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Having to get Back Surgery...

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Hi there,
My name is Melissa Lowe and I am severely over my head with medical debt. 

I started having extreme back pain about 4 years ago and it's been off and on since. It's recently gotten so severe since the start of January when I went to go to the bathroom and my back seized up. I literally fell off the toilet and my body went into shock from all the pain. I've exhausted all options trying to get help out of pain and I am now having to get back surgery for an extremely herniated disk in my lumbar spine.

I work a strenuous manual laboring job and have been there for over 6 years. I'm certain that I did in fact injure my back while moving/ carrying heavy things at work. However, since I can't say exactly when it happened somewhere 4 years ago and what I was doing... I am unable to get it covered by workers comp. In fact... to even try it would take over six weeks to see if it would go through and I honestly can't continue on in this insane amount of pain any longer.

I've been in literally CONSTANT pain for almost 2 months now with what I'd describe to feel like the worst Charley Horse Cramp you've ever experienced going down my lower back, into my left hip, left glute, down my left leg and down into my foot. The nerves being pinched off have cut off function to lift my toes or have several of my calf muscles working while trying to walk. I've tried Physical Therapy, a Chiropractor, Massage, Acupuncture, Doctors visits, Hospital visits, bath soaks, stretching, yoga... It's only recently now that I resorted to getting an MRI done and they've finally discovered what they believe is to be the main issue.

MRI Study Result:
"1. Large disc extrusion at LA-L5 extending inferiorly past the mid body of L5 measuring 2.5 cm in maximal CC dimension  with significant impingement of the descending left L5 and left S1 nerve roots with posterior displacement, and less extensive impingement of the descending right L5 nerve root.
2. Resultant moderate central spine canal stenosis at L4-L5 with asymmetric flattening and narrowing of the ventral and left thecal sac.
3.Mild to moderate facet arthrosis at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 as described above, worse on the left at L4-L5 with early left exit foraminal stenosis."

I haven't been able to drive my car in over a month and a half let alone sit for any period of time. It's made average things in life like changing my clothes or bending over while brushing my teeth very difficult. I've needed assistance to simply put on my socks and shoes.

This pain has been ruining my life. I don't want to mask the pain with meds... I want to fix it so I can continue living life. I miss hiking and being able to play with my nieces and nephews. I miss being able to sit to eat rather than laying on my back and dripping it all over myself. I miss being able to drive and accomplish things on my own. I miss feeling happy and alive and not in pain...

Please help me by donating whatever you can to get this surgery done and paid for.

I've been drowning in debt while trying desperately to keep my head above water and to have this added on to the rest... I just can't do it alone.

Thank you for your care and consideration.

All of the love,

Melissa
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Donations 

  • Emily Lindmar
    • $50 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Melissa Fei Lowe
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT

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