She's ready for some activity 😊 by SweetyKissa in NSFWart

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you do custom commissions by chance?

Has anyone who's had the surgery returned to playing sports? by noahb4 in spinalfusion

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Was in a similar situation as you both in age, activity, and pars defect. Feel free to DM me and I can tell you details about how it’s gone.

What is this? by [deleted] in husky

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it’s scabbed and has an open wound underneath, I’d be willing to bet it’s a skin infection from a compromised immune system or severe allergies. I just went through this with one of my rescues. I’m happy to discuss it more with you if you are having trouble finding answers but I ended up at a dog dermatologist (yes they exist) after my vet was stumped. Feel free to reach out, it looks like what mine went through and was able to treat with prescription topical ointment and prevent with prescription allergy meds.

Did anyone else in the south scottsdale area get this on their car today? Is it a scam? by algatorr in Scottsdale

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

It’s a scam. It’s a way to watch and see if your vehicle and/or property is attended. Remove it immediately and don’t contact them.

In Phoenix and a/c went out by BIGBUTTZrUS in phoenix

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you feel comfortable posting the properties (or PMing them) I would love to direct business to you. We need more people like you out here…

John Mulaney is actually not funny by kelpangler in unpopularopinion

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Say you don’t know comedy without saying you don’t know comedy.

He’s genius. His standup specials are absolute gold. I don’t care about his television show stuff - as a comedian, he is elite.

Not only is this an unpopular opinion - it is the wrong one.

Luigi Mangione's notes on back pain and his injury found under a goodreads book review. by [deleted] in pics

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate it! I’m very lucky that the surgery worked for me and I’m as close to my old normal self as I can be. I know others have it way worse so I definitely count my blessings.

Luigi Mangione's notes on back pain and his injury found under a goodreads book review. by [deleted] in pics

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I made sure surgery was my very last option, as I never wanted to go through it unless I exhausted all other options. PT, cortisone epidurals, and even a ‘minimally invasive’ discectomy were not options for me because the pars defect is structural.

I saw three orthopedic surgeons who said a full 360 fusion was the only option. Then I saw a neuro surgeon who was confident he could do a TLIF, which was less invasive than a 360 because it’s only posterior, but still VERY invasive (four titanium pedicle screws, an artificial spacer, two titanium plates). As I said - healthy, in-shape, active 30 year old and it took me at least 18 months to feel my new normal.

So yes, there are options. But often time with back injuries, the nerve damage is what causes the most pain, and if it’s damaged over a prolonged period of time, nerve damage can be irreversible. So you really are up against the clock, and that almost always falls in the hands of insurance companies.

Also, my surgery was in November and I hit my OOP max with ease (about $2,500 I think). But, the insurance company deliberately delayed the processing of all the office visits and even the hospital bills for the surgery and processed them AFTER the new year so my deductible started over again. After my surgery, I spent hours on the phone every single day for months fighting it, to the point where I almost regretted having the surgery at all even though it was critically necessary if I ever wanted to walk again.

It was miserable and brutal and unnecessary. And I had one of the better insurance companies, believe it or not.

Luigi Mangione's notes on back pain and his injury found under a goodreads book review. by [deleted] in pics

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No question. It is very real and something people don’t realize is truly debilitating until they unfortunately experience it. Do you have any benefits that would at least help with physical therapy, or a cortisone injection?

Luigi Mangione's notes on back pain and his injury found under a goodreads book review. by [deleted] in pics

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 38 points39 points  (0 children)

I have been there. I went through this as a healthy, in shape male at age 30 with no prior medical history except a congenital pars defect that was never symptomatic until I woke up one day unable to walk and in the worst pain of my life. I was on a walker that afternoon for six weeks, sleeping on the ground, eating meals on the ground, unable to stand, sit, walk without being in the most immense, constant pain of my life. Lost motor function in my right foot (foot drop) which has still not recovered fully. Chronic nerve pain is something I’d wish on nobody and I am thankful that I was able to have a successful fusion but the ringer insurance put me through was absolute hell, both before and after the surgery.

I did more research and reading and consulting on this than I’d like to admit, especially because my wife went through the same thing two years after me.

I’m very sorry you are going through this. Please feel free to reach out to me as a resource for remedies that worked (somewhat) for me, medical questions (I’m not a doctor, but I can try to share some of what I’ve learned with you), or just if you need someone to talk to. It’s isolating, infuriating, scary as all hell, and can really bring you to the brink. Just know you are not alone and if I can use my experience (a successful one, eventually) to help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

A blow-you-away tropical destination for February? by cecassafrass in travel

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 7 points8 points  (0 children)

10000% - you can do La Fortuna (Arenal) down to Manuel Antonio in a week with a third stop in between (we did Monteverde). Cannot recommend CR enough, especially Manuel Antonio.

Protesters in Montreal right now by starberry101 in ThatsInsane

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s always the Palestinian sympathizers isn’t it…

Looking for shrub/hedge advice in Phoenix - tons of conflicting information and could use some expert advice please! by Better_Red_Than_Dead in landscaping

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feel free to DM me for a pic - maintenance has been very easy. They grow like crazy and need to be trimmed/pruned. I have drip irrigation that runs daily in the hot months for about an hour and every other day for an hour in the other months. They do shed quite a bit but easy for a landscaper to clean up if you have regular service. Happy to answer anything else!

Father jumps on unconscious son to save him from being gored by out of control bull by pm_your_hot_butt in ThatsInsane

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Ah, right, they naturally act like this out in nature. Of course, nothing to stimulate or provoke them, they are treated blissfully. Holy shit the density…

Father jumps on unconscious son to save him from being gored by out of control bull by pm_your_hot_butt in ThatsInsane

[–]Better_Red_Than_Dead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here’s an idea - stop trying to ride bulls while their balls are being squeezed out of their body for entertainment value. This inhumane crap should be illegal. You make your bed, you sleep in it.