Keep Evan from losing range of motion

Hey Y'all

My name is Evan Lawrence; I'm primarily a musician based in NYC and have played gigs for at least ten years. I am on this platform to ask for a specific kind of assistance in helping me afford Physical Therapy for Severe Herniated Discs in my L5/S1 // C3/C4// C6/C7 that have become debilitating in my life and are threatening my livelihood and quality of life. These injuries have led to a decade-long battle with Extreme Mind Dizzying Chronic Pain that I've been somewhat successful at keeping at bay and hiding for the most part.

These Issues began roughly a decade ago due to a Vehicular accident during my 2nd year in High School. I sustained a Herniated Disc in my L5/S1 that has begun to deteriorate over time and has led to muscle atrophy in my low back. I was prescribed PT for a few months before being left to deal with my confusing, dull growing pain in my tailbone and low-back area.

The initial PT and constant light exercises successfully kept pain minimal for about 2 years. However, my issues were exacerbated by playing Stand-up bass: i.e., Upright Bass and sitting down and standing up. The only relief I would ever get from laying down would begin with a searing hot pain that felt as if cool lava had been released into my back and was spreading slowly.

Once entering College, my back pain began to grow, and my symptoms started to worsen to the point of Mental Anguish. I would constantly take breaks from what I was doing to find a spot to lay face up. I would ask Friends to pull me from my legs and arms to finally feel the pain go away, if only for a second. I've been unable to use my legs and walk at least a handful of times in the past few years.

Fast Forward to 2019:

I sustained a neck injury escaping a speeding driver by jumping into my vehicle and hitting my head on the door frame, which caused my Herniation at C6/C7. Though not too painful of a strike, Later that summer, symptoms of neuropathy began in my left arm and hand *my Fretting hand* that began to force me to say no to all kinds of work more often, reaching a height of me leaving my day job all of July outside of PT appointments. I lost the ability to write, drive, embrace others and more.

Fast Forward to Current Day:

After attending two months of PT, I kept my hand issues from c6/c7 at bay. Unfortunately, I've recently been diagnosed with an additional Herniated disc in my C3/C4, which has now affected me with constant headaches, irritability, and difficulty breathing.

Each of these injuries occurs at their respective nerve roots in my spine. And Though I've been able to more or less get back up after being bed-ridden for flare-ups, The financial burden these appointments cost me is a heavy one.

Though I have insurance, Most places that accept my insurance *ending in Mid March* are not well qualified in hands-on consistent, persistent therapy. The usual tactic for when I have month-long flare-ups has been:

Go to a physical therapist

learn the exercises and go home and repeat them on a regimen.

At most, I've seen up to 3 Physical Therapist Centers simultaneously, each one resulting in about $75 in total costs a week. However, the best places, the ones that have helped the fastest and given the best consultations on upkeeping my spinal health, have been the places that were out of Network and usually required much.. much more.

In 2019 I found quite possibly my favorite PT center that required me to pay $300 a session. I could only afford to do this for a few weeks before it ultimately depleted my bank accounts.

After having roughly a big year in travel by land and air for work, I've found myself in the middle stages of another flare-up that began in the Spring of 2021. Starting with developing Cauda Equina in my lower back, resulting in a slew of symptoms that means that the pain is reaching into the nerve endings of my groin area, legs and genitals. And ending with discovering the newest Herniation that has given me Lung/Rib Cage/ Extreme headache issues.

I've just recently seen one of America's Best Spine Surgeons who Prescribed me to a pretty decent Hands-on Sports Rehabilitation Center who, SURPRISE!, is NOT covered by my insurance. This past week alone, I've dropped $500 on two appointments out of my suggested 3x a week for the next seven weeks.

3 x $275 = 825

825 x 8 = $6,600

I've come to this platform to humbly ask that anyone able to help relieve the stress of paying for roughly $7,000 for me to be able to work under less painful circumstances. I've been able to secure a credit card from my parents to place the payments for the time being. But must pay it all back, of course. These injuries have destroyed opportunities for me & have resulted in a loss of quality of life.

I'm only 25, turning 26 soon, and have been dealing with this since I was 15.

I'm a performing artist and musician who regularly gigs, so this issue is the top 10 worst things that can happen.. In the coming weeks, I will be posting more musical content to bring awareness to this campaign and chronic pain generally. Many of us are silently suffering every single day.

Thank you all Very Much. Every Single Donation is enormously and dearly appreciated.