My name is Joe. Im 61 years old.

Im physically disabled, (and autistic), surviving on low fixed income from Social Security, and I need 3 surgeries right away.

According to my doctors & surgeons I am at risk for paralysis from the neck down, and or paralysis from the waist down if my spine isnt fixed right away.

1 surgery is for spinal cord injuries in the lower back (lumbar), the second surgery needed is for an injury to my spine (in my neck)(cervical) and the 3rd surgery needed is for surgery to my left shoulder for a torn rotator cuff. And that doesnt even count oral surgery desperately needed to help treat Trigeminal Neuralgia and oral infection.

The first spinal cord surgery is scheduled at St Francis hospital on June 9th to fix a spinal cord injury to my lower back (lumbar) for herniated discs causing central spinal stenosis causing numbness in legs etc. , and the other is for my neck (cervical) to correct several bulging discs, herniated discs, arthritis, all of which are causing severe pain, numbness, loss of use of my entire left arm and shoulder, right shoulder, shooting severe pain and cramping in both legs, feet, & numbness of my tongue and more.

I have a appointment for consultation for shoulder surgery on May 29th to discuss the procedure.

At the same time I have severe dental and facial pain from a condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia (or TN for short).

I had brain surgery several years ago to try to treat the TN, but the surgery did not work and the pain came back, requiring additional treatment such as this oral surgery. That surgery (micro vascular decompression) left me with a small titanium disc and 6 screws in my skull and massive loss of hearing in the right ear. 

The next course of action to treat the TN is oral surgery to remove my teeth, in order to help stop the facial pain, and at the same time will treat a current dental infection from a broken teeth. 

However, because I am on social security disability, I am stuck with medicare as my insurance provider. And they have now denied my preapproval (twice) to have them cover the tooth extractions for medical reasons, and will not even cover a set of removable false teeth (basic dentures, not implants)

But their cost for the extractions and dentures is $10,890.

Medicare said no, I have to pay it myself.

I have no savings at all. At times my ability to drive is reduced to the point where I have to decide I shouldnt drive at that time, mainly due to the nerve pain in my legs or left shoulder.

Social Security disability does not pay anyone enough to survive. I have to visit food banks for food.

 I am unable to work because of my back.

 over the last 4 months have lost the ability to walk upright, or use my entire left arm, and the spinal injuries are extremely painful.

 to afford food, bills, medicine copays, transportation to and from doctors or hospital and more, I have had to make hard decisions and juggle what little money i have. 

My lumbar spinal surgery is scheduled for June 9th (coming up quickly) and the cervical spine surgery will be soon after that. 

I still need to make an appointment for the oral surgery to treat the trigeminal neuralgia.

 in the meantime, I am having extreme difficulty eating, and lost sensation in my tongue.

So, in total, i need 4 different surgeries, (including oral surgery)  2 spine surgeries (neck & lower back) and shoulder surgery.

I live on only $1250 a month from Social Security Disability.

the state of Connecticut has denied me access to food stamps (EBT) because they said my income of $1250 is above the new Federal guidelines threshold for eligibility for food stamps, due to changes in the federal governments guidelines on eligibility.

so, i have to go to food banks.

when my surgery date gets here on June 9th, I will be laid up for a long time and will be unable to go to food banks myself, or cook for myself, or do anything.

i have no family or friends to rely on for anything.

Once the surgeries are done I should be able to move again and regain much of my lost motion and function, and hopefully will be in a lot less pain, the neurosurgeon said I should regain the use of motion I had.

i currently cannot walk upright, move my head, use my left shoulder or arm, and due to the pinched nerves in my neck I have numbness in my tongue, and a lot of shooting pain down both arms, and in the lower back pinched nerves are effecting both legs.

If I can get the oral surgery, I will be able to eat properly again, and will be able to avoid further brain surgery for Trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

My first brain surgery (called micro vascular decompression) was unsuccessful, and the TN pain returned after about a year.

If this oral surgery works, I should be able to avoid further brain surgery, and it will take care of a oral infection I currently have from a broken tooth.

But i cannot afford the dental work, as medicare is denying the services because they said I exhausted my entire benefits for the year (which was capped at only $1000).

I need a lot of help during this time while I am recovering from the spinal surgery.

I will include in this some screenshots of the bill from the oral surgeons office, and the reports for the lumbar and cervical MRIs which made the surgeons decide it was important to do these surgeries now.

if i dont get the spinal surgeries now, I have the real possibility of paralysis, and even possible worse.

The dental work is required in order to help treat the TN, and to correct some dental infections.

i have broken and failing teeth because of the TN making it impossible to care for the teeth without major pain, just from brushing.

Because of the TN, I am also unable to shave most of the time. But after the treatments, I will be able to shave again, and with the back surgeries, I will be able to move my arm and shoulder again, and will be able to walk upright again.

ok...so here is the oral surgeon bill, and the reports for the back surgeries.

If you can afford to help, I would be forever grateful.

Every little bit helps.

Thank you for reading.