Brock's Bertolotti Surgery

Hello everyone, my name is Brock. I am 24 years old and have been diagnosed with a rare type of chronic, often debilitating, low back/hip pain called Berolotti’s Syndrome.

Growing up, I remember being a very happy active young kid. I would often spend days with family or friends riding my skateboard, ripstick, doing parkour, playing sports, snowboarding and even climbing an occasional tree. As long as I can remember, being active is who I was. I lived for movement and action. School wasn’t always the easiest for me, so being an on-the-go kind of kid truly helped my focus, and channeled my high energy and love for the outdoors in positive ways. At least until I was in my teens.

Like any normal active kid growing up, I had some accidents. A fall here, some bruising and scrapes there, I even had a fractured wrist when I was eleven. Strangely enough, those injuries are attached to some very fond memories of playing outside and being sporty, riding my skateboard, and climbing buildings while learning parkour. It was around this time I began noticing a constant dull ache in my low back/hip area.

Fast forward to my teens. I was still very active yet continued to have that lingering dull ache (and now an occasional spike in the level of pain) in my low back/hip area. I figured it was just part of being an energetic, active kid, or maybe, growing pains. I thought it might have been something I’d just have to live with, or eventually would just outgrow. Because the pain hadn’t been too unbearable, I merely coped and didn’t say much to anyone about it. Then, as I got older, the pain started to intensify for longer periods of time and it was then I told my mom and ultimately sought medical treatment.

“Lumbar strain” was typically the initial diagnosis I’d receive. Treatments first started with icing the area, rest, chiropractic adjustments, then some physical therapy or medication, and later as a young adult, progressed to surgery. Although at the beginning of all my treatments, I did have some relief, the dull constant ache has NEVER gone away, and ultimately the treatment wasn’t giving any more relief and I was back to the intense pain.

During my recovery time after surgery in November 2021, while staying with my mom in Illinois, I enrolled and attended the local college, earned my GED, and even acquired a Welding Certificate. While attending classes, the dull ache was tolerable and frankly, something I’d lived with continuously (and sadly surgery did not fix), so it was manageable at that time.

Once recovery was complete and I was released from the doctor in February 2022, I relocated back to Idaho in December 2022 where I am from. I was encouraged by the recovery and hopeful that the surgery finally resolved my pain once and for all. I was looking forward to my independence, getting my own place again, and using my newfound skill.

Unfortunately, even with the most standard of activities, the pain has intensified and I am unable to work, ultimately losing my job. So, my mom and I once again continued to search for answers. This time, we found a great resource through a support group. While in that group we’ve learned so much and even located a doctor who treats BS, and that others recommend and receive treatment.

We called this doctor and confirmed all that we had been reading and were told by other patients. The doctor has extensive expertise with Bertolotti’s Syndrome and has performed many successful surgeries. He’s located in New York. Because this condition is so uncommon, we’ve not been successful in locating any local doctors to treat it. In the hopes of managing the pain, I am currently under the care of a spine pain specialist. He too confirmed that he is unaware of any doctors in Idaho that specialize in treating this condition. He further supports my surgery/treatment with the NY doctor.

Bertolotti’s is a syndrome of the spine formed before birth. At the base of my spine I have an extra vertebrae that did not form completely, nor did it fuse to my sacrum (the shield-shaped bony structure at the base of the spine, also part of the pelvis). Instead, it created what doctors call a “pseudarthrosis”, meaning “fake joint” where the sacrum and pelvic bone come together. This fake joint has no connective tissue or cartilage. It is literally bone-on-bone.

I really do appreciate the time you’ve taken to read this and you must know, I would not be asking for help if I did not need it. The expenses estimated for this surgery are:

$7,200 - Current Basic Living Expenses for Four Months ($1,800/month)

$2,300 - Travel to and from NY for Me and my Mom (two trips)

$2,500 - Hotel & Meals in NY for ten days (pre-op, surgery & first post-op)

$10,000 - Medical & Rehab Expense (premiums & OOP max after insurance)

I completely understand if you’re unable to give monetarily, however, would you then please consider reposting this and forwarding it to your friends and family? I know some of you may not personally know me but I am hopeful I was able to give you at least a snapshot of who I am and can be… pain-free. I will absolutely update you as things progress. :-) Thank you so much again for all you’re able to do. *Brock