Some background information on me and my health. I have a floating vertebrae in my lower spine as well as degenerative arthritis and disc degeneration in my lower spine. I also suffer chronic debilitating migraine headaches and have bursitis in my left hip. I’ve been going to physical therapy off and on since early 2020, and have been pretty consistently doing my strengthening and therapeutic exercises. Until April of last year, barring a flare up or two, the PT and occasional steroid pack or toradol injection mostly resolved my back pain issues. In April of 2023 I had a more serious flare up, and resumed therapy to not only help my back, but also to get back in the saddle physically. Previous health issues had taken me out of the game, including hospitalizations for COVID-19, my heart (stable angina in a minor vessel of my left ventricle), diverticulitis, and my old friend, chronic migraine pain. Each of these episodes weakened me, took me out of work, and forced me to exhaust my financial resources in order to survive.

Fast forward to April of 2023 and I was out of shape as well as in serious pain. No matter what my care team and physical therapist did, my back pain kept coming back, flaring, and sidelining me. Any conditioning program would end in a back pain flare, urgent care, and more missed work, usually without pay. Eventually, my lower back pain lead to a short term disability leave, which was another financial hit. Money aside (it’s scary home many of us truly are three paychecks from homelessness) the pain and debilitation progressed to the point where my quality of life was suffering. I had to decide if I had enough back to make something to eat OR to shower. There literally was not enough for both. It was no longer a matter of being strong so I could dance, frolick, hike, swim, or ski, but if I was strong enough to do one self care vital thing per day. 

I finally went through the rounds to get referred and approved for pain management, with the goal being not meds, but injections to allow me to continue strengthening my back so I could live again, work again, and not miss life due to injury. I got my rounds of facet point injections (8 in all) completed on Oct 31st, 2023 and was finally back at work on November 10th. Now, I still was in trouble financially, but my back pain was under control. 

During my disability my job completely changed. Our office moved locations and we switched from customer service to sales and support. For me, this meant a much higher sales quota and no adjustment of such for coming in mid month and having to learn a new system. Basically, bye-bye bonus. Bonuses are a part of my compensation and needed to earn a living. They are performance based, and if you aren’t there you can’t make your numbers. 

Everything was progressing physically, though. I was getting stronger, and able to walk, cook, clean house, socialize, exercise, and venture forth with my camera to capture nature things. I was in a bit of a pickle financially due to missed work from all I’d dealt with, but things were looking good. Then my check engine light came on. My brother is a mechanic and after eliminating several issues (plugs, coils, etc, a pressure and compression test revealed two faulty valves) we elected to replace the engine because it made sense to replace the whole engine instead of doing just a value job, only to risk having the rings go after that. Once the rings go it’s always cheaper to do a new engine. The cost of an engine was slightly more than a valve job, but it made sense to replace it instead of taking our chances. The out of pocket dealt a death blow to my already non existent finances, however. Still, I was finally, blessedly, pain free. I had to set reasonable limits for myself to hit that sweet spot of gains without injury, but I was doing it, physically anyway. Financially, I was in trouble, and instead of launching this fundraiser months ago, to recoup what being injured took away, I panicked and froze. 

THEN I fell at work, injuring my knee. I took a call right before my break that went way over, and as a result I had to desperately run to the bathroom. Between trying to get there and not have an accident, I tripped and went down hard with my knee twisted under me. I’ve been in constant pain since then. Work sent me to a different doctor (their workers comp doctor) and I’ve been doing PT for my knee (which hasn’t responded) and waiting upon scheduling of an MRI. As anyone probably knows, time missed due to worker’s comp is not made up financially. Especially in Nevada. I did my level best to schedule drs visits outside of work time, but that also wore me out, when what I needed was rest and recovery. I still missed some time due to appointments and that is without pay, or obviously a bonus. Not at work = can’t make numbers.

Last Saturday (Dec 30th) my back began hurting on the lower left side, and just for fun, my left shoulder, and long ago dislocated left elbow decided to join the party. The pain was intense and overwhelming, especially at night. I tried everything (continual PT exercises), what little anti inflammatories I’m allowed, salves, creams, KT tape, heat, ice, TENS unit, lacrosse ball massage, stability ball, you name it. The pain kept getting worse and more localized to the lower left quadrant of my back and abdomen. I went to the ER - suspecting a stone, but the CT scan revealed no obstructive stones or bowel issues. I had a non specified UTI which they treated with fentanyl, toradol, and a broad spectrum antibiotic. I was sent home with a prescription for antibiotics & naproxen, with instructions to follow up w my primary care physician or return if the pain worsened. The pain is worsening, so here I am out of work, in pain, and in temporary financial crisis. It sounds like a lot. It is. Everything adds up, and several months without a bonus creates a big hole. I’m all by myself, a single income household. I’ve had to reevaluate my spending and make a plan, so I can stay caught up, the problem is getting there. I can exercise the financial restraint and self discipline to never get back in the hole, but no amount is going to undo what has already been done.

im reaching out to all of you, my friends, my family, my community, my colleagues. I need help catching up so I can heal, get treated, and get back on this horse that has so rudely bucked me off. I’m setting my goal to cover rent, loan payments, and to offset the out of pocket and remainder owing on the engine until a point where I can resume work at 100 percent capacity (I have an aggressive quota that does not get lowered due to missed time).

I don’t like asking for help, but I am desperate and in need, and I’ve exhausted all of my financial resources. I have nowhere else to turn. Please help me or share my fundraiser and story. Anything helps. Even a little bit.

I may have to adjust the goal up and will let you know with any updates. If anyone wants to champion my cause and act as an advocate I appreciate that as well. Thank you so much for reading and helping me. I appreciate all of you and will return the favor once I’m able. It definitely humbles me down to make this ask, but I have no other choice. I’m about three bonuses in arrears at this point which is significantly more than my ask here. I’m just seeking enough to get my head above water and bridge the gap until I can get back to work from this latest episode. Even if I returned to work tomorrow, I would still need this assistance. Thank you for being there and for any help you can give.

update: back in the ER for worsening pain. Will keep you all posted. Thank you for your encouragement and support. I appreciate all of you.