my physical therapy regimen. Each physical therapy session is now a two-hour full body workout.

Week 5 Post-Surgery

The two-plus-hour workouts continue. The weight training is paying off. The strength in my legs is now at pre-surgery levels. To be back at my pre-op strength is a definite boost. It certainly motivates me to stay focused and continue pushing myself.