My name is Ainārs, I just turned 55, and I live in Latvia. Why am I asking for people’s help? For several years, I’ve been struggling with severe back and right shoulder pain, which limits my mobility and physical strength. I’ve visited doctors, received injections, and taken medications, but they only help for a short time. A CT scan confirmed that I have deforming spondylosis, arthrosis, and something else I cannot read or understand because it's written in medical terms.

As for my shoulder, I have impingement syndrome, which severely restricts the range of motion and strength in my right arm. A panel of doctors unanimously concluded that if I want to live a full life, the only solution is surgery for both my spine and shoulder.

I live in the countryside and work in agriculture, which is physically demanding. I do manual labor and also operate tractors. There isn't a single day I don’t experience intense pain sometimes, when I run out of medication, I can’t sleep at night due to the pain. Because of my condition, my work capacity is limited, so I only do what I can manage. I also don’t have work every day. That’s why, for the first time in my life, I am asking people to donate.

I need funds for updated medical examinations, as several years have passed since I was first diagnosed. Then, of course, I’ll need surgery and postoperative rehabilitation, including numerous visits to physiotherapists. One physiotherapist told me that after shoulder surgery, I might not be able to work fully for 8 to 10 months, as it’s a very complex procedure. I don’t have detailed information about the back surgery, but one can imagine the seriousness.

I could say much more, but I think it’s clear that this is not an easy situation. I hope to obtain scan images of both affected areas from the medical facility. But I believe we’re still a long way from publication. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to ask I’ll be happy to answer.