It’s now the one-year anniversary of my Tarlov Cyst operation on 11th Sept 2009!

It has been a long and painful journey for me.

I first noticed that something was wrong in 1996 when I developed neck pain. My US doctor prescribed Soma, a muscle relaxant, and most of the pain went away, only to increase over time and travel down to the lower back.

I now wonder why this doctor did not try to diagnose the problem?

Finally, the pain got so bad that in 2003 I decided to see another doctor, Dr. Mark Rubin, in Phoenix, Arizona. His treatment was to give me steroid shots in the neck. They worked, and the pain in my neck disappeared—but not completely—and not for long.

By 2007, I was developing severe pains at the base of my spine. I was existing on Motrin, Aleve—anything I could find at Walgreen’s or CVS Pharmacy, including the wonderful Capsicum Pain relief roll-on, which I used all the time for my lower back.

On July 24, 2007, I went back to Dr. Mark Rubin, who had given me the steroid shots in the neck. He suggested that I get an MRI, which I did on the very next day. It was done by SimonMed, who bills themselves as “the largest and most advanced medical imaging provider in the Southwest.”

Back at Dr. Mark Rubin’s office, his assistant, who looked like a dud, checked the MRI in front of us, and had nothing to say. I have no idea if Dr. Rubin, himself, ever saw the MRI.

In any event, Dr. Rubin’s solution to the problem was to give me a series of four steroid injections into my lower spine for a cost of $4,100. This was at our personal expense as we were not insured.

Dr. Rubin’s spinal steroid injections relieved the pain for about three months—then it increased.

From that point on, I took whatever I could to relieve the pain. By the middle of 2009, were living in Mexicali, and I was taking steroid pills for the excruciating back pain—pills which caused me to bloat up like a balloon.

By September of 2009, I had hit rock bottom, I was hopping around on my right leg, and using a cane to support my left leg which suffered from an intense pain which radiated down my leg from the base of my spine.

On September 3, 2009, I scheduled an appointment with a specialist in Mexicali, Mexico—Dr Carlos Maya.

Dr. Maya immediately prescribed an MRI which was done the next day, September 4, 2009, at Resonancia Magnetica in Mexicali.

The Mexicali MRI technician reported that I had a Tarlov cyst at the base of my spine!

Luckily, we had saved my old 2007 MRI from SimonMed. On it, the L3, L4, and L5 vertebrae were marked with circles indicating a possible herniated disk between L3 and L4.

What SimonMed failed to notice was something much more important – a Tarlov cyst (see the red arrow)!

With Dr. Maya’s explanation, even Jim and I could see the Tarlov cyst clearly on the old SimonMed 2007 MRI!

On the frame immediately to the right of where SimonMed marked the vertebrae, is a light oblong area – that is the Tarlov cyst – plain for anyone to see.

SimonMed had not marked it!

Thank God we came to Mexicali, and found a competent doctor, and an MRI service that was able to interpret their own MRIs—something that the expensive Dr. Rubin, and SimonMed were apparently unable to do—or did they even give a damn?

I can imagine how the actor Michael Douglas must feel, after numerous visits to his own US doctors who failed to diagnose the tumor in his throat! Michael Douglas, I am sure, gets the best medical care anyone can afford. How do you like that? No wonder his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones was furious! We pray that he will make a full recovery.

On September 11, 2009, I had a three-hour long surgery conducted by Dr. Maya with a neurosurgeon in attendance. They found not one, but two Tarlov cysts which they drained and treated. It was near my S1 spinal nerve.

I woke up from the operation with NO PAIN at all!  How mind-boggling and awesome is that?

The lower back had gone away completely!

Now came the difficult part—the post-op!  Dr. Maya ordered bed rest for four weeks to avoid scar tissue, and I obeyed.

This was unlike a certain US surgeon who “specializes” in Tarlov cysts, and who dopes his patients up with addicting Vicodin, and lets them move around immediately after the operation – generating scar tissue. I guess he wants to operate on them again (and again), or charge them for prescribing more opiates to feed their habit.

I was very lucky to have moved to Mexicali, and lucky to get the right surgeon, Dr Carlos Maya.

Who says medical care in the US is good? It is my Constitutional opinion that SimonMed didn’t do the job, and neither did the very expensive Dr. Mark Rubin.

With Jim’s fantastic dedication and help, the wounds from my operation healed completely.  There were ups and downs, but the trend was always up.

One year after my Tarlov cyst surgery, I can walk without a cane, pain-free. I know that my S1 nerve will take time to regenerate. I don’t put a lot pressure on my left foot, and avoid carrying five pounds of anything!

I still cannot walk around a huge place like Wal-Mart and look for items, or stand for long periods of time, as the pressure gets to my S1 nerve. It’s not pain, just nerve discomfort coming from the S1 nerve that I feel now.

My current doctor, Martina Gallardo, a brilliant lady doctor in Mexicali (of course) has given me a clean bill of health.

She pressed every inch of my scar and spine, no pain…yeh! Dr Martina wants me to do simple leg lift exercises to strengthen my thigh muscles. I do them every night and it’s making a big difference. Hey, if it means I get slimmer thighs, then I’m there, with Jane Fonda!

These are very simple leg exercises; not the active physical therapy often recommended in the US which can only damage you after Tarlov surgery.

That’s where I am right now. I am not on any opiates; I still take my Lyrica, and Soma daily, along with Aleve or Motrin, when I need them.

I will continue to blog about it.

I wanted new T-shirts and pants. So off we went, the three of us, to Calexico. It’s cheaper to buy electronics, clothes, shoes and certain food items in the US than in Mexicali.

As usual, we had to line up and wait for our turn at the border crossing—it took a little over an hour.

As we approached the border from the Mexicali side, heavily armed Mexican soldiers and police were out everywhere – checking all vehicles waiting to enter the US. They had police dogs with Mexican handlers going around the various vehicles, sniffing everything out. A couple people had to get out of their cars, while the dogs got in—sniff, sniff.

“Gee, this is somethin’ we don’t see everyday, MaryAnn. These are soldiers not just the police that are standin’ around with their guns, I wonder what’s happening?” asked Jim.

“Yes, it is strange. I guess Mexico is trying to catch any drugs before they hit the U.S. Border Patrol guys,” I replied.

“Yeah, I’m tired of these long waits to cross the border, we’re gonna get us to that fast lane pass where those cars just zoom right up to the border people!” fumed Jim.

“You are? That’s wonderful. I could probably walk across to the other side now much faster than what we’re doin’, Jim,” chuckled Matthew.

Jim turned off the truck engine, and got out. “Here’s your chance Matthew—Walk!” said Jim a bit red in the face. That long wait in the truck does take its tool.

Matthew was stunned and said, “No Jim, no Jim, I didn’t mean to say it that way.”

Jim got back into the truck. Matthew started to cry, ” I’m sorry Jim, I’m sorry!”

“Jim this is so unlike you! Let’s all have some chocolate? That’s what’s missin’ here for all us. I swear this fruit juice diet is gettin’ to you Jim,” I said.

I just happened to have some Ibarra Mexican Chocolate, tucked away for such emergencies. As everyone chomped away getting their chocolate fix, I saw Jim calming down.

“I think you should give that fruit juice diet a rest and we’ll have some burgers when we hit Calexico and ice-cream. What do you think?” I asked.

“Good idea. Matthew, you want some ice-cream too?” asked Jim.

“Whatever you say Jim, whatever you say,” whispered Matthew.

Our turn finally came and we wheeled up to the check point. The border patrol guard asked us the usual questions including, “Do you live in Mexicali?”

“Sure do Sir, beats the hell outta’ livin’ in a tent in America with all them other folks that cant make it with that’s goin’ on in America – ain’t no way most folks can make it on social security,” said Jim.

“Yeah, I understand – you have a nice day now,” said the border guard.

Well, we had lunch at McDonald’s, and Jim finally had his burger, washed down with a chocolate milkshake.  Everyone was happy.

We parked our truck in the shopping center in Calexico, which is right next door to the border crossing.  “I don’t want to walk too far now,” I said.

“I know MaryAnn, I know,” said Jim.

It was a lucky day for us! We found a store that sold T-Shirts and pants for just over $1.  How about that? It didn’t seem to have a name other than a sign saying “Open Sunday” over the door. We went in.

The nice saleslady showed me my size, and got all the colors I wanted of T-Shirts and pants. The total bill came to a bit under $25!!!

I told the saleslady, I would be back for more, you know, the autumn-winter selection—at those prices, I have become a fashion plate.

“I’ll keep your sizes available, MaryAnn,” smiled the saleslady.

All in all, it was a great day for me. I had found what must be the best and cheapest shop in the entire universe!

We are Americans and have been living in the border town of Mexicali, the capital of Baja California since 2008. As far as we are concerned, Mexicali is a very peaceful city.

We chose Mexicali because it is next door to the US town of Calexico. It works for us, as we cross the border sometimes twice a month, to check our mail, do our shopping and eat at Denny’s, Golden Corral Restaurant, or Sizzler’s in El Centro.  There is also Imperial Valley Mall just outside of El Centro. There, we get food for our pets and other items. There are all the big box stores in this mall.

Mexicali has a population of over one million. It is a wide-spread city with low-rise buildings. In our earlier postings, we have driven to San Felipe, down to the wine valley, where you can find Mexico’s best wines! We have eaten at a great seafood restaurant in Ensenada, and driven up to Tecate as well, and made more than one trip to Los Algodones.

Mexicali is what we call the city of Healthcare Nirvana! I had my successful Tarlov cyst operation here in Mexicali for a fraction of the price that the US healthcare would charge me. Very soon, Mexicali will be in the process of building a major medical center as the plans are already drawn up

When we decided to live in Mexicali, we selected a great area, just 165 feet from the US border. It’s great for us!

Even though we are safe and secure in Mexicali, the US State Department has listed several Mexican cities not to visit.

These are Ciudad Juarez which is the border town to El Paso, Texas, Tijuana, the border town to San Diego, Nogales, the border town to Nogales, Arizona, Nuevo Laredo, near the city of Laredo Texas.

You do not want to visit the border town of Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.

At the moment, drug cartels are fighting for this route of entry into Texas. Jim and I have always said, so long as America has a demand for drugs, Mexican drug cartels are there to supply them—it’s a multibillion dollar business-on both sides of the border.

If you are not into the drug business, then you are fine.

There are over 1.2 million American and Canadian citizens living peaceful lives in Mexico.

Good places to visit are Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Mérida and the Mayan ruins in Yucatan, San Miguel de Allende (which is crawling with Americans) and the colonial cities of Guanajuato, Queretaro, Zacatecas.

Guadalajara is a very large city and growing larger by the minute. Stick to the central city tourist areas and the leafy upscale neighborhoods like the Zona Rosa.

A popular side-trip is past fields of blue agave to the town of Tequila, where tequila distilleries can be visited and the wares sampled from such famous brands as Cuervo and Herradura.

The Oaxaca coast is great, including beautiful, well-developed Huatulco, and the little surfing mecca of Puerto Escondido (a great place).

Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the resorts that stretch between them are like a backyard for residents of the southwestern U.S. Thousands of Americans live there.

Mexico City, which is reputed to be dangerous, has a homicide rate of only nine for every 100,000 people, while Washington D.C. had a rate of more than 30 per 100,000-over three times higher.

Still, visitors to Mexico City should exercise the same precautions taken in any of the world’s big cities; sticking to busy, central areas and remaining aware of one’s surroundings. It’s very important to take only radio-issued taxis or taxis from official stands, and never the “libre” (independent) or Volkswagen cabs.

Don’t walk at night except short distances on busy streets. Mexico City is full of museums, art galleries and super restaurants. Most people include a visit nearby to the ruins of Teotihuacan, which are perfectly safe, with a visitor center and organized guides.

But back to Mexicali where we have never seen or experienced any violence in two and a half years of living here.

As far as we are concerned, we are very happy to live in Mexicali on our social security. We have discovered great restaurants to eat, and luckier—Mexican friends in Mexicali!

No sooner did I finish my last blog on my Tarlov cyst recovery than we got hit with another big earthquake – 5.7 on the Richter scale!The whole house was shaking. Jim made me stand in the doorway, while he held up the rack that contains the computer equipment

Matthew came running, screaming into the computer room and dived under the table.

This was a long one—first violent shaking, and then the usual swaying back and forth of the whole house and the earth beneath it.

The USGS gave out the terse message—Monday, June 14, 2010 09:26:58 PM at epicenter. Depth: 6.90 km (4.29 mi)—43 km (27 miles) W (277°) from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

“Matthew,” said Jim, “it’s OK—you can come on out.”

Matthew crawled out from under the table, and, without saying a word, ran to his bedroom.

I’ve gotta tell you, we feel earthquakes every day, and more than once per day. Sometimes, it’s just a slight moving of our place back and forth, up to a foot each way. This one, however, was a big one. Orginally, it was reported as a 5.9, but was quickly downgraded to a 5.7. They always downgrade these earthquakes. Maybe it’s like the cable news, they do it just to keep everybody happy, or at least not so scared.

We went two years here with no earthquakes at all. One of our Mexican friends who has been here since 1945 says he has never felt anything like it.

After studying the earthquake patterns, Jim has given up his theory that a Baby Moon is going to split out of the earth carrying me, him, and Matthew into outer space. Jim is now convinced that Baja California is splitting off from the mainland, and that the earth will sink and that the area about 20 miles west of us will fill up with water.

Matthew came back to the computer room, as we were discussing Jim’s latest theory.

Matthew liked the idea, and said, “Will there be a beach that we can go to, Jim?”

“If we live long enough,” replied Jim.

“If we live through this at all!” I added.

My last Tarlov cyst recovery post was made on February 14, 2010. I am now nine months into recovery.

So here’s what’s happening. I can walk PAINFREE, but I can’t run down the street.

I walked as fast as I could when Jim called me out of our bedroom when the 7.2 earthquake hit Mexicali. I reckon for living in an earthquake zone, I am doing pretty well.

I am now writing this, sitting in an office chair, no longer having to limit myself to my reclining armchair. There is no longer any pain in my tailbone area now – no more using the seat cushion!

Jim and I take turns preparing meals. Before it was only Jim.  Matthew looked after our pets.

I used to have a bar stool to sit on while stirring the pot over the stove. No need for that anymore! Now, I can stand and prepare meals, just like I used to.

What I can’t do, are work-outs or exercises. So I don’t really work up a sweat the way I like to.

But we’ll will wait and see. I can even fix up my hair, and put on my make-up.

(At Sinapsis Cafe, the girls were really sweet, and loved my eye-make up!  Most Mexican women wear makeup all the time, and they are all just beautiful. I guess that’s the Latin way.)

I am still watching my recovery from my Tarlov cyst surgery very closely. I can sit anywhere now. I even rolled over in our bed to give Jim a hug about a month ago, but that showed me that I was still in recovery.

I could feel the healing area around the operation site getting smaller, like a shrinking circle! As each month goes by, the circle gets smaller.

After the operation Dr. Carlos Maya gave me a prescription for three antibiotic shots.

Several months later, the area around and under the incision still didn’t feel right.

I told Jim who said, “‘MaryAnn, you probably have a staph infection?”

“How do you know about staph infections?” I asked.

“Must’a read it somewheres,” said Jim. “Look MaryAnn, staph infections are all around, and you still have that inflamed nerve,” Jim said firmly.

He continued, “Here’s what we’re gonna do. I have the name of an antibiotic; it’s real strong, so let’s giddyup down to Mas Barata, and get it.”

“OK. Is it pills I should be taking?”

“Nope, shots” said Jim.

We took off to La Farmacia Mas Barata immediately. I sat in the truck, while Jim, who speaks Spanish, went in and talked to a smart looking lady behind the counter. They checked over a medical book, and, in no time, Jim came out with a bagful of stuff and said, “Right, here’s what we need to clear up any darn staph infection, Maryann. They call it Trixona, here in Mexico.”

“Just in case Hon; we wanna make sure that every base is covered,” said Jim as we headed to the Sanatorio Santa Monica, a small hospital in our neighborhood.

There, the nurse will give you a shot for only 30 pesos ($2.50).

In Mexicali, an ampule for a one gram shot of Trixona (ceftriaxone), the antibiotic Jim decided on, costs 120 pesos ($9.60).

For the first seven days, Jim decided on one gram each day. For the second week, it was two grams, each day.

This was a big shot and was given with a large syringe. For the 14 day treatment, I changed sides on my buttocks for each jab.

The cost of the entire treatment came to a total of $201.60 for the antibiotics. Combined with $35 for the hospital shots brought the total to $236.60. And no doctor fees!

In the US, such a treatment for a staph infection would cost a fortune!

From the first shot, I could feel something going on; some of the pain and inflammation from the incision site was going away. It just got better with each shot, and by the end of Jim’s treatment, I felt a huge improvement.

“Hon, as I suspected, you probably had a staph infection,” said Jim.

“Jim, I think you were right – I feel so much better now,” I said. “How did you figure that out, and how did you decide on ceftriaxone?” I asked.

“Twarant nothin, just a little research with Dr. Internet,” answered Jim. “Look,” he continued, “all a doctor can do is either slice you up with an operation or give you a prescription – in Mexico, you can do your own prescriptions – no doctor needed.”

My Jim can be so brilliant!

I put myself back on Lyrica and Soma.

My decision. I don’t need a doctor or his prescription to tell me what to do, at this point in the game.

Lyrica helps with the nerve recovery and the Soma helps to relax the muscles.

Of course I pace myself. When I overdo errands, I do get very tired and find I have to rest up for one full day.

It takes us one and half hours to cross over to the US town of Calexico because of the line going through US Customs and Border Patrol.

In Calexico, we usually check our mail, and then go off to Denny’s for a great breakfast. Jim and Matthew always order the Grand Slam breakfast, and I make it a point to eat more proteins, and less carbs. So I order a double bacon and cheese burger, with french fries a dill pickle, followed by a large chocolate milkshake! A treat for me!

The less weight I carry, the less pressure on my spine. I had really taken my spine for granted during the last 40 years of my life, lifting, running, falling down. At one point, I started to wonder what might have caused my Tarlov cyst. I recalled that some years ago, I had knocked the back of my head really hard. At the time, I thought to myself, “Oops, I hope I’m OK!”‘ Well, I think that may have been part of the cause of my getting two Tarlov cysts.

I do get into a funk, of course!  Many times, when I wake up, I think I can just run up to the bathroom, run out and do errands so quickly, and now, after the Tarlov cyst surgery, I can’t do that.  That gets me very down. I can’t hike, play tennis or tango right now. I hope I can get to the point where I can move fast enough to play some tennis with Jim.

That’s the frustrating issue I face everyday as a Tarlov cyst survivor. However, I am pleased with my 9 month recovery, and Jim says he can see almost daily improvements in the way I walk.

When we last went to Denny’s, Jim and Matthew were very surprised to see me slide out of the truck and walk, with no signs of a limp. “You’re walkin like normal, MaryAnn! I’m impressed!” said Jim. So there is good news for all Tarlovians who are angry and frustrated.

Give the healing time! Be patient (and watch out for post-op infections).

Yes, thank the Lord, I am doing very well – no pain medications needed.  I will continue to keep all my Internet friends posted on my recovery.

More than 6000 earthquakes hit Mexicali in April.

This includes 702 earthquakes of three to four degrees on the Richter scale, and 72 of between four and five, and 9 large earthquakes between five and six on the Richter scale.

This is more than a month after the 7.2 earthquake killed at least four people, injured 223, and damaged at least 2,500 local homes.

Four new earthquakes, one of which reached 4.6 degrees on the Richter scale, centered south of Mexicali hit us early this morning..

People living to the south of Mexicali on the road to San Felipe are afraid that their damaged houses could collapse completely. Many of them are sleeping in their cars and tents. More than 25,000 people are now living in shelters.  You won’t read that in the U.S. news.

Jim wanted to drive down to the earthquake area to take a look, but Matthew and I said “No!”  Jim should have better sense with all his talk about the birth of a “Baby Moon,” and our being blasted out into space.

Meanwhile it is the Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”). Most Americans think this is Mexico’s Independence Day, but it isn’t. It celebrates the underdog Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The Cinco de Mayo is no big deal in Mexico, but, somehow, it is in the U.S.

So what did we do for the Cinco de Mayo?

Matthew, Jim, and I sat around the house just waiting for the next earthquake.

Eight long days have passed since the Great Mexicali Earthquake of 2010. Eight long days and perhaps 800 aftershocks ranging from 5+ on the Richter Scale on down.

Every few hours an aftershock – when will it all end?

Friends from as far away as San Diego and Phoenix have felt Mexicali’s aftershocks, and have called to ask how are we doing.

We are doing just fine. However, it has been a whale of a lot of work getting our house back in shape. Luckily there was no structural damage that we are aware of, but what a mess, inside!

Not everyone got off so easy, however. A total of 5,000 families in and around Mexicali lost their homes due to the earthquake.

“We need help in getting hold of tents, because many of these people are going to live in emergency shelters for several weeks while we build new homes for more than 5,000 families in need,” Baja California Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan said, adding that he had already begun receiving help.

Osuna pointed out that Sunday’s quake was the worst on record in Baja California. The last strong quake was 1940’s magnitude 7. 1.

Tents have taken over the parking lot of the Iglesia Apostolica de la Fe en Cristo Jesus, a church in Mexicali, since Sunday, when the earthquake struck.

“We saw the mountains shaking and dust rose as if somebody was moving them,” said Arturo Macias, pastor of the church who has been trying to calm fears among worshipers since the earthquake. Many of his flock consider the earthquake to be a warning from Jesus.

All 300 patients were evacuated from the Mexicali General Hospital because damage to the building, which was also without electricity and water. Some patients were taken to private clinics but others had to be placed in tents.

The parking garage at Mexicali’s City Hall collapsed but no one was injured. A miracle!

Still, scientists agree that, in contrast to Haiti, where a lesser 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused thousands of deaths, Mexicali was spared the worst, in part by better construction standards.

This is stuff you don’t see on the U.S. news. One of our kind readers sent us a link to a set of photos that show just how bad it is for the poor folks who have lost their homes.

Folks on both sides of the border are still checking out the damage and trying to repair shattered nerves.

Caltech and the U.S. Geological Survey, called the aftershocks “robust.” Well, who didn’t know that?

And guess what? Those Caltech guys say they have no idea of how to predict an earthquake!

A 4.5 earthquake hit early Saturday morning around where the 7.2 hit and woke up people in San Diego, Palm Springs and southern Orange County.

On Sunday, four quakes measuring above magnitude 4.0 struck in a three-hour period, doing little physical damage but adding to the emotional toll of the never-ending quakes.

Living in Mexicali is like living on a boat.

Across the border, in Calexico, public schools are closed until they get some plan for the 800 students from Jefferson Elementary School, which is considered too badly damaged for use. Two Catholic schools in Calexico will be closed for two days.

The grand old De Anza hotel, once a playground for the Hollywood stars, was so damaged that it may have to be torn down. The hotel now serves as a residence for old folks, all of whom have been moved out.

Caltech says the Mexicali earthquake adds to the unusual number of strong shakes reported around the world this year, particularly in Haiti and Chile.

“Shucks,” said Jim, “all these aftershocks really begin to get to you.”

“What’s an aftershock?” asked Matthew.

“It’s another earthquake,” I answered.

“Another earthquake? When will it ever end?” asked Matthew.

“No way of knowing – even them Caltech genius guys ain’t gotta clue.”

“Jim, what do you think is going to happen?” asked Matthew.

“One of three things, as I see it.”

“C’mon Jim, you’re just gonna frighten us,” I said.

Jim continued, “Either they stop…”

“Yes,” nodded Matthew.

“Or the earth splits a bit, and the Sea of Cortez comes right on up to Mexicali.”

“Water?” said Matthew.

“Yeah, we could wind up livin on the beach – or on the bottom of the sea,” said Jim calmly.

“Oh my God,” yelled Matthew, “That’s the worst thing anyone could imagine.”

“Well, not quite,” said Jim, with a slight smile.

Now, I was getting interested, so I asked, “Yeah, just what would be worse.”

Jim sat down in his easy chair, and smiled. “Fission – I read about it in this here Christian book, Astronomy and the Bible – it explains that all science is already in the Bible – gives examples, too.”

“Fission?” said Matthew.

“Yeah, fission theory says that the moon split off from the earth like mud thrown off of a truck’s tire and left a huge hole in the earth.”

“A huge hole? What huge hole?” I asked.

“The Pacific Ocean,” answered Jim calmly.

That’s what I so much admire about Jim – he just seems to know everything.

“Yeah,” answered Jim, “and just maybe that’s what happening with all these darn earthquakes – maybe we are gonna split open and throw off a new baby moon.”

“Oh, that’s nuts,” I said, scared out of my mind.

“And what would happen to us?” asked Matthew.

Jim thought a bit, and then answered, “Guess we would be livin somewheres out there in outer space on a new moon.”

We have been crossing the Mexicali- Calexico border regularly, since we re-located to Mexicali in 2008.  The normal waiting time to cross from Mexicali to Calexico is 1 ½ hours, or more.

The waiting time for coming back to Mexicali from Calexico has always just taken a matter of minutes – now it can take hours.

Now that has all changed.

At first all we noticed was that Mexico has spent a lot of money to upgrade its border entry, giving it a brand new high tech look, with wide lanes, and big impressive signs for vehicles entering into Mexicali.

“Guess the Mexicans are taking revenge on the U.S. for all the delays our guys cause,” said Jim.

Later we learned that this had nothing to do with revenge, but is part of a new federal program started by the Mexican Government known as SIAVE, to search for illegal weapons from crossing into Mexico from the U.S.  You can’t bring guns or ammo into Mexico – before there were just warning signs – now there is an inspection.

The new surveillance program takes eight seconds to inspect each car, making, for the first time, long lines to cross into Mexico. The wait has been as long as three hours on the U.S. side of the border.

This has backed up traffic on Calexico’s main street, Imperial Ave., and caused a lot of problems for the businesses on the road.

The vendors and shops on Imperial Avenue are beginning to find business tough. All of their entrances have been taped off by the Calexico police, to keep people from breaking into the waiting line. Anyone using these shops has to head back to the end of the line if they want to go to Mexico.

This also affects people who work in Calexico, and other nearby towns, who live in Mexicali and have to go back home. In spite of the fact that they have the best of both worlds – U.S. salaries and Mexicali living expenses – it is a problem.

Once while waiting in line way back at the end, near Calexico’s Wal-mart, a couple of wise guys in SUVs cut around us and zipped down the dirt median by the side of the road. They were churning up a lot of dust as they sped by the rest of us law-abiding folks to get ahead of us in line.

Well, guess what?  Boom! They were all stopped by the California Highway patrol and given tickets. The rest of us in line rolled down our windows, clapped and whistled as the “smart guys” got tickets.

“Geez,” said Jim, “don’t that just make you feel good all over?”

Matthew, who is a bit of a day dreamer, added, “Gosh, I thought it was a dust storm?”

I answered, “Well, it was – look at the hood of our truck it’s full of dust!”

Since we always have a ton of errands to complete in Calexico, and El Centro, we now return home to Mexicali late in the evening – about 8 or 9pm.  Like everyone else, we patiently wait in line. No rush, we just listen to the radio, eat burgers and fries in the truck and relax!

Like Jim says, “Ain’t no one paying us to rush back home.”

Jim turns up his favorite cowboy music on the radio, and we all relax.

Well, not exactly – Matthew fashions himself to be a singer, and sometimes, he sings along.

Until Jim says, “C’mon, Matthew, gimme a break.”

After my September 2009 back surgery on my two Tarlov cysts, I had mandatory bed rest, ordered by my doctor, for a solid four weeks. After another two months, my incision had completely healed, on December 11, 2009 – exactly three months after my operation.

I was walking, pain free. Jim, Matthew and I made frequent trips across the border to Calexico to do our shopping, collect our mail, and drive on to El Centro to eat at Denny’s in the El Centro mall. The mall is where we buy our dog and cat food at Petco.

Life was wonderful.

However, on Monday, January 4, 2010, I suffered a temporary setback.

I found it difficult to get out of bed as my left leg felt a bit numb! Well, I totally freaked out.

That very Monday evening, Jim and I were at Dr. Carlos Maya’s office, anxiously waiting for him. When it was our turn, I rushed into Dr. Maya’s office, hopping on my right leg.

“Dr. Maya hola! You have to help me! This morning my left leg went a bit numb! What has happened? Everything was fine?’ I wailed.

“What have you been doing MaryAnn? Have you been exercising?” asked Dr. Maya.

“Well yes, I was doing some Jane Fonda exercises, you know, lifting up my legs, while lying on my bed; lifting up my butt, while lying on my bed, you know,” I said.

“Then Jim had a muscle spasm on Christmas Day. He was in so much pain that I had to drive him to the Emergency Room at the Hospital Almater on Avenue Madero. I dropped him off; parked the truck, and walked to the Emergency Room where I helped Jim find the patients’ waiting room.”

Dr. Maya nodded.

I continued, “Jim got to see the doctor immediately, who gave us a prescription. We walked across the road to the Almater Pharmacy to get the prescription which included an injection. Back at the hospital Jim got his shot, and then we went home.”

“I helped Jim, who could barely walk, to bed; did the dishes; walked our dog; cleaned the cat litter, and Matthew helped clean the house and cooked the food…other than that…nothing much,” I moaned.

Dr. Maya smiled and turned to Jim, “Jim, now you need help yes? and on Christmas Day as well?”

“Twaren’t nothin,” said Jim.

Dr. Maya nodded and said, “Let’s go, MaryAnn, stand against the wall, and put your hands against it. Now I am going to press on your spine, you tell me if there is pain, OK?” said Dr. Maya.

I complied. Dr. Maya pressed against each disc on my spine. “Pain?” he asked. “No,” I said.

“Now lie on the couch, face up, face up – OK? I am going to lift each leg up and you tell me if there is pain.” said Dr Maya.

Dr. Maya lifted up my right leg, and yanked it around. “Pain?” “No,” I said.

He then did the same with my left leg. “Pain?’ “No.” I said.

While Dr. Maya was moving each leg around, I felt like a grasshopper with its legs being pulled around.

“OK, come sit down,” said Dr. Maya.

“I cannot walk, you see; my left leg is numb – something is wrong with my left leg! See Dr. Maya?” I continued to wail.

“MaryAnn, sit.”

“Jim, is Maryann like this? No relaxation?” asked Dr Maya.

“You got it right Dr Maya,” said Jim, also shaking his head.

I could have almost smacked these men. I have a numb leg, and all they can do is smile and shake their heads!

“Dr. Maya? OK – I’m ready to listen.” I said.

“You have inflammation!” said Dr. Maya.

“Inflammation? what inflammation? my wound is healed, you see, my scar is so beautiful – the healing is done!” I said.

‘”No, no! The nerve from the S1 controls the movement of your left leg. It has been irritated.” said Dr. Maya

“I said to you, just walk. When we did your operation, the neurosurgeon and I worked together, with the spine, the bones, and we are very very careful with the nerves. The spine is full of nerves.

“Any nerve that is cut, the patient cannot walk. You can walk. The nerves inside your S1 and S2 must stay calm. No carrying heavy things – no driving – when you drive, you have to twist and bend your spine, right? Anytime when we cut open the back, the nerves get irritated, and your numbness in your left leg comes from the S1 nerve which is now irritated, and angry. Do you understand?” asked Dr. Maya.

“So I have a nerve problem.” I said.

“You have an irritated nerve, slightly inflamed, MaryAnn,” said Dr. Maya.

“I am going to give you a prescription,” Dr. Maya answered.

Returning to his desk, Dr. Maya began writing on his pad.

“I am writing out a prescription, for you MaryAnn. Jim, this is for three injections, one each day. Jim, you can give shots?” asked Dr. Maya

“Shucks, no – only gave a shot to a horse once,” said Jim.

“You don’t know how to give shots?” asked a baffled Dr Maya.

“Jim, here, this is the prescription – it’s for anti-inflammtories, for all this you go down to the pharmacy, and they can give the injection materials – then just go to any hospital for the shot. OK?” said Dr. Maya, handing the prescription to Jim.

“Maryann, are you taking any medications that I should know about?” asked Dr. Maya

“No just aspirin, nothing else,” I replied.

“After you finish my medication, come back and see me in 21 days. All of this is anti-inflammatory, to calm down all the nerves, and continue with the recovery.”

“Just because your scar has healed, the inside of the sacroiliac and the nerves all need time to recover,” said Dr. Maya, smiling.

“So it’s my S1 nerve that is irritated? that’s it?” I asked.

“Yes, this is common with back surgeries, and you had the Tarlov cysts! These all sit on nerves!” Dr. Maya explained.

“Why did you ask me what other medicines I am taking Dr. Maya?” I asked.

“We don’t like our patients to take any strong painkillers, like opiates, too strong”

“Why?” Jim asked.

“Opiates make it difficult for doctors to see the real healing of the patient. Opiates will hide all the pain, and when the opiates wear off, the pain is worse!” said Dr Maya.

“If you were on opiates, MaryAnn, I would not be able to identify your pain, and any nerve damage.

“Back surgery is very complicated for the patient. The post-operation, avoiding scar tissue inside the sacroiliac, very important. Scar tissue will grow wrongly can irritate the spinal nerves, and the back pain will come back again.

“The nerves especially get irritated and that is very normal. Taking opiates like Vicodin. I am not for my patients to do it. Also it is addictive.

“Let the recovery of the spine, and the nerves be simple and basic. Good for patient, and for us surgeons. You understand?” asked Dr. Maya.

“Why are you moving around so much, MaryAnn? This is not what I want you to do. You have to walk slowly, rest, rest. Do everything slowly,” said Dr. Maya, visibly upset.

We thanked Dr. Maya and will see him in 21 days.

After we got back into our truck, Jim laughed, “No more Jane Fonda leg exercises and what-not you’ve been doing Maryann!”

“Well…don’t you go pull a muscle spasm on me just three months after my back surgery Mister!” I said.

“Why, sure, MaryAnn. Next time I’ll choose the right time for my back spasms,” said Jim, flooring it and cutting out into the traffic.

I am now five months into my Tarlov cyst operation recovery.

My S1 nerve is doing great. I got the three shots, at the Hospital Santa Monica, right near our home (we just walked in – no doctor appointments in Mexicali). I am not bending and taking Dr. Maya’s prescription, and Advil (great stuff at a friend’s suggestion), and back to being my old self.”

Today, we went to Best Optical located near Plaza San Pedro, and Carvao to get some eyeglasses for me, and for some new reading lenses for Jim.

He didn’t want any new frames, as he just loves the old ones he’s been wearing for years and years.

I got an eye examination, picked out a nice pair of frames, and ordered those new polycarbonate lenses – Jim just got the polycarbonate lenses. The whole thing came to $96, and we paid in dollars.

You couldn’t get a deal like that at Wal-Mart, anywhere.

On the way back home, Jim and I discussed the arrest, yesterday, presumably one of the most dangerous narcos,  Eduardo Teodoro Garcia Simental aka “El Teo.”

El Teo has been blamed for much of the violence in Tijuana.

He was arrested in the calm and beautiful town of La Paz, here in Baja California.

I guess La Paz was a good hiding place, or at least seemed so.

Fortunately, Mexicali has nothing like the violence that is raging in over the control of the “drug turf” in Tijuana.

Everything is peaceful in Mexicali.

Back home, I was fixing dinner, while Matthew was watching television, and Jim was reading an old copy of the Los Angeles Times, that had been laying around.

“Hey,” said Jim, “Here’s an article about Mexicali.”

“Oh,” I said.

“Yeah,”  answered Jim, “listen to this. It says, Here in Mexicali, people fear the desert sun more than drug hit men. The city of 700,000 has a homicide rate comparable to that of Wichita, Kan., and one of the biggest police deployments is Operation Beat the Heat, in which officers haul blocks of ice to shantytown residents.”

“They never brought us any ice,” said Matthew.

“Hey, Matthew – we’re not shantytown residents – at least not yet, ” laughed Jim.

Jim continued, “There hasn’t been a bank robbery in Mexicali in 18 months, or a reported kidnapping in a year. Indeed, the city of wide, treeless boulevards offers little evidence of narco-extravagance or violence. Mexicali’s conservative population of civil servants and agricultural laborers has tended to frown on ostentatious displays of wealth. Outsized mansions are few.”

Jim paused, and said, “This article is bunkum, the streets here have plenty of trees.”

“Yeah,” I said, “whoever the reporter was probably never set foot in Mexicali.”

“You’re right, MaryAnn,” replied Jim, who continued reading, “But some Mexican authorities say the U.S. is partly to blame for not improving its border defenses in adjacent Calexico, the third-busiest U.S. – Mexico port of entry, which handles about 40,000 pedestrian and car crossings daily. One recent undercover investigation suggests that U.S. inspectors may be stopping as few as one in 40 shipments through the 10-lane crossing.”

Jim put down the paper, and said, “Yeah, it takes us at least an hour and a half to wait in line in our truck at the border – the line sometimes stretches for a mile. The only scenery is the Calexico water tank.

Seems to me that the U.S. Border Patrol guys are doing a great job – they take their time with each vehicle, and are real straight fellows.”

Jim picked up the newspaper, and continued, “Beyond the border crossing, smugglers face relatively few obstacles. Unlike in San Diego, where they must run a gantlet of local law enforcement, only a handful of Calexico cops and Imperial County sheriff’s deputies patrol downtown streets, including Imperial Avenue, the north-south thoroughfare leading to Interstate 8.”

Matthew interrupted, “When is two and a half men coming on?”

“You missed it,” said Jim, continuing to read the paper, “Calexico Police Chief James Lee Neujahr, standing at the palm-lined gateway to the city, pointed to the ‘Welcome to Calexico’ sign at Friendship Park, where cartel lookouts report on the progress of drug shipments coming through the crossing at 1st and Paulin streets.”

Jim stopped reading again. “MaryAnn, did you ever see any drug cartel lookouts in Calexico?”

“Not that I know of,” I replied.

Matthew chimed in, “I think I did.”

“What makes you think that?” asked Jim.

“This guy had on those real big sunglasses,” answered Matthew.

“Well,” said Jim, “then you better stop wearing your real big sunglasses.”

Before Matthew could answer, Jim read on, “Neujahr believes smuggling groups long ago figured out that Imperial County lacks resources, a neglected status reaffirmed this year, he said, when the Justice Department issued $8.7 million in Southwest border crime grants. Communities as far away as San Mateo County in the Bay Area got funding, but not Imperial County.”

Jim got up and put the newspaper into the trash, and said, “Geez, almost seems like some folks in the U.S. want those drugs to get through.”

“Why?” asked Matthew.

Jim looked at Matthew, and said, “Not all folks are as good as you, Matthew.”

I just shook my head, smiled, and continued mashing potatoes.