My name is Alex, a slightly crazy mum to 7 amazing kids. I've always been a hands on, active mum despite suffering from degenerative disc disease which started when I was 12, I didn't let it stop me doing things until 4yrs ago. A routine MRI showed I now had arthritis in my spine too, so opted for some epidural anaesthetic injections to help ease the pain. They worked, for the first time in 21yrs I was pain free! A few weeks later, back ache returned, I figured the injections weren't working for me after all, but it wasn't just my old back issues returning, 8 days later I couldn't move, I lost control of my bladder & couldn't feel my leg properly. A trip to my local hospital & transfer to Addenbrooks for an emergency MRI scan followed. I'd prolapsed a disc at the bottom of my spine & had pressure on my sciatic nerve for too long, it's been left permanently damaged. I now have numbness & reduced sensation in my leg, pins & needles, almost permanent sciatic nerve pain, random twitching in my leg which makes me lose my balance & fall over, chronic pain syndrome, fibromyalgia & opioid resistance.
The bit that hurts most is my children suffer because of MY health, I try to keep life as "normal" as possible, it's not always easy & they do miss out on lots because mummy is disabled. I'm trying to raise money purchase a mobility scooter (like the one pictured) so I can do simple things I used to take for granted, like the school run, walks to some of the local beauty spots for picnics, going to the park, wandering wherever the paths take us on summer day adventures without having to rely on someone to push my wheelchair. I just want my children to enjoy being children while they're still young enough without worrying about what mummy can or can't do!!
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Any help you're able to offer will be gratefully received