Help Raise Medical Funds for Local Activist

Hi! I'm Charlene, and I'm a student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. I currently have a condition called sciatica and may need your help with funding my care.

MY CONDITION


The cause of the condition is largely still under speculation, but it is possible that this was with me since I was very young. When I was still in elementary school in the Philippines, we do not have lockers, and classes run from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. We usually had 7 to 8 subjects a day, and so we carried 8 books, 8 notebooks, in addition to lunches and other miscellaneous things. We walked to and from school every day. I continued doing this until I graduated high school in the Philippines. With so much weight carried always on my back for the past eighteen years, my spine is no longer straight, as seen on the x-ray photo above.

This condition was left untreated for more years until the L5 Spinal bone finally gave in, and it has compromised the spinal disc between the L5 and the scrotum bone. This leads to the pinching of the sciatic nerve.


I started to become aware of the situation in October 2018. The pain and numbness had started first in the heel of my right leg then travelled to my knee every time I walked for 5minutes or more. I consulted with my nurse practitioner about the condition, but as time progressed, the pain has now affected my entire right leg and my lower back, and now degeneration is beginning from my upper back as well.

HOW THIS AFFECTS ME

For eight months since this condition started, I have difficulty walking long distances and standing for more than two minutes. I currently have a cane to support me, but it is not enough for me to continue to walk longer than 2 minutes as parts of my body are immobilized.

Because I am actively trying to avoid walking and regular movement due to my condition, this compromises my health in the long run. I am gaining weight fast and my muscles feel weak. I get fatigued more often, and weather conditions can severely affect my leg and my daily walks. When I have my school bag with me, I get easily dizzy from the weight of the bag on my shoulders.

RECOMMENDED TREATMENT (AND COSTS)

Kristine is currently under intensive care with her chiropractor for 6 months of spinal adjustments. Each session is $48. Those 6 months with her chiropractor are broken down into two parts:

Chiropractic care / spinal adjustments
- 3 times a week for the first 4 months ($2, 304)
- 2 times a week for the next 2 months ($768)

Massage therapy
- 1 times a week for the next 6 months ($2, 2080)

A total of $5, 152 for the 12 weeks. Unfortunately, I am not sure how much the massage therapy so my needs may need to be adjusted in the long run, and the costs may be updated in the near future.

In addition, I see a physiotherapist to also treat my condition and put me in exercise regimens to sooth and relax my sciatic nerve. Each session with them will be $65, and they recommend that I see them once a week or every two weeks. For now, I have included the total costs of care for two months in the campaign ($560).

I will also be buying miscellaneous care products, such as ice-packs and bio-freeze to help relieve pain throughout the care. ($150)

THE LONG RUN

I'd love to be able to walk without being in pain all the time. I'd love to ride a bike in the summer. Walking is an unavoidable part of my routine, especially as a student. If this condition is treated, I can properly enter the workforce again without discrimination.

BONUSES
If you donate $15, I will send you a personal thank-you card to you!

If you donate $20 or more I will send you not only a thank-you card, but a personal poem written with one of my typewriters! :)

Thank you so much for looking at my GoFundMe page. If you cannot donate, please spread the word.