Help Chris Tiger with spinal surgery and housing

62 donors

$8,070 raised of $20K

‌

Help Chris Tiger with spinal surgery and housing

Chris Elam is organizing this fundraiser.

Hi! My name is Chris but I go by Tiger! I am a music and event indursty worker. I am currently recovering from a spinal Laminectomy. Heres what happened: Last year I focused on developing and nurturing my mind and spirit, meanwhile; my body fell apart due to poor habits, poor diet, overworking, sleep deprived, physically exhausted. I experienced a back spasm in November 2020. Some chiropractic care, massage and a stretch regimen helped releive some of the pain. I did my best to keep up with my stretching and treatment while working and living at a ski resort in Tahoe all winter.

In March 2021 I broke my collarbone while snowboarding. I smashed my whole body against a cliff face. I believe that is when the disc fractured and knocked my hips out of alignment. I then received surgery on my collarbone and sat on the couch for 2 months healing. Meanwhile; my back condition worsened but I was unaware. When the pain from surgery subsided, my back started hurting but I just jumped right into work. The chiro made it worse at that point and I couldn't stretch because it hurt so badly. Then I just kept working and dancing it off. By July I couldn't tie my left shoe normally because I couldn't bend in that way. Then I kept travelling and working festivals and dancing and just ignored it, full denial. Too many awesome things to do.

I returned from working at Firefly festival in Delaware toward the end of September 2021 and proceeded to work 4 weddings that week. One night I coughed and my back exploded. Sciatica symptoms went crazy, my left leg was outrageously painful throughout my hamstring and up into my hip joints. That evening I tried to sleep it off with the help of vitamins, bananas, a super nourishing meal as well as extra hydration. I woke up the next day in so much pain and panic that I drove myself to the orthopedic ER. I was in outrageous pain, I could barely put weight on my left leg. They gave me a toradol injection and a heavy duty NSAID to calm it down. They also prescribed a steroid pack, benzos and another NSAID.

I was waiting all day for my prescriptions because the pharmacy couldn't fill it and never answered the phone. We placed an emergency order to a different pharmacy and it took over an hour to fill. While my roommate was out picking up the prescriptions, I sneezed and the pain crawled over like an electrified spider to my right leg. I collapsed and for the next hour and a half, I was writhing on the ground screaming and crying. This was the worst pain I've ever experienced. It felt like red hot clamps pulling my hamstring off of the bone. When my roommate returned with my prescriptions, I was face down whimpering in the only position I found any relief in. I ate all the meds and stayed in that position for 2 hours until everything kicked in.

I had that pain for about 2 days and then at some point in my sleep, something slipped and my foot stopped working. I woke up and noticed a strange sensation and discovered that I could not engage my right foot or ankle. The skin layer is numb but I can feel the bones and some flesh within but I can't lift it. This condition is called Drop Foot or Foot Drop. I went to PT twice, once before the foot drop and then once after. When I came in with the foot drop my PT basically said he didn't want to take any action until I got an MRI. So I got the MRI.

I went to see the surgeon and he informs me that my L4-L5 disc broke and lodged itself deeper into my spinal canal and angled itself up into the disc above it. He suggests surgery. I ask for an epidural and conservative treatment to avoid surgery. He says ok but you'll still need surgery. I sought a 2nd and 3rd opinion and all 3 suggested surgery asap. I learned my drop foot could be permanent if I wait longer. About 10 days later I underwent a spinal Laminectomy. Within those 10 days, my housing situation fell through due to some unnecessary drama.

My Mom flew out from the east coast to help me. My friends helped my Mom pack up all my belongings and put them in storage. Luckily my Dad is allowing me to stay at his place during the first stages of my recovery. On October 29th the surgeon removed the center section of bone from my vertebrae (above image) in order to remove the damaged disc. A full recovery will take 3 to 6 months of intentional healing, yoga, stretching, hiking, biking, Kung Fu, climbing, swimming, meditation, energy work, inner work, creating and of course, dancing! I will be unable to return to work during that time. I am currently on the mend and feeling better every day! I am asking for help paying for my insurance premiums, medical bills, prescriptions, alternative healing modalities and physical therapy in addition to finding and funding new housing as well as paying back loans from friends and family during this time. I have every intention of getting back on the dancefloor! My mantra throughout this experience has been: "I am healed. I am dancing." Thank you for reading!

"I am Healed. I am Dancing."

Warmly, Chris Elam :)

Spinal inscision. Pictures of removed disc available on request