03/25/2025
Hi friends,
I’ve been dealing with a tough health situation for a while, and wanted to share an update about where things stand right now. I’ve been battling a complicated combination of chronic pain, intense fatigue, and depression—a true chicken-or-the-egg scenario. The pain contributes to my fatigue and deepens my depression; depression amplifies my pain; fatigue leaves me feeling overwhelmed and hopeless about finding the energy to heal. It’s been a challenging cycle.
I recently had an MRI of my lumbar spine, which showed mild degenerative changes, including a small disc bulge, an annular fissure (small tear in a spinal disc), mild arthritis, and slight narrowing of the spinal canal at the L4-L5 level. While labeled “mild,” these issues are likely contributing significantly to my pain, instability, and muscle weakness.
I’m still waiting to speak directly with my doctor, but possible next steps may include physical therapy, targeted pain management (like injections), and possibly additional tests to get to the root of my neurological symptoms and instability. Unfortunately, I don’t yet have clear answers about the debilitating fatigue, which remains a major hurdle.
Thank you to everyone who has been checking in and offering support—it means more than you know. I’ll continue to update as I learn more and begin next steps. Hoping for better days ahead.
