Chronic Pain Hijacked My Life

After a car accident left her with terrible damage to her neck and back, this artist and single mom found treatments to help her move forward.

- MARISA COHEN

Until a few years ago, I was a single mom juggling two careers—I worked in marketing and PR but was also a licensed cosmetologist, doing hair and skin at salons.

I loved going out dancing or rock climbing with friends, and painting. In fact, my art was sold in galleries all around the New Orleans area, where I live.

Then, on September 10, 2020, I was driving my daughter, Monet, who was 10 at the time, to school when a distracted driver slammed into my car at 65 mph and drove away (a Good Samaritan chased him down, and he later turned himself in). Thankfully, after seven months of physical therapy, Monet made a full recovery, but my life hasn't been the same since. I live with chronic pain every day.

MAJOR INJURIES

After visits to the ER and the neurologist, I discovered that I had a concussion and a lot of damage to my neck. My issues included bulging and cracked discs and a herniated disc. When you have that much harm done to your neck, it spreads down your back; I also had pinched nerves and frequent muscle spasms.