Please help me navigate a degenerative spinal condition. I learned I have Scoliosis in 2024.

I experience extreme shooting nerve pain from my neck, through my back and into my right leg. No stranger to sciatica and piriformis syndrome ; I have been doing yoga and pain management practices for 10 years.

This most recent pain was elevated 10 fold…

We found that I have deteriorated discs pressing down on the spinal nerve; prevalent in between my shoulder blades.

(Multilevel degenerative cervical spondylosis can cause spinal canal narrowing by compressing the spinal cord and nerve roots. Without proper treatment this can lead to loss of lower body function.)

It was a long journey to get imaging and physical therapy without insurance. I’ve been doing pain management and stretches for 8 months. Most recently it started to affect my legs and collapsed me down my stairs. This nerve pinching has begun to affect the functionality of my arms and dexterity of my hands.

This month we immobilized for several weeks…. I had been trying to work through it for months. I finally feel on the mend; but I also know my life is changed forever. I have to maintain correct posture at all times to prevent burning discomfort. I wear a brace and corset each day.

The culprate of course being my life, my age, and my work. Hours and hours hunched over painting, sanding, sewing, and computer work. 20 years of stilt walking and dancing with angle grinders, large headpieces and props.

Our lifestyle is expensive, as I’m sure everyone’s is at this point. We worked very hard for a decade to get where we are now. To afford our own artist work studio and the ability to take on large projects.

This setback has greatly decreased my ability to complete tasks at the rate needed to maintain our business. I haven’t said much on social media. I didn’t want to post anything that could negatively impact my business. It’s pretty beyond that now.

I have promoted multiple sales in my shop to cover expenses. I currently owe two loans and I unfortunately lapsed on my credit cards. My parents are unable to contribute any further. I’m frustrated I cannot make all the things to save myself.

I am Asking for your Help. While I have a wonderful partner to help me with the day to day, they are also a self employed artist. The bills have stacked up and there’s just nothing left. I’ve cried endlessly fighting my own worthlessness and mental decline over this situation. I never wanted to live a life making my problems anyone elses…. I do survive with the worlds help and I need a little more today.

A hand up, would help pay my 4 months back rent, accumulating utility bills, and secure rent for another month. I would be able to see a specialist and massage therapist. I am a candidate for shots to block the nerves in that region; I was told it could be thousands. As this seems like something that will be with me until my death, I know a lot of doors have just shut for me. In our modern world this should not be game over. I have been a freelance artist since 2004. I would like the opportunity to continue my journey.

We are self funded from our performances and art sales. Scenic,Graphic Design, Hair and Makeup styling. Original Bespoke Costume creations for private collectors and large scale festival and gallery events.

Our artist space is self funded and the gallery space was to open in October 2025.

As founder I need to be in good health (or at least functioning). To reach my goals and continue to be apart of a productive society.

I will continue to do everything I can, to take responsibility for my condition. We are asking for your help now. I could use your support. I could use your humanity if you have any to share. Just a small donation from each of my 8K followers could change my stars. Please share my story and help me find Hope and Recovery.

“What we have set out to do takes a village, a community, a society that wishes to enrich the lives of its members; to produce community spaces that are fundamental to the stimulation and growth of artists. Without unity we are lost without places to collaborate, share, and listen to one another; we are trapped in individualism, antisocial, overwhelmed by our consumerist society…” ~Jillian Hutchinson aka DefenzMechanizm founder of Ocular Hysteria