Hello all

Due to an injury in my late teens in a car accident, I've been in chronic pain for the last 30 years. I have avoided surgery up until now with various pain management including steroid injections, nerve blocks, radio frequency ablations, facet joint injections, medications, the amazing caudal epidurals, physio, acupuncture, and pretty much any treatment my pain specialist has suggested. Everything in my life revolves around pain. It dictates how much I work, what I can cook (as it limits how long I can stand), how I sleep, the car I drive, my social life, how clean my house is, what chair I sit in, the temperature of the air con (heat makes it worse), and how often I can cuddle our grandson.

Unfortunately, the nerves in my spine are now so compressed that surgery is now essential to prevent me from becoming paraplegic with permanent nerve damage and pain.

The out of pocket cost for this surgery is approximately $20,000 and that is after Medicare and my Gold level private health insurance. There is the added cost of anaesthetist and any tests and medications in hospital, on top of the surgery quote, which will use rebates I get from the actual surgery.

I am needing a spinal decompression, artificial disc, bone graft and fusion. I'll be in hospital for 4-5 days, then recovering at home.

The MRI image makes it pretty obvious where the problem is and has worsened from the MRI 5 years ago. The base of my spine has similar issues, nowhere near as bad as L1-L2. The pain from this will hopefully improve when the pressure is taken off the nerves higher up.

All donations will go towards the surgical cost and post surgery recovery treatments like physio and hydrotherapy, once I am cleared to do so.

I would appreciate any assistance, as every little bit helps. Being pain free (or even reduced nerve pain) and able to get back to working normally will be a life changing experience. Nursing is my career and has been so limited due to pain. Being able to consider opportunities and expand my lifestyle is what I'm looking forward to the most. To be able to work full days, go bush walking, go dancing, play with my grandson, wander the shops for hours, simply clean the house... so much has been limited by pain. To be free to do what I need to, what I love, the things I miss, without calculating the physical cost of it, is unfathomable to my brain. To not spend hundreds of dollars every month on meds, physio, tools to help me do things, modifications, will be an added bonus.

I have done, and continue to do, all I can to make this surgery as successful as possible. The surgeon I have chosen was recommended by several of my medical colleagues. I could have this surgery done in the public system, although it would take too long to be seen and the risk of permanent damage is quite high if I delay.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. I may not know why I was gifted this journey and there are many days that I resent it. Perhaps I will never understand, perhaps I will. Either way, there is a purpose in my experience.

Thank you for choosing to read my story, and I appreciate any donations.