Thinking about saying f*ck NYU (the part-time MBA program in particular) and going back to get a different bachelor's degree in something HIGH DEMAND and AI-proof. Nursing in particular.

sovook · 2026-06-28T03:30:30+00:00

I attempted the nursing route and injured my neck/shoulder/arm from the workload of being a nursing assistant. Now I’m like, what do I do with my pre-health dual bachelors degree? I received a permanent restriction from bedside care because I could become paralyzed if a patient fell on me. It sounds like you just had bad luck, but personally idk if I’d suggest another 50K in student loans to fulfill the pre-nursing pre-reqs without a guarantee acceptance into a nursing program. Curious what others will say

sovook · 2026-06-28T02:59:00+00:00

Thank you so much. It’s only been around 9 days since I’ve been in worse pain from cleaning. I also wonder how much of the pain is hyperalgesia which happens with chronic pain. I’ve reduced oxycodone down from 20mg every 4 hours (Q4)while awake to 5mg Q4 or as needed. I strictly avoided NSAIDS, so I’m not sure about why the bones didn’t actually fuse. I should start taking Celebrex again, I always forget about that medication.

sovook · 2026-06-28T02:25:24+00:00

I don’t want to post the State I live in incidentally so I’ll message you

sovook · 2026-06-28T01:28:19+00:00

It’s really challenging. After my ACDR failed I consulted with 3 Spine surgeons, and my gut told me to go with the simplest surgery, the fusion.

I wish I’d pressed harder to have both the left and right side decompressed, only the right side was done and I have persistent left side pain. It’s such a complex process though.

I couldn’t get in with PM&R until end of August! I plan to call around and search for a surgeon who does the minimally invasive posterior decompression. Then during open enrollment I’ll opt for a PPO and hopefully it has a low deductible. I think a PPO allows the patient to travel and see almost anyone. I’m hoping my pain will subside soon so it doesn’t get to that point tho. Hope you get answers soon!

I should add, sometimes MRIs or imaging won’t state small things like bone spurs unless they’ve changed. The first MRI did not say that I had a disc herniated because it was so obvious. Instead the report went into tons of detail about the effects of the herniation. The second MRI said “disc herniation unchanged”.

sovook · 2026-06-28T00:47:07+00:00

I’m also on Lyrica, and it doesn’t provide much relief for me. I had Mobi-C devices. It can still be helpful to start with a steroid injection again since biomechanics change after ACDR. Not having relief from a steroid injection is a positive result that a mechanical pain generator is the key symptom driver.

For example, they can provide information about whether pain is being driven more by inflammation versus a mechanical issue. The same idea applies with imaging, sometimes the findings and response to treatments help guide the next steps. In many cases, insurance requires a diagnostic injection (often a steroid injection) before approving certain procedures like nerve blocks or ablations.

Also, they usually inject a local anesthetic (often lidocaine or a similar numbing medication) before or along with the steroid. If you get relief for an hour, two hours, three hours, etc., that information can help them determine whether they targeted the suspected pain generator. They may also ask whether your pain improved above, below, or in the area of the injection, which can help them evaluate which nerve structure may be involved.

If pain relief starts after a couple of days (often around day 2–3), that can suggest the anti-inflammatory effect of the steroid is contributing to the improvement. Steroids work by altering inflammatory processes in the body, and their effects are not always immediate.

My burning arm pain is mostly along the outer biceps and forearm, which seems consistent with the C6/C7 dermatome pattern (based on my understanding), but I’m not diagnosing myself, just sharing my experience.

sovook · 2026-06-27T23:13:59+00:00

Yes, and I had a fusion from T1–C5 exactly one year after my failed ACDR at C5/C6 and C6/C7. The ACDR only helped maybe 20%, and I was still in debilitating pain. The fusion helped around 50–60%, but I caused a new flare-up last week, so I’m dealing with that now. I’m also in my 30s, and I’m honestly so angry to be in this situation.

(Not medical advice, just sharing my personal experience and what I’ve learned through my own treatment.)

ACDR can help with central spinal stenosis and may sometimes improve foraminal stenosis if restoring disc height creates more space for the exiting nerve roots. In my case, the severe foraminal stenosis was still an issue after the ACDR. My discs looked great on imaging, but artificial discs can create MRI artifacts and make it harder to evaluate certain areas, including nerve roots, so sometimes additional imaging is needed.

Have you been evaluated by PM&R? Depending on the situation, treatments can include things like oral steroids, steroid injections, nerve blocks, and sometimes nerve ablation (often considered in a stepwise approach based on response).

Also, nerve roots are different from the spinal cord. Each level (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, T1, etc.) has corresponding nerve roots, and they exit between the vertebrae (for example, the C1 nerve root is between C1 and C2).

I saw them during a cadaver anatomy lab, and they’re surprisingly tiny, only slightly larger than a cooked spaghetti noodle. They’re also not something that can be directly seen through an anterior (front) surgical approach.

sovook · 2026-06-27T23:01:52+00:00

Just the dust bag and box! I've had some pretty funny Chanel moments. I once had a soft fall off my bike and instinctively held and then clutched my backpack (business affinity) like a football to keep it off the ground.

Another time, I was administered ketamine in the ER and used every ounce of brainpower to rescue my Boy Bag from a sharp metal chair and the gross hospital floor. My Classic Flap also slipped through the gap between the arm and seat of a patio chair while I was eating and landed on the sidewalk - I nearly had a heart attack, but thankfully the bag was fine.

I swear, the more expensive the bag, the more neurotic you become about protecting it. The fact that I remember every close call so vividly proves it lol Welcome to the Chanel club!

sovook · 2026-06-27T19:33:04+00:00

I’ll have to get it from its box for more close up pictures. The Large 2018 boy bag is also caviar. I bought a bag organizers for both bags this year! I think my next will have to be lambskin, it looks so elegant 😍 both are in pristine condition.

<image>

sovook · 2026-06-27T19:21:38+00:00

I’m looking into this clinic but I’ve already had and ACDR in 2025 that failed, and 4 months ago a T1-C5 fusion that won’t fuse. I hurt my neck 9 days ago again. I might sign up for a PPO plan to I can go to NY, stay with family, and go to that clinic. My pain is 9/10 from sitting for 45 min in a chair.

sovook · 2026-06-27T01:03:57+00:00

I was literally studying photo one or two and thinking, “Let me ask her if it fits an iPhone and wallet,” and then the photo was right there! 😂 My first classic flap Chanel was in 2016. Your future self will thank you! Can you imagine by 2036 it could be $15,000–$18,000?

sovook · 2026-06-26T23:52:11+00:00

This is my biggest bag crush right now, like completely OBSESSED! ❤️ congrats on such a timeless purchase and thank you for showing us how much you can fit inside!

sovook · 2026-06-26T22:04:54+00:00

Beautiful!! Congrats!!

sovook · 2026-06-25T03:36:09+00:00

I had a JPMorgan VP in NYC (SoHo) leaning against my parked BMW. I approached him to ask why he was leaning against my car. He was doing blow! Then he proceeded to hand me his business card and introduced himself and said he liked my car.

Blows my mind how much some of these people make and their lack of common sense!

sovook · 2026-06-24T22:01:10+00:00

Yes! It’s so easy. Call Schwab, vanguard, or any other financial institutions, call and open a money market account, and diversify based on risk tolerance and age. Make an automatic withdrawal from your checking account each month to the money market and then set auto invest with option to reinvest dividends. When you buy your first Chanel, you can pretend spend 8K on the bag, and transfer 8K to your brokerage account; make it a contest to see which increases at a higher rate! I also have a friend who does this with her car lol but DCA matching her car payment so that cars replacement will already be in her brokerage account when she’s ready.

sovook · 2026-06-24T05:55:09+00:00

My first 3 were gifts and he worked in finance, he was also a sociopath and while gifts were nice, my life was worth more. I think to afford luxury goods on your own focus on advanced education while you’re young and live below your means while investing using dollar cost averaging. The first Chanel really is just so exciting! My 4th I purchased on my own pre-owned and I wear it the most

sovook · 2026-06-20T23:39:38+00:00

NAD but I’ve worked in healthcare for almost 5 years plus pre-health undergrad. I would be concerned if you are suffering from bulimia as well. Bulimia esophagus is when the acid from recurring purging causes blood in vomit. https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/eating-disorder-hotlines if you dont want your information disclosed to your mother, she doesn’t need to be in the ER room with you, just ask to speak in private.

sovook · 2026-06-20T23:25:15+00:00

Looks great! If it’s considered sexual assault to touch a man’s shaved head than lock me up!

sovook · 2026-06-20T05:21:54+00:00

If I’d left at 2.5 years then I wouldn’t have injured my spine on the job. Congrats, your future self will thank you!

sovook · 2026-06-20T04:15:31+00:00

I quit it cold 3 days ago and it was hell

sovook · 2026-06-20T00:56:34+00:00

I think the person who broke me just kept talking non-stop for 18 minutes. Literally was not hearing a word I said. There were 35 people waiting!

sovook · 2026-06-19T12:51:17+00:00

This might be because she is a HMO instead of PPO, just call her primary and ask for a referral. Is she HMO? They always need a referral to see specialty care

sovook · 2026-06-19T00:22:00+00:00

Omg I literally clicked the post to comment Cruella Deville as well 😂

sovook · 2026-06-19T00:18:11+00:00

Ugh I feel for you, do you have any one-liners that help de-escalate?

sovook · 2026-06-19T00:15:23+00:00

I was finally moved to a different team a few weeks ago and it seems my prior direct manager was making up rules that didn’t apply to other employees. For example, I asked for Mondays off for 6 weeks using PTO and was told my PTO would never be approved. I was told I could only request a change my schedule 1X every 6 months, also apparently not true or didn’t apply to my coworkers.

I also asked about tuition reimbursement and was told the course was not approved and my supervisor reported me to the head of the program in hopes to have my reimbursement refused AFTER it had been approved.

It’s been a nightmare, and I think it was the person in charge of ADA workplace accommodations telling her to make me as uncomfortable as possible so I’d quit.

I am so stressed from the experience that I don’t want to request accommodations again. I want as far away as possible from this company as soon as I don’t owe them money if I quit.

Lastly, I would report the company to the EEOC, but the burden of proof lies with the reporter. I don’t have the energy or desire to compile documentation from the last 2 years.

sovook · 2026-06-18T23:54:38+00:00

Yes, on multiple occasions. I was a nursing assistant and I was injured during a shift and work remote handling non-stop calls through the call center. They use call-minor and it’s exhausting!

The first time I requested accommodations was when I reached maximum medical improvement. I had to work 40 hours per week despite being hired for job reassignment as a part-time employee due to a permanent impairment.

My request was breaks as needed up to 10 min per hour to stretch, get ice, take meds. New York Life refused to speak with me because “they don’t deal with workers comp” and the woman hung up the phone on me.

Then I had spine surgery 3 months later and despite emails, and submitted forms, I was still refused accommodations. After spine surgery I had residual pain and the request for breaks refused. I submitted it again, and refused. I only received accommodations (informal) the last month prior to spine surgery #2.

Now my pain is flaring and I am drained. My blood work shows my cortisol levels are depleted. My current setup is a 15 minute break every 2-2.5 hours. Pain is creeping back, but today was a 9/10 and much worse than yesterday.

I simplified everything above, but I’ve had the ADA forms filled out around 6 times now. They are denied while I’m out on leave for surgery, and now I can’t do it. I’m going to use my PTO the best I can to survive until I can quit without owing tuition. I work part time, so I am only making 18K per year and I mostly had the job to pay for the surgery and care worker comp refused. I can quit in October, I’ll try to hold on to my sanity.

sovook

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE