I am a 48 Year old Veteran. Since 2010 I have had 6 back operations. I have spinal stenosis and a general Lumar disease. In 2015 I had my l5 s1 fused. Last December I started noticing that I was having increasing back problems and difficulty with movement. Going back to see my neurosurgeon we began to look at my SI joint on the left side. We had done a couple of injections into the SI joint with only a few days of relief. In the meantime an MRI was performed on my lumbar because one hadn't been done in several years. MRI showed that my spine had shifted 3 cm off center above my l5. That the stenosis was at a medium grade in my lumbar. It was determined the best course of action was to have a fusion operation. March 28th of 2025 a fusion operation was performed. My l3 to l5 at s1 was fused, cleared out the stenosis. Also a disc spacer was placed. Post up I kept informing my neurosurgeon that I was having serious complications with my lower back. I was able to lay on my left side every time I stepped it felt like something was stabbing me. I did two and a half months of physical therapy with no improvement. The neurosurgeon said we need to fuse your si joint on the left side. After Fusion of left as I joint things went downhill very rapidly!

I kept informing my neurosurgeon that something was wrong. The response to that was all the hardware seems to be in place I have to send you to a different specialist. They referred me out to an orthopedic specialist which that referral never was received from the VA. On August 26th after a week of bed rest. I went to the hospital. After a week in the hospital and Several test. They found that one of these screws for the lumbar Fusion at my l3 is broken. Also there is fluid buildup at my l2 l3. While a biopsy was formed on the fusion and by the grace and glory of God there is no infection. They said I needed 6 weeks of IV antibiotics before a different neurosurgeon will operate to repair the broken screw at my l3. A PICC line was placed in my left arm and I was sent home. I was administering the IV antibiotics to myself. Home health Care comes once a week to take my vitals and my blood work for labs.

I am now back in the hospital with Rhabdomyolysis which is a side effects from the antibiotics that is causing my muscles to shut down. They are flushing my system with IV fluids and other medications to push the antibiotics out of my system. This is definitely the most pain I've ever felt in my life! I am extremely weak. Hopefully they've caught this in time and there will be no permanent damage.

I am advocating to get another neurosurgeon to take over my case. I unfortunately need to have yet another operation to fix the failed hardware.Not only is this physically taxing because I am unable to do anything. I am on full restrictions which means no bending no twisting, no pushing pulling or lifting anything greater than 10 lb. No driving! No sitting up or walking or any type of physical activity or longer than an hour as tolerated. However, I still have my faith and I know that God has a hand in this. I have now been off work for 8 months. I am facing at least another 6 months off of work. I am securing over $100,000 in hospital bills right now and counting. I have rent, utilities and groceries. As well as all kinds of other bills. Car loan, insurance, etc. I really don't know what else to do at this point other than to ask for help. It's undetermined when or if I will be able to return to work at this point.I have an Amazing Puppy to take care of as well! He has definitely been my savior through all this! Any donation would be grateful! May God bless you all!