After more than a year of whining about being afraid of a major problem existing after a back injury I was told had a high chance of leaving me crippled, the doctors are listening. It only took severe pain and an inflamed nerve cluster showing up.

I've been saying ever since my injury that I need to have someone do something a bit more in depth for checking to see if I have sciatic damage. 'MY' major clue was the fact that when I hurt my back I remained conscious but lost all sensory input.

In essence, I was locked in head with my thoughts while the world went on without me. I couldn't see, hear of feel anything. I have no clue I was like that because I was home alone and didn't get a look at a clock or where the sun was in the sky before I went down.

Combine that with the fact the SIX INCHES of my spine had no curve. A portion that's supposed to have part of the most pronounced curve, the lower back.

Nonstop pain and odd sensations ever since and I was still getting ignored simply because a ten on the pain scale is WAY higher for me than most people. But that happens when you get to know how lightning feels twice, you've gotten to feel exactly how hot grease from an working fryer is, you've had various things go through some parts of your body or had a divot taken out of you that's an inch and a half long and a quarter of an inch wide.

Pain I know, and I also know my own body, and I know a bit more medical knowledge than the average American because I was trained in triage and the beginnings of what EMTs learn from my time doing search and rescue. I don't often try to tell a doctor what's wrong, I'll just say what hurts and how, then try to talk WITH them about what it could be. I've even helped eliminate thoughts on problems I've had before to streamline me getting my treatment.

I wish doctors would listen to me more BEFORE things get worse. I already have periodic issues with my hearing and my lungs because of idiots ignoring me, I sincerely hope my ability to walk doesn't suffer the same way because the next time I take a hit I don't know if me being stubborn will be enough to keep me walking.

Hey, at least I managed to scare a doctor when I told her what the gaps in my medical history while I was in the military meant and why I was having trouble hearing her on one side right after I came in from the cold.

Whatever, I'm finally getting treatment and the doctors where I am now aren't responsible for the trouble that led to this. I hurt my back in February of 2007 and it took this long for anyone to listen because of how things are worded in my medical history. Thanks team Dyess, go screw yourselves.