Help Susan get pain relieving procedure

Hello, my name is Susan. I am a single retired nurse and nurse practitioner with no children living in Upstate NY. I am seeking $18,000 to help pay for a medical procedure that will allow me to get my life back and relieve unbearable pain.

When I was younger and working at the bedside, I was much stronger than I am now. I was the one other nurses came to when they needed help lifting a patient up in bed or transferring a patient. I never gave any thought to what all that lifting might be doing to my body. After 40+ years of dedicating my life to helping others, I now need to reach out hoping that others will help me.

I have severe degenerative disc disease. I spend much of my day with severe back and leg pain. I am allergic to aspirin, NSAIDs and steroids. Gabapentin, which is commonly prescribed for nerve pain, helped for a short time but it is no longer effective. Because of the opioid crisis no one will prescribe narcotics. I tried CBD but it offered no benefit. I have consulted multiple doctors and no one will operate because the disease is so extensive. I recently consulted a doctor who practices regenerative medicine. He recommended platelet-rich plasma injections. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. In this way, PRP injections use each individual patient's own healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems.

However, although it is a proven therapy utilized by many renowned teaching and research hospitals, insurance will not cover this procedure. I was initially hesitant to make a GoFundMe request. I am a very proud person and don’t like asking for help. To illustrate, 3 years ago when I lost my job because of poor productivity as a result of extreme fatigue from treatment for breast cancer I had no income and my savings was quickly exhausted. I went hungry frequently rather than go to the local food bank. But now I’m at the end of my rope. I can’t get a bank loan or Care Credit because I went bankrupt after losing my job. I am 70 years old, I am unable to work in a clinical setting because I cannot stand for more than a few minutes (if that) and any employment must be where I am predominantly sitting and allow for laying down at times. I’m primarily living off of my Social Security. I would be eternally grateful for any any contribution. Thank you in advance.