To whom it may concern,
I have suffered with severe lower back pain since 2002. I’ve spent many thousands of dollars on chiropractors with only very moderate and short term relief. I’ve even been in traction machines (in physical therapy) which, while in the traction machine, relieved an unbelievable amount of pain; but as soon as the traction was over, I could barely walk for hours after.
(For pain relief I need no less than direct pressure on the muscles lateral to my spine in the injured area. It requires more pressure than can be applied with a thumb. Honestly, anything less than my Fiancé’s full body weight applied with the point of her elbow does nothing at all).
I’ve taken so much ibuprofen now that my stomach is in terrible shape.
I would have done much more, much sooner, for my back but I’ve received very poor advice from various sources early on. Moreover, I lost my job due to the pain and haven’t had insurance since 2003.
I now have an option for some seemingly fantastic Aetna* insurance through my university.
I had an MRI about a year ago that revealed an S1 L5 annular tear and some degenerative issues as well.
The pain currently radiates my entire sacrum and almost constantly effects both of my legs. Bending, lifting, sitting, standing and laying all hurt, all of the time. The pain is always present and lever less than a 3-5. If I do something to aggravate it, which is almost daily, it’s a 6-9.
At this point, the stress from this problem is almost as crippling as the injury itself. In that I barely have the will to even write this simple letter.
What should I do?
Sincerely,
Beckett
