Kayleigh's Spinal Surgery - Fighting For My Future
Donation protected
Hey I’m Kayleigh and this is my story...
I’m 31 years young and have always been an active, adventure loving, outdoorsy person! I’ve spent time, travelling, scuba diving, hiking and trekking for charity. (Basically I was a fit, healthy, happy lady, with big plans that had just got going) Before bang, nightmare hit.
In 2018 I began to suffer with unexplained back pain on and off.
3 years of investigation, medication, osteopath and physio treatment later, it's become apparent this isn't going to heal by itself. It’s been an endless battle with doctors to do anything for 3 and a half years. Since MRI showed a herniated disc is now compressing the nerves in my lower spine, I have been in continuous agony for the last 6 months.
I am now unable to do ANY normal activities. (I cannot bend, kneel, lift, twist, sit, stand, or even lay in bed without pain) At age 31 I am living like I’m 90. I'm being repeatedly signed off work due to the severe pain that even sitting is causing me, and am quickly becoming unfit to keep a job at all.
This is now consuming my entire life.
Not only physically, but mentally too.
Those of you who know me, know that after years of searching, I’d finally found my calling and my passion, to scuba dive! Planning to work my way up to become an instructor is/ was the dream.
I never imagined I’d suddenly find myself in a situation where any chance to achieve this could be snatched away. Right now I cannot even do the simplest of things, tidying, cooking, sitting to study, lifting ANYTHING, exercising, meeting friends, going out for the day, shopping, sitting or standing anywhere at all! (this basically rules out everything and I am mostly bound to the house) I struggle through each day that I do manage to work, on tons of meds and come home exhausted from the pain.
I cannot put into words what this is doing to me.
Having had almost zero support from the NHS, I’ve recently had no choice but to pay to see a private spine specialist/ surgeon - More MRI’s, consultations and a spinal steroid injection costing me £3000 in the last month, have showed that nerve compression is the root of my pain.
I’ve been told I’m a candidate for surgery, due to the compression causing numbness, weakness, and pain in both of my legs and feet, and subsequent bladder problems too - This is a risky and scary decision to make at my age...BUT this sort of thing if left, can result in permanent paralysis of the legs, life long pain and bladder problems...
I have been told I have a 2-3 year wait (from now) with the NHS for the surgery I need.
This started in 2018.
I am in a so much pain every day.
Even on a concoction of painkillers that no one should take long term, I'm barely able to function, but I’m meant to prolong this for maybe 3 more years!
My only option now, to try and get my life back on track, and to save my spine from irreversible damage is a £12,000 private operation to remove the herniated disc - My biggest fear is, if this isn’t done quickly, I could be left with the debilitating, life long effects above, even after surgery, due to irreversible nerve damage, meaning I may never get to lead a normal, pain free life!
Many of you know of me and Mario’s journey, and will already know the ongoing struggle that Covid & 8000 miles of distance have caused us. This injury has been devastating to us both, and has put an end to the hopes and dreams, we have fought SO hard for.
We are supposed to be planning our future, working our way to scuba diving careers, and building a life together somewhere. We are now totally unable to make plans, even to see each other again and it has already been 6 months apart. We miss each other terribly. Any money saved has already gone on my treatment so far, which has been totally unsuccessful. Even if private surgery could go ahead on a loan etc, I would be paying this off for YEARS in the situation i’m in, leaving us with simply no chance to even visit each other.
Private surgery waiting times are increasing by the day thanks to Covid too. I have been told that if I do not book asap that I could have a very long wait even for this.
The thought of having no way to be with the person I love, and potentially never being able to dive again is unbearable.
Mario has literally been my saviour through all of this. He’s been my light in a seriously dark time, we do our best over video call, but at the end of the day I know all he really wants to do, is be able to hold my hand.
This has escalated so quickly, and has snatched my future away in the space of 6 months, my happiness, dreams, freedom, partner, my ability to work, or even walk without pain. Any sense of hope we had, in an already impossible situation is gone too.
We promised when Covid hit, that we’d get through whatever life threw at us together, but never did I think I’d be faced with this nightmare on top of it all.
I just want it to end.
Over the past 3 years I have done everything in my power to heal this. I have paid out thousands for extensive, osteopath/ physio/ acupuncture treatment, consultations, scans, and recently private spinal injections.
I am now losing more from so much time off work, losing my job is looking inevitable which means I will have no way to even save for the surgery I need. Even after surgery I’ll require months of physio, follow up treatment, scans and consultations. One private telephone consultation alone is £240 - The feeling is kinda like drowning!
Asking for help isn’t something that’s easy for me to do, but many of you suggested I give this a go!
This is now way bigger than me, and I desperately need help to get my health and life back on track, before too much damage is done.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for any kind support. I know whatever happens that this will be a long and hard road to recovery, but as my favourite person still always says,
NEVER give up!
Kindest Regards
Kayleigh (& Mario)
I’m 31 years young and have always been an active, adventure loving, outdoorsy person! I’ve spent time, travelling, scuba diving, hiking and trekking for charity. (Basically I was a fit, healthy, happy lady, with big plans that had just got going) Before bang, nightmare hit.
In 2018 I began to suffer with unexplained back pain on and off.
3 years of investigation, medication, osteopath and physio treatment later, it's become apparent this isn't going to heal by itself. It’s been an endless battle with doctors to do anything for 3 and a half years. Since MRI showed a herniated disc is now compressing the nerves in my lower spine, I have been in continuous agony for the last 6 months.
I am now unable to do ANY normal activities. (I cannot bend, kneel, lift, twist, sit, stand, or even lay in bed without pain) At age 31 I am living like I’m 90. I'm being repeatedly signed off work due to the severe pain that even sitting is causing me, and am quickly becoming unfit to keep a job at all.
This is now consuming my entire life.
Not only physically, but mentally too.
Those of you who know me, know that after years of searching, I’d finally found my calling and my passion, to scuba dive! Planning to work my way up to become an instructor is/ was the dream.
I never imagined I’d suddenly find myself in a situation where any chance to achieve this could be snatched away. Right now I cannot even do the simplest of things, tidying, cooking, sitting to study, lifting ANYTHING, exercising, meeting friends, going out for the day, shopping, sitting or standing anywhere at all! (this basically rules out everything and I am mostly bound to the house) I struggle through each day that I do manage to work, on tons of meds and come home exhausted from the pain.
I cannot put into words what this is doing to me.
Having had almost zero support from the NHS, I’ve recently had no choice but to pay to see a private spine specialist/ surgeon - More MRI’s, consultations and a spinal steroid injection costing me £3000 in the last month, have showed that nerve compression is the root of my pain.
I’ve been told I’m a candidate for surgery, due to the compression causing numbness, weakness, and pain in both of my legs and feet, and subsequent bladder problems too - This is a risky and scary decision to make at my age...BUT this sort of thing if left, can result in permanent paralysis of the legs, life long pain and bladder problems...
I have been told I have a 2-3 year wait (from now) with the NHS for the surgery I need.
This started in 2018.
I am in a so much pain every day.
Even on a concoction of painkillers that no one should take long term, I'm barely able to function, but I’m meant to prolong this for maybe 3 more years!
My only option now, to try and get my life back on track, and to save my spine from irreversible damage is a £12,000 private operation to remove the herniated disc - My biggest fear is, if this isn’t done quickly, I could be left with the debilitating, life long effects above, even after surgery, due to irreversible nerve damage, meaning I may never get to lead a normal, pain free life!
Many of you know of me and Mario’s journey, and will already know the ongoing struggle that Covid & 8000 miles of distance have caused us. This injury has been devastating to us both, and has put an end to the hopes and dreams, we have fought SO hard for.
We are supposed to be planning our future, working our way to scuba diving careers, and building a life together somewhere. We are now totally unable to make plans, even to see each other again and it has already been 6 months apart. We miss each other terribly. Any money saved has already gone on my treatment so far, which has been totally unsuccessful. Even if private surgery could go ahead on a loan etc, I would be paying this off for YEARS in the situation i’m in, leaving us with simply no chance to even visit each other.
Private surgery waiting times are increasing by the day thanks to Covid too. I have been told that if I do not book asap that I could have a very long wait even for this.
The thought of having no way to be with the person I love, and potentially never being able to dive again is unbearable.
Mario has literally been my saviour through all of this. He’s been my light in a seriously dark time, we do our best over video call, but at the end of the day I know all he really wants to do, is be able to hold my hand.
This has escalated so quickly, and has snatched my future away in the space of 6 months, my happiness, dreams, freedom, partner, my ability to work, or even walk without pain. Any sense of hope we had, in an already impossible situation is gone too.
We promised when Covid hit, that we’d get through whatever life threw at us together, but never did I think I’d be faced with this nightmare on top of it all.
I just want it to end.
Over the past 3 years I have done everything in my power to heal this. I have paid out thousands for extensive, osteopath/ physio/ acupuncture treatment, consultations, scans, and recently private spinal injections.
I am now losing more from so much time off work, losing my job is looking inevitable which means I will have no way to even save for the surgery I need. Even after surgery I’ll require months of physio, follow up treatment, scans and consultations. One private telephone consultation alone is £240 - The feeling is kinda like drowning!
Asking for help isn’t something that’s easy for me to do, but many of you suggested I give this a go!
This is now way bigger than me, and I desperately need help to get my health and life back on track, before too much damage is done.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for any kind support. I know whatever happens that this will be a long and hard road to recovery, but as my favourite person still always says,
NEVER give up!
Kindest Regards
Kayleigh (& Mario)
Organizer
Kayleigh Salter
Organizer
England
