Hi! My name is Alex aka Diosa Azteca, my derby name. I've been playing roller derby for a few years now, and am currently a member of the Denver Roller Derby league and co-founder of the Fuego Latino Roller Derby team. During the pandemic in August 2024, a severe injury developed to my spinal column that disabled me, leaving me unable to walk for approximately two weeks. Since then and for almost three years now, my physical and mental health has deteriorated, my life has changed from being so active and strong to losing the ability to walk a mile! I have had a lot of chronic pain, I have tried various techniques with different specialists, physical therapies, massages, chiropractors, acupuncture, yoga, EVERYTHING, from the most basic solutions to the possibility of surgery. This year I found out that one of my L4-L5 discs is completely empty, compressed and torn, since the medical system does not provide more tools to know what is happening in your body until you try everything and when your pain is chronic. Unfortunately, I did not have the financial resources to accelerate my healing and find out why I still could not lead my life without pain, and I had to adapt to the times of my doctors and my insurance. This year I had to stop skating because the pain was too intense (last season I played in a lot of pain because I didn't want to quit the sport) as well as making it impossible for me to lead a functional life, but this year I definitely had to stop. I consulted new surgeons, got a steroid shot and went back to physical therapy which I have been doing for three months, I have had less bad days, although still in pain, and at least the suicidal ideation is gone for a while. In March I was able to get an appointment with one of the best spine specialists in Colorado and we found out that I am a candidate for PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections. Although they do not assure that I will be completely cured, the other option is spinal surgery, which has less odds of helping me than the injection. Unfortunately these injections are still in the trial period and are not covered by my insurance, each injection costs $2k and since my financial possibilities do not allow it, I come to ask for your support if it is within your means. The plan is to get two injections and have some extra money for the time off to recover which I calculate will be no more than 2 weeks. Although they do not assure me of curing the disc, this is the last resort I have left and I want to try it despite the cost, since living with pain is not life. My hopes are placed on this method. I'll be infinitely grateful for your help and I'll see what I do with this body and its battles. Thank you! Diosa
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