- S
- P
Hi everyone,
I post this message asking for help: help for me and help for those affected by COVID-19.
Three years ago this month, I was sent to physical therapy for two herniated discs, and suffered an injury that has changed my life. I was doing an exercise that was supposed to break up some of the dense scar tissue that webs itself around my lower spine. All of a sudden I felt a snap-pop in my lower back and broke out in a cold sweat. The pain surfaced a few moments later and hasn’t left.
Since that moment, nothing in my life has been the same. I’ve struggled with a daily, searing pain that fluctuates between a sciatica-like nerve pain wrapping around my thigh to feeling like I am being poked in the lower back with hot, sharp rocks. Often, it’s both.
I've seen four doctors over the past three years, and none of them could find a reason for my pain – or had much interest in treating my pain. For the most part, I have tried to treat the pain myself (and not very successfully, I might add). My quality of life has deteriorated exponentially. There are simple things that I really miss: socializing and being able to focus on conversations with people I care about; my beloved goth-darkwave-industrial dance floor; sitting on the couch and watching TV with my boyfriend without lightning bolts of pain zipping up and down my left side. I miss healthy sleep. I miss having the focus to read an entire book.
I have a demanding job so I have to divide my time and energy between my job and trying to manage my pain. Some relationships in my life have suffered from my lack of focus.
After trying numerous pain remedies and the four doctors mentioned above, I was steered towards a doctor affiliated with Hospital for Special Surgery. He had additional MRIs prescribed, and found a tear in one of my herniated discs. He thinks this could cause some of the back pain, and even some of my fibromyalgia pain. (Did I mention that I was diagnosed with that in February? I believe it’s – partly– as a result of being in daily pain for three years.)
The doctor prescribed a specific epidural for my pain, but he does not accept insurance, and the cost is high. My father, Bishop George Packard, has paid for my treatment, but I would like to pay back a portion of that medical fee to help my dad with this debt.
I know that I am very lucky to have this support from my dad. I know I’m also not alone in this system of US healthcare and lack of safety nets. In an effort to help others during this chaotic time, your donation to my GoFundMe will help to alleviate my pain, and 20% will go to alleviate the pain of others through Doctors Without Borders.
Any funds raised beyond the $2000 target will go to Doctors without Borders.
If you don’t know about Doctors Without Borders, you should check them out: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ They’re an international humanitarian group dedicated to providing medical care to people in distress: “Medical aid where it’s needed most – independent, neutral, impartial.”
Thank you for reading and thank you for donating!
HCP
I post this message asking for help: help for me and help for those affected by COVID-19.
Three years ago this month, I was sent to physical therapy for two herniated discs, and suffered an injury that has changed my life. I was doing an exercise that was supposed to break up some of the dense scar tissue that webs itself around my lower spine. All of a sudden I felt a snap-pop in my lower back and broke out in a cold sweat. The pain surfaced a few moments later and hasn’t left.
Since that moment, nothing in my life has been the same. I’ve struggled with a daily, searing pain that fluctuates between a sciatica-like nerve pain wrapping around my thigh to feeling like I am being poked in the lower back with hot, sharp rocks. Often, it’s both.
I've seen four doctors over the past three years, and none of them could find a reason for my pain – or had much interest in treating my pain. For the most part, I have tried to treat the pain myself (and not very successfully, I might add). My quality of life has deteriorated exponentially. There are simple things that I really miss: socializing and being able to focus on conversations with people I care about; my beloved goth-darkwave-industrial dance floor; sitting on the couch and watching TV with my boyfriend without lightning bolts of pain zipping up and down my left side. I miss healthy sleep. I miss having the focus to read an entire book.
I have a demanding job so I have to divide my time and energy between my job and trying to manage my pain. Some relationships in my life have suffered from my lack of focus.
After trying numerous pain remedies and the four doctors mentioned above, I was steered towards a doctor affiliated with Hospital for Special Surgery. He had additional MRIs prescribed, and found a tear in one of my herniated discs. He thinks this could cause some of the back pain, and even some of my fibromyalgia pain. (Did I mention that I was diagnosed with that in February? I believe it’s – partly– as a result of being in daily pain for three years.)
The doctor prescribed a specific epidural for my pain, but he does not accept insurance, and the cost is high. My father, Bishop George Packard, has paid for my treatment, but I would like to pay back a portion of that medical fee to help my dad with this debt.
I know that I am very lucky to have this support from my dad. I know I’m also not alone in this system of US healthcare and lack of safety nets. In an effort to help others during this chaotic time, your donation to my GoFundMe will help to alleviate my pain, and 20% will go to alleviate the pain of others through Doctors Without Borders.
Any funds raised beyond the $2000 target will go to Doctors without Borders.
If you don’t know about Doctors Without Borders, you should check them out: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ They’re an international humanitarian group dedicated to providing medical care to people in distress: “Medical aid where it’s needed most – independent, neutral, impartial.”
Thank you for reading and thank you for donating!
HCP