MY STORY
HI THERE! My name’s Alexia. As a former competitive gymnast, Fitness and health have been a foundational part of my lifestyle. The gym and working out became my way of staying mobile and functioning after a career ending full disc herniation circa 2014. I’ve had upwards of 15 procedures since then, including a spinal fusion of my L5S1 in 2016, and a Fusion removal in 2020.
I experienced debilitating pain after my fusion in 2016. From the day of the procedure onwards I knew that there was something very wrong. As I know many have also experienced, my pain was minimized by doctors and not taken seriously. After 3 1/2 years of pain post fusion I started to develop visual nerve damage. I was losing feeling in my legs and walking abnormally. I kept describing it as a weakness in the back of my knees, as if they could buckle at any moment.
My pain scale on a day to day basis never went below a 6. I had been prescribed strong pain medications on multiple occasions and would try taking them but they couldn’t even take the edge off.
2020 i was seen by a neurologist who finally took my pain seriously. After some exploratory imaging and going further than just CT/MRI, it was discovered that a pin was placed crooked into my central nerve route.
Finally, I had an answer. It was never just in my head.
August 1st 2020, just two days after my 20th birthday I had my fusion removed by an incredible neurosurgeon in Atlanta. He couldn’t believe the state of the fusion hardware that had been in my body for nearly 4 years. The hardware used was from the 1990’s, and even had to have a special removal kit shipped in from out of state. Subsequently, I found out that the hardware was made out of a nickel compound I was severely allergic to. So to say the least my body was fully rejecting the entirety of my 2016 surgery.
I still have a spacer in place of my disc, but otherwise all of the hardware was removed. I woke up from surgery with immediate relief. Despite having surgery related pain i could 100% feel the difference immediately.
I will always be grateful that i didn’t give up on myself. It’s so easy to begin to doubt your lived experience when professionals tell you that there is nothing wrong. Sometimes you can find yourself questioning why would i make this all up? who would want to live like this?
All of those years I persevered through being told no and advocated for myself. I studied my own imaging, begged doctors to take my pain seriously, countless trips to the emergency room, injections for pain, physical therapy, unsuccessful prescription pain and nerve medications. You name it, i tried it.
I thank God every day for an able body. Since my surgery my spine has been so much better. I knew going into my removal surgery that i’d most likely never be “pain free”. However I have experienced the blessing of having an average pain scale below a 3 since recovering. I occasionally have “off days” where i accidentally throw my back out, or do too much activity and those are the outliers.
With the ability to complete daily activities, movement, and exercise I feel like I’ve been able to reconnect with the healthiest version of myself who I hadn’t known for so long.
If you have ever found yourself in a similar situation then you know just how hard it is. And if so, I’m so glad you’re here.
If you’re currently going through something similar I’m so sorry that you’re experiencing something so very hard. My best advice to you, as cliche as it may sound, is to keep pushing forward. No one knows your body like you. Advocate for yourself, get second/third/fourth/fifth opinions, do your own research, and most importantly don’t give up.
If you’ve made it this far, Thanks for reading my story. I’m so grateful for every person I’m able to connect with through my story.