Good morning all,

I was referred to this board from another, a horse BB of all things! That's where I spend most of my spare time, but I'm hoping to find some interesting people and answers to my questions here.

I'm just barely over the hill in age, and my body says it even more, but I've got an awful lot of spirit left yet. My nearly new husband and I just settled on a wonderful little heritage farm in southern Ontario, right in the middle of a snow belt, it seems

I teach art workshops when able, and do oil, watercolour and pastel work for galleries and commissions. Other than 'horsing around' with our three mares and enjoying the wildlife here, life is pretty quiet. You might hear the occasional stories about blow drying adventuresome chickens who take the occasional plunge in the water trough, and nightly encounters with flying squirrels, but really, life is pretty steady!

My reason for joining is because of frustration with the medical system, and to try and find some information on how to fight through some red tape, if possible.

I have five herniated discs, stenosis in four of them, as well as bone spurs intruding into the cord. It has been bothering me for about ten years, but gotten really bad the past four years, and unbearable the past six months.

I finally found a hospital in Germany that will do artificial disc replacement, and personally know four people who have had it done this year, with amazing results. One went in in a wheelchair and came home, able to walk 5 km in only a week. I have been turned down here by three Neurosurgons who tell me there is nothing they can do for me.

I had surgery scheduled in Germany in January, but my application for funding was turned down by our Provincial government yesterday. I have to prepare for an appeal, and an hoping to find information and support for a successful conclusion to this.

Sorry for the length of this introduction...but when I get rolling, well, I get rolling. LOL