I have had the pleasure of becoming a friend through CC forum and being a DT member for Paper Creator, Karen has been ill for two years and been in constant pain, Karen has been waiting for an epidural in her neck to help ease the pain, sadly last week she had a call to say the consultant had gone on long term sick leave and his list had been cancelled,Karen was devastated as you can imagine, luckily for Karen she had a call to say she was on an active list.
Karen is trying to save to see a private consultant to try and get a proper diagnosis and is selling a lot of her craft products to raise enough money to have this consultation.
Karen has been doing some designing and she gets paid for every kit that is sold, you can find these on the
Paper Creator, site, this is where we can help Karen raise enough to get the help she desperately needs by purchasing one or more of these wonderful kits.
Here is a little of Karen's words.
I have Degeneration of the C spine... (My neck) The disks which are damaged by change so far are;-
C4/5 C5/6 C6/7. I also have narrowing to the Exit Foramina which is causing root nerve compression - all of this causes a whole host of nasties for me, not least of which is the pins & needles, numbness to my limbs, loss of use and weakness to my arm, hand, and leg. Black outs, dizzy spells, headaches, loss of vision to my right eye and so many other problems they are too many to mention here.
The biggest thing I live with day to day is the sheer level of constant pain. The pain I have is in my neck, my shoulders, my arm, partly in my back, and in my leg too.
I also get a lot of pain to the back of my skull because of the problems with my neck. I suffer from paralyses and have good and bad days with this.
I also suffer from something called Complicated Migraine, which causes separate issues of it's own, but this is being managed with medication. But it does mean that I am unable to take normal analgesic or over the counter pain relief.
So I go day to day without any pain relief at all.
I have been waiting for such a long time for an Epidural injection in my neck, to give me some relief to my symptoms, which the hospital have just put back - and I am now on an "active waiting list" - I am still awaiting a referral to a London Spinal Specialist - I have been waiting for this referral for a long time now, and again, this appointment keeps getting knocked back.
I am currently trying to raise the funds to visit a private consultant, so that I can get some straight, honest, unbiased answers on exactly what my problem is and what my options are for getting it sorted out., I also want to be able to have the Epidural done if I can raise enough money for this.
I am so desperate to be able to do things with my children again. The worst thing this summer has not been having one single day out with my kiddies. It's made me feel like I've failed them some how.
It is now two and a half years since these symptoms started, and a year since my diagnosis and I am still right at square one for getting any help. I am still suffering daily with no pain relief. I am still fighting to see the right consultant who is willing to help me and give me an honest answer with regards to what procedure is needed.
The only consultant who was honest enough to tell me my neck is in really bad shape, and that I need to go to London, and that I will need a series of operations in my lifetime, has just taken long term sick leave. He was my pain management consultant, and this is the reason why I have now been knocked back yet again, and I am now still waiting for my long awaited Epidural in my neck..
This is why I have been selling some of my crafting stuff in the hope of raising some funds to go and see a private consultant.
The thought of waiting maybe another year to be seen is unbearable
It seems to just go round and round and round in circles until I am right back where I started hun..
So please if you can help by purchasing one of Karen's Designs it would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for all your help in getting the treatment she desperately needs.
Hugs Julie xx