<div><strong>UPDATE</strong>: Turns out I was a part of an even smaller percentage of people who herniated the same disc <strong>three </strong>times.
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<div>Around Halloween 2025, while recovering from surgery, I reherniated <em>again. </em>
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<div>And because everyone knows that medical appointments always take longer to get scheduled at the end of the year, I was not able to get my surgery until February 3rd. 
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<div>Meaning it will be a total of about <strong><em>6 months</em></strong> out of work, instead of the originally anticipated <strong><em>6 weeks</em></strong><em>.</em>
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<div>I thought I was panicking then..
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<div>This is much, much worse. <em> </em>
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<div>Any continued support is so very graciously appreciated.  ❤️
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<div>______________________
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<div>My name is Anna, and asking for donations is a really difficult thing for me to do. But when life hits, it hits hard. <strong>I need help.</strong>
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<div>In June of 2021, I had my first microdiscectomy for herniating my L5/S1 disc. I dealt with debilitating pain for 6 months prior: inability to stand, walk, bend, twist, or even use the restroom without <strong><em>debilitating</em></strong> pain.
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<div>Surgery was the only relief, and afterwards, I cried because I could finally go about my daily life <em>without</em> excruciating sciatic pain.
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<div>My doctors told me I should have no more issues.
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<div>Flash forward 4 years and 3 months later—here I am, again.
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<div>The chances of reherniating the same disc twice is only 9%.
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<div>I was <em>not</em> part of the 91%.
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<div>I now find myself thrown back into the <strong>darkest nightmare</strong> I've ever had, <em>again</em>.
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<div>However, this time the pain is <em>much more intense</em>. I find myself screaming and crying on a regular basis, just trying to ease the pain.
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<div>If anyone has had nerve pain before, you know there's <strong><em>nothing</em></strong> worse.
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<div>To make matters worse, I now work as a server, which basically means that if I'm not working, I don't make money.
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<div>Short-term disability will only pay me a fraction of my hourly (minimum) wage while I deal with recovering, which will take a total of about 8 weeks.
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<div><strong>To make matters worse? My surgery is going to cost me thousands.</strong> Yes, I have insurance, but it will cost me around $3000 out of my own pocket.
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<div>My savings did not prepare for another spine surgery and being off work for 2 months.
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<div>I've never needed help as much as I do right now.
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<div><strong>Anything</strong> helps, and <em>everything</em> is appreciated
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<div>*Friendly reminder that your whole life can fall apart in the blink of an eye*
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<div>With Love,
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<div>Anna Lepke
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<div>Venmo @AnnaLepke
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Krzysztof Borowski

Debra Anderson

Brenda Peterson

Anonymous

Shannon Bracey

Camelia Muresan

Hilary Merrill

Feyza Huxford

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Support Anna's Recovery from Spine Surgery

Support Anna's Recovery from Spine Surgery

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