BackerKelly

BackerKelly

Kelly "Nerdzilla" Mendenhall

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I am a recovering nonprofit professional who, after becoming suddenly medically disabled in 2017, began working in the digital space. I am now an author as well as being a content and community engagement specialist for BackerNation.

I have had three neurosurgeries from December 2018 - October 2019. My diagnoses include degenerative disc disease, myelopathy (spinal cord injury,) osteoarthritis, and piriformis syndrome (contributing to chronic sciatica.) I am very familiar with nerve and muscle pain. I have spent the last three years of my life learning how to best honor my body and control my discomfort as much as possible while moving forward with rehabilitation.

You can learn more about me and my personal story at Nerdzillakelly.com. I hope that you'll join me in the support groups, especially the Sciatica and Piriformis group as well as the Spinal Fusion support group.

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2d

Last year I walked with a walker, all year. 

I was losing the use of my legs *and* arms last summer.

2.5 years I couldn’t sit up to work at all.

I worked 20 hours last week.

I walked 26.78 miles with my dog.

I only had one day of sciatica flare.

I’m super in my feels right now. 

“I’m not where I want to be, but I’m a long way from where I was. I’m on my way, and that’s ok.” I’ve got a lot to be thankful for this year. And hot damn, I’m glad I’m tenacious AF!

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<div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 18.75px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Last year I walked with a walker, all year. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br>I was losing the use of my legs *and* arms last summer.<br><br>2.5 years I couldn’t sit up to work at all.<br><br></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">I worked 20 hours last week.<br><br></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">I walked 26.78 miles with my dog.<br><br></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">I only had one day of sciatica flare.<br><br></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 18.75px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">I’m super in my feels right now. <br><br></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 18.75px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">“I’m not where I want to be, but I’m a long way from where I was. I’m on my way, and that’s ok.” I’ve got a lot to be thankful for this year. And hot damn, I’m glad I’m tenacious AF!</div></div>

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