February 18, 2018
Little did I know when I got up that day, that my life would be changed forever. Jacob and I were excited to go into town and pick up a bunch of materials to start some big home projects! We were going to meet with friends for dinner afterwards, and just overall ready for a great day. Until our great day turned into my biggest nightmare. As we were turning into our destination, another car blew through a stop light and T-boned us on the passenger side (my side). I just remember the pain. The glass everywhere, and feeling like I couldn't move my legs. The car was buckled in on my side and I was pinned. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't process what had happened. The next thing I know I am in an ambulance and on my way to the ER alone and scared. They ran tests, told me I was fine, and to "take it easy for a day or two", but I knew something else was wrong.
About 1.5-2 weeks goes by and my pain is still excruciating, and I can still barely walk. I decided to see my orthopedic doctor who immediately placed me on crutches and ordered and MRI. Turns out, I'd been right all along. Something was wrong. I had a fractured hip, and a shattered tailbone. For nearly two weeks I had been walking on a broken hip and in agony. I stayed on those crutches for 6 months and was completely unable to work.
But as my "recovery" progressed, and I returned to work, I began to have even more issues. My left leg was going numb and weak, my foot was beginning to droop, and the pain never let up. At first I thought may it was just my body getting used to working again and being off the crutches after so long. I was very wrong.
The next year and a half leading up to present day, has been a horror show. Imaging after imaging, test after test, copious amounts of bloodwork, more imaging, spinal injections, chiropractic care, physical therapy. The list goes on and on, and the worst part is, it still isn't over. Not to mention, trying to maneuver all of these things in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.
Here is what I know so far:
I have a congenital spinal deformity known as LSTV (lumbosacral transitional vertebrae) and in addition to that, I have a 6th lumbar vertebrae. Basically what this means, my lower lumbar vertebrae have fused themselves to my first sacral vertebrae.
Normal lumbar area:
What mine looks like:
I have bulged and herniated discs.
I am constantly tripping and unsteady on my feet.
There is some significant, undiagnosed, and lingering trauma from my car wreck that is making all of these things so much worse.
At this point, my doctors and specialists are requiring even more tests and procedures in order to nail down a concrete diagnosis and treatment. I know that surgery is imminent and I am terrified, but I do not want to continue living this way. Between the pain and my significant physical limitations, I am not really doing much living these days. I am 28 years old, but I wake up everyday feeling and moving like I am 80. I just want my life back.
Unfortunately for me, there are only a handful of true specialists for this disorder in the country, and none of them are in my home state. I feel that I have found the absolute best one out there, but I am in Indiana, and he is in New York. He is also out of network for my health insurance, and the cost is insane. Surgery has already been determined as the likely course of treatment, but at this point it is a matter of WHAT surgery, and when?
At this point, my medical bills from this mess are have piling up beyond belief, and I am still required to get new imaging, testing, etc all the time. To add insult to injury, I've had to scale back my hours at work because the pain is simply too much most days.
Those of you that know me, know that I am exceptionally stubborn and hate asking for help, but I honestly don't know how I will get through this anymore without some. Jacob is incredibly, and works himself ragged trying to make up the difference. He is incredibly supportive, and I am blessed beyond measure to have him, but there are only so many hours in a day, and so many shifts a person can work before burning out entirely.
So here are the big goals right now:
Get the EMG's I need done for both of my legs.
Get ANOTHER round of spinal injections, this time, by a surgeon that is going to put them in the right spot....
Reconvene with my specialist/surgeon and HOPE that is enough to get a surgical date scheduled.
Fork over $6k for my out of network deductible to even be considered for sugery.
Travel and accommodations for Jacob and I to fly to New York for this procedure.
Most of all, I want to take some weight off of my super hero's shoulders. Without his unending love and support, I would've lost this battle a year ago. <3
Little did I know when I got up that day, that my life would be changed forever. Jacob and I were excited to go into town and pick up a bunch of materials to start some big home projects! We were going to meet with friends for dinner afterwards, and just overall ready for a great day. Until our great day turned into my biggest nightmare. As we were turning into our destination, another car blew through a stop light and T-boned us on the passenger side (my side). I just remember the pain. The glass everywhere, and feeling like I couldn't move my legs. The car was buckled in on my side and I was pinned. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't process what had happened. The next thing I know I am in an ambulance and on my way to the ER alone and scared. They ran tests, told me I was fine, and to "take it easy for a day or two", but I knew something else was wrong.
About 1.5-2 weeks goes by and my pain is still excruciating, and I can still barely walk. I decided to see my orthopedic doctor who immediately placed me on crutches and ordered and MRI. Turns out, I'd been right all along. Something was wrong. I had a fractured hip, and a shattered tailbone. For nearly two weeks I had been walking on a broken hip and in agony. I stayed on those crutches for 6 months and was completely unable to work.
But as my "recovery" progressed, and I returned to work, I began to have even more issues. My left leg was going numb and weak, my foot was beginning to droop, and the pain never let up. At first I thought may it was just my body getting used to working again and being off the crutches after so long. I was very wrong.
The next year and a half leading up to present day, has been a horror show. Imaging after imaging, test after test, copious amounts of bloodwork, more imaging, spinal injections, chiropractic care, physical therapy. The list goes on and on, and the worst part is, it still isn't over. Not to mention, trying to maneuver all of these things in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.
Here is what I know so far:
I have a congenital spinal deformity known as LSTV (lumbosacral transitional vertebrae) and in addition to that, I have a 6th lumbar vertebrae. Basically what this means, my lower lumbar vertebrae have fused themselves to my first sacral vertebrae.
Normal lumbar area:
What mine looks like:
I have bulged and herniated discs.
I am constantly tripping and unsteady on my feet.
There is some significant, undiagnosed, and lingering trauma from my car wreck that is making all of these things so much worse.
At this point, my doctors and specialists are requiring even more tests and procedures in order to nail down a concrete diagnosis and treatment. I know that surgery is imminent and I am terrified, but I do not want to continue living this way. Between the pain and my significant physical limitations, I am not really doing much living these days. I am 28 years old, but I wake up everyday feeling and moving like I am 80. I just want my life back.
Unfortunately for me, there are only a handful of true specialists for this disorder in the country, and none of them are in my home state. I feel that I have found the absolute best one out there, but I am in Indiana, and he is in New York. He is also out of network for my health insurance, and the cost is insane. Surgery has already been determined as the likely course of treatment, but at this point it is a matter of WHAT surgery, and when?
At this point, my medical bills from this mess are have piling up beyond belief, and I am still required to get new imaging, testing, etc all the time. To add insult to injury, I've had to scale back my hours at work because the pain is simply too much most days.
Those of you that know me, know that I am exceptionally stubborn and hate asking for help, but I honestly don't know how I will get through this anymore without some. Jacob is incredibly, and works himself ragged trying to make up the difference. He is incredibly supportive, and I am blessed beyond measure to have him, but there are only so many hours in a day, and so many shifts a person can work before burning out entirely.
So here are the big goals right now:
Get the EMG's I need done for both of my legs.
Get ANOTHER round of spinal injections, this time, by a surgeon that is going to put them in the right spot....
Reconvene with my specialist/surgeon and HOPE that is enough to get a surgical date scheduled.
Fork over $6k for my out of network deductible to even be considered for sugery.
Travel and accommodations for Jacob and I to fly to New York for this procedure.
Most of all, I want to take some weight off of my super hero's shoulders. Without his unending love and support, I would've lost this battle a year ago. <3