So I'm new to incontinence and having to wear diapers myself. Please don't lecture me & tell me "you'll get used to it" or whatever other things, please just meet me where I'm at here so I can find some kind of comfort in my new life. Background: I had a spinal injury, paired with degenerative disc disease and sciatica, that as of a 8 days ago has left me with excruciating back pain but little feeling below the waist and no use of my legs or feet at all, total urinary incontinence and mild bowel incontinence (mostly constipated). Doctors said this will likely be the case long term if not forever. I've always known I'd end up in a chair due to my back issues before this injury, but I thought it would be in my old age and not at 25.
So I'm having to come to terms with all of this and getting discharged from the hospital today or tomorrow. I've been wearing the standard mckesson pull-up diapers here that very much look like what my kids wear minus the Disney princesses. They will send me home with a handful but I have to change them 3-4x a day even with scheduled toileting so it wont last long. I've been scouring the internet for options for longer term but I feel like crap looking at all these Diapers, but I live alone and can't do laundry easily enough to use the washable cloth ones and don't want to carry them around with me if I'm out in the world. It seems a bit unfair that the underwear-looking ones are only made for women widely. What I'm looking for is disposable pull-ups that are as thin and discreet as possible, look as much like underwear as possible, preferably without that bunched-up waist and ruffled legs that these mckesson ones have. I'm also a bigger guy, pear shaped with big thighs and rear and would love ones that weren't likely to break over my ass. I understand that yes this is a medical thing and only myself and my partner and occasional doctor would see these, but this whole process has felt like losing all my dignity and autonomy, going from hiking, building things for my partner, and swinging the kids around in the nice weather, to having nurses pull my pants up and down for me and having to ask them for another diaper bc I didn't know for hours I was pissing myself, and smelling like it constantly, being mostly helpless. I just want to feel as normal as I can for right now, idk maybe I'll adjust and decide I don't care or whatever but right now I'd appreciate if ppl commenting would meet me where I'm at and understand how hard this is for me mentally and emotionally and that I just want to feel like I'm wearing underwear as much as possible, I don't feel like a regular grown man right now, I just want things to be a little more like they used to be.

Is there one case where these children of ill-gotten wealthy parents were punished for their acts. Parents come from one state and of bania background they exploit locals wherever they go.Locals become victims with no justice.Let me highlight couple of things 1) They leave their state come to different State with mat and copper vessel, set up different kind of business's corrupt local politicians and officials. Ex- Some of paper mills owned by these Banias - the chemical waste water directly goes into rivers which is used as drinking water by the locals.Locals gets all kind of diseases, we blame God. They corrupt all kind of officials Police, Judges, Politicians and none of them open their mouth.Innocents people are becoming victims of greed by these reckless Banias.Way back similar car accident happend in Visakhapatnam.people witnessed everything - there was no Case, No bail, No punishment- Whole System is corrupt in India.In the West do you think guy can go Scott free ? Think

I am in my late twenties and have had three years of chronic back and nerve pain, at the beginning so severe I could not work my desk job.
Tests have found: MRI of cervical spine: - bulging C5/C6 disc with mild stenosis - straightened cervical spine
X-ray of back and pelvis: - L5-S1 degenerative disc disease and bone spurs - mild arthiritis in lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints - Kyphosis - mild right curvature of thoracic and lumbar spine - “Subtle cortical irregularity about the inferior aspect of the right sacroiliac joint, without definite cortical erosion or periarticular sclerosis to suggest sacroiliitis”
I also saw a Rheumatologist and bloodwork was all normal.
I have seen a series of neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and recently a PMT.
Orthopedic surgeon said issue was all due to my neck issues, but he never saw / ordered the X-rays. After 6 months of PT and a round of trigger point injections failed on my neck (although did have significant improvement), he said I should get an epidural for my C5/C6, but to see a rheumatologist first. He said he could not help me further.
Rheumotologist ordered bloodwork (normal), and X-ray (as a predecessor to a MRI), and I started Gabapentin (100 MG 3X/ day), and said to follow up with the PMR. Finally saw the PMR who said getting a MRI wouldn’t make a difference in treatment. He said an epidural would not be effective as my C5/C6 bulge is too mild. He did not know what was causing my issues and said if you did a MRI of ten pain-free people, people without pain could have results like mine. He prescribed four weeks of PT and to follow up after that (although I have already done 8 months). He sent me home with some neck exercises, some of which were new, which I did at home and made me twitchy and numb and stiff.
I am really frustrated after three years of different doctors. The pain is very severe and fairly debilitating. Any advice on type of doctor to see, tests, or thoughts on treatment? Do I really not need a MRI? I’ve only had one done on my cervical spine.
Honestly the neck and lower back muscle and radiating nerve pain I feel like I can live with / get a handle on. It’s improved a lot. It is this feeling that standing or sitting is so uncomfortable and stressful on my spine and rib cage that stops me from doing my hobbies and living my life. My spine and ribs constantly crackle and pop and it feels exhausting to sit upright.

I'm a 27 year old citizen of the United States and some things have been on my mind and I need to know if I'm wrong for my opinion or if my feelings are justified.
~SELF VALUE~
In general, I feel we are all being cheated out of a satisfying/comfortable life. Now, I understand that what a person considers satisfying or comfortable is subjective, and I'm not the kind of person that believes in free handouts. Nor am I the kind of person that believes in the popular If you have nothing to work for and no goals then there is no point in doing anything and life would be boring, but I don't think that the general stability and happiness should be reliant on uncontrollable factors like luck, attractiveness, talent, and intelligence. And I especially don't think our quality of life should be reliant on how many hours we sink into a job.
Obviously we all would rather see beautiful people in entertainment, smart people as our doctors, and talented athletes on our sports teams, but do those natural attributes really warrant people in those positions to be worth exponentially more than the common person that might be working twice as hard but still never escape poverty? Meanwhile we have people like the Kardashians, politicians, and
Rationally, there will never be equality in modern society. I'm lucky enough to be a relatively healthy, while there are plenty of people born with crippling disabilities, deformities, and diseases. Despite this, there are some fundamental inconsistencies that I feel that we are all just blindly accepting as normal.
Why does the son of a millionaire get to coast through life, enjoy all of what the world has to offer, while YOU are stuck paying off a debts, praying that your junker car will start up tomorrow so you can commute to your shit job at 5 in the morning.
Some people say communism is the answer because it would keep us all equal. But nobody should have the right to stop you from achieving your goals, keeping you tied down to mediocrity. Some people say capitalism is the answer because it give you the opportunities to rise above the crowd to better your life. But if we treat society like a ladder, then there will always be people on the bottom getting stepped on, and that doesn't seem right either.
I don't know what the solution would be, but as it stands now, I think the vast majority of people feel like they deserve more than they are getting and the people that there are too many people getting what they don't deserve.
~WASTED TIME~
The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 76 years old. Not counting school, if a citizen starts a fulltime job at the age of 18 and works until they retire at 65, that means they are working for around 47 years. That's 62% of their lifespan.
It gets crazier though, because if we factor in the 8 hour workday, 5 days a week, that's a collective total of 2,080 out of 8760 hours a year. That's 24% of a year working a fulltime job. Now factor in that the average person gets 8 hours of sleep, 7 days a week. That means you are only spending 43% of your time NOT sleeping or working.
I don't know about you, but I find the idea of only being able to live 43% of my life extremely disheartening and for some screwed up reason we have collectively allowed that to become the standard.
The sad fact of the matter is I can choose to sleep less hours and not have a job, but that would significantly reduce my quality of life. No money and no energy is a horrible combination. Unfortunately, we cant control our biological need to sleep, but we CAN control are time at work.
In 1938 the Fair Labor Act established the 8 hour work day, 5 days a week, implemented a minimum wage, and kept kids out of the factories. This was a significant upgrade from the standard of those days, but that was then. Today, life is much different and considerably more lavish and convenient in the west, but what is the point of busting your tail for money if you can't even enjoy the benefits of being born in a time where convenience is standard and expected?
They dangle incentives to keep us going like fancy cars, vacations, good food, but its always kept just out of reach because no matter how hard you work you'll never earn enough to afford what you want after you are slapped with college debt, mortgage payments, car insurance, childcare expenses, taxes, medical expenses, interest fees, etc. Now you're trapped and you HAVE to work because if you don't, the best case scenario is you become broke, living paycheck to paycheck with no end in sight, while the worst case scenario is you go to prison for not paying what you owe.
At the end of the day, am I wrong for not wanting to have to wait until I am 65 before I can experience true freedom and contentment. Is that all life is? Working endlessly so the 1% stays wealthy and free of true struggle? I don't think its crazy of me to want some freedom while I'm young enough to enjoy it.
~THE BIG ISSUE~
If you've made it this far then its time to get a little existential.
The term YOLO was once popular, and as cringe as it is to use now, it still carries a lot of truth. We do only live once and in the grand scheme of things, if you are a person that is alive on this planet, your existence is an insane impossibility. You are the culmination of millions of years of cosmic accidents, and thousands of years of people having babies that eventually lead to you being born into this world. No matter how you slice it, YOU are an anomaly. The mere fact that you exist means you are valuable. Not to mention you have the ability to reason, forge relationships, feel emotions, and understand the world. You could have been born a ladybug, completely unaware of your own existence, driven by pure impulse with no goals or desires. That's a scary thought, but YOU are lucky enough to be YOU. Collectively as a species, we ALL are lucky to be who we are. It is because of that, I find it infuriating that so many people feel they are above others when they are no more or less human than you or I. That's why we put criminals in prison. Nobody has the right to lessen another person's quality of life.
If that's the case, then why do we still allow government institutions to manipulate the lives of practically everyone? Why do so many people go hungry or become homeless? Why is mental illness higher than it has ever been? Why do we not take care of our sick when we have the means and recourses to do so? Why do we build weapons of war?
Something has clearly gone wrong and I don't know what it is, but it needs to change. Fortunately, I'm not deluded enough to believe that all of mankind's issues can be solved by a simple answer, but common sense tells me that if our stress and struggles stem from the decisions made by government officials and outdated practices, then we need to make changes immediately. Not after four years, not after a lifelong bureaucrat retires or dies, not after we win some wars. Right NOW.
~THE SOLUTION~
I feel the steps to healing our broken society wouldn't be that hard to implement. I'm no economist or political science expert, so feel free to tell me if I am way off base.
Step 1, End the Tribalism:
Here in the U.S. we have a bad habit of putting people into categories and viewing people not in our own "tribe" as the enemy. We do it all the time, with sports teams, states, schools, gender, class, politics, etc. There's nothing wrong with healthy competition, but not when it comes to the well-being of the whole. Start by getting rid of the two-party system. All you do is end up with ignorant people voting blindly based on rhetoric and party loyalty, even if it's to your detriment. What we need is a system that spells out a list of policies explained in simplest form, followed by the benefit and deficit of that policy. Instead of voting on a party or president, the people vote on what policies they want enacted, with priority being given to the policies with the most votes.
It's not a perfect solution, but how many of you can honestly say you know everything your elected official plans to do or if they will even go through with their promises. How many of you know everything about the elected officials you dislike beyond surface level scandals and memes? With my proposed system, you are forced to be informed on the choices you're making and it is up to the President to carry out the will of the people. And whoever that president is, they will be elected on merit and achievement, not on false promises and pandering.
Step 2, Invest in Advancement:
We need to dedicate our resources not to frivolous social programs and bloated military budgets, but rather on technological advancement. Imagine a world of automation, where the bulk of blue-collar work is automated. No more chefs, delivery men, postal workers, construction workers, factory workers, bus drivers, and any other minimal-skill labor career. (Not to say chefs and construction doesn't take skill)
If we remove the need for minimum wage workers, then businesses will be able to keep getting money without paying for employees. Instead, they excess money would be returned to the people in the form of a baseline income. Imagine being paid just to be a citizen. This would put everyone on an even playing field, while still allowing opportunity to rise above.
Step 3, Adjust Quality of Life:
As simple as it sounds, businesses need to stop being anti-consumer. If you need medical treatment you have essentially two options. Get good treatment for an unreasonably high price, or get piss-poor treatment if you cant afford the high price. There's no middle ground. Why is that?
I'm convinced that we can cure cancer but the only reason we don't is because is more prophitable to treat cancer than actually cure it. We are not walking piggybanks, we are people. If a loved one needs a blood transfusion to live, she shouldn't have to be in debt for the rest of her life to receive a treatment that cost the hospital next to nothing to perform. A few hours of labor by a surgeon does not equate to years of debt payments from a person that can't control the illnesses they get.
That brings me back to the investment of technological advancements. We need to figure out how to grow organs for cheap, develop non-invasive treatments, synthesize medications. If you are a tax paying citizen, your government has the moral obligation to keep you healthy. I'm not asking them to buy me a house, just keep me alive so i can buy that house.
The whole medical thing is just one issue amongst dozens that don't need to be, and the one aspect that tied them all together is corporate greed and the fragile ego of legislators that don't like to be told they are wrong. Fix the education system so it's not focused on memorizing useless info, but rather focused on teaching kids how to function on their own and to be ready for life outside of school. Develop healthy alternatives to unhealthy food. If we can develop meat made of plants, then why can't we develop oils, salts, carbs, and fats that actually taste good and wont give us heart disease or colon cancer. It sounds impossible but if we can put a man on the moon then we can make a freaking non-toxic sweetener so we can eat tasty food without being afraid that your arties are going to clog. And for the love of God, just stop putting every little thing behind a paywall. You cant watch tv, play a game, download an app, shop online, or anything else these days without being asked to subscribe to a monthly payment. On top of it all, they make you pay then still flood you with advertisements and social-political rhetoric that you didn't ask for. Like, If I paid $70 for a game I should have content locked away from me until i pay an additional $25 and then get called a bigot because I don't like that the developers crammed their political agenda into a product.
Well, that's all I guess. I've been wrestling with these kind of thoughts and opinions for a while and whenever i voice them people look at me like I'm crazy or say I'm not being realistic.
Maybe. But is it really crazy to want things to be better? Because if it is, then I guess I'm insane because things need to shape up.

So, I used to live with my mom and dad who adopted me at birth. My dad always said I would inherit our family home after they both passed away. Well, my father passed away unexpectedly in 2021 and we had been struggling to keep up with bills since then.
I got in a car accident in late 2022, and ended up getting a settlement check for it in June 2023. I loaned my mom a total of $11,000 for repairs to the house and bills to catch up on. I told her if we ended up selling the house and moving out together she could keep majority of the money since we’d be living together. But I never agreed to let her keep it if we moved out separately since I would need the income.
Since that conversation, I moved in with my boyfriend and she was staying at the house. She ended up having a stroke in October of 2023 and sold the house I was supposed to inherit and moved in with her new fiancé. She’s given me $4,000 back since then. Plus her fiancé paid for a couple of car maintenance and repairs so I’ve also deducted that from the money she’s owed me. However, she refuses to pay me back the last $5,900 as she feels like I owe her this since she raised me. I desperately need that money since I’ve gone back to school and I need to quit my job to focus on my studies and my health. I only have 4 months until I’m done with my classes and I can get my new job in my career. She was the one that chose to adopt me. I didn’t ask for it. I don’t owe her anything for raising me, that’s her job as a mother.
She also always tells me about how she has money, and she’s gonna use it how she wants to buy a new car and how she went to Cancun for Vacation. And went gambling in Vegas.
I honestly don’t know what to do. How do I ask for the rest of my money? How do I leave on good terms with her if that’s possible? What should be my next step?
Also: I don’t have any sort of paper trail. That’s my other issue. All was verbal communication.

Last year, my husband and I started a business and sought out a business loan with BHG financial…this loan was supposed to be under our business, but seems to be a personal loan instead. (The lawyer I spoke to said, make no mistake it is technically still a business loan, but they put it on under us not the business itself) my husband is listed as a co borrower on the documents but he never signed the loan documents…we also did not physically sign these documents it was all done over the phone, and then a quick docusign, but there is not hard copy document with my actual signature on it which the lawyer pointed out is also abnormal for funding like this.
The loan was for $20,000 we only received $18,900 after origination fees etc…and that should have honestly been the first red flag but we were newbies and quite niave to the process…we made regular monthly payments toward the loan for the first 7 months, and then I was in a car accident and discovered I was also pregnant at the same time…we were unable to continue with our business for the remainder of the year, as my health was severely impacted, I also wasn’t able to work my day job as often, so we became reliant on a single income. I attempted to work out some sort of hardship repayment plan initially, but their proposed repayment plan was going to end up increasing the debt to a point where we would never be able to pay it off and it would’ve trapped us in an endless cycle of repaying something that would never go away and only continue to grow. I declined signing the arrangement because it was clearly very scammy, and not a realistic repayment plan for somebody requesting hardship assistance.
I contacted a lawyer who told me it was a great move to not sign that which I agree with, however the rest of his advice I’m questioning and I’m just looking for a second opinion. This lawyer advised me to just ignore the debt collector, knowing that we can’t pay this debt. That many pop-up debt collection companies use aggressive and scam worthy tactics to try and squeeze as much money out of people as they can, but these companies pop up and fold within the first few years of existing, they can’t get anybody to repay on their terms. so this lawyers advice was to ignore the problem and wait and see what happens. He told me I am very unlikely to get sued, because it would cost them more money to bring a lawsuit to me in a different state, and if they did sue me, I have the option of filing for bankruptcy, contesting it or accepting a default judgment, which would still leave me owing less than the debt collector is asking for to settle which would not benefit them. He said most of these debt collectors threaten to take people to court, but don’t always do so when the cost of doing so is not worth what they’ll actually get. He told me if I do get sued to give him a call back and we can go from there, but that he does not believe I will get sued.
My question is was the advice I was given good advice? This has been hanging over my head for months and I’ve spent months trying to come up with a settlement that will work However, this company has not sent me any documentation in letter form. It’s all been through email which this lawyer also said is a red flag on the collector… they also are not reporting this debt or any of the payments to any of the credit bureaus which is also very strange to me…they have used high stakes, high-pressure tactics to continue to stress me out when I’m clearly trying to negotiate with them. Is it realistic to just cease contact and hope it goes away? To me that seemed like really odd advice to receive from an attorney who specializes in handling cases like this… BHG financial apparently only has jurisdiction in two states. The state that I live in is not one of them, and the debt collection company they are using seems to be associated to them, though I don’t know what their jurisdiction is. They would still have to serve me out of state, and I still believe I have a strong argument if it did go to court to say that I have been trying to negotiate this all year so that gives me some hope that I can avoid a harsh default, but I find it hard to believe if I just ignore the problem it’ll go away. All I know is I feel like I’m in over my head on this.

At the age of 9, I was involved in a motorcycle accident with my father. The event was terrifying and horrendous for me at that age, and I was left in a state of extreme fear. The driver of the car that hit us came over and kissed me, saying, "Don't worry, everything will be alright." But at that moment, I hated him, and his words of comfort meant nothing to me, a 9-year-old child. They only made me more confused and anxious.
After the accident and my father's discharge from the hospital after 3-4 months, I remember having a night sleep. I don't remember what happened after that, but I do remember waking up in a hospital room, sitting on a white chair, and seeing a nurse taking my blood. I had no idea why I was there.
Later, I found out that I had had a seizure that night, had wet myself in my sleep, and my parents and family were terrified. I remember that our house had two floors, and an elderly couple who were both doctors lived on the top floor. I later found out that they were at the hospital. I think the first thing my mother did was go to their house to call them.
My father had suffered serious injuries to his knee and hip in the accident and was unable to walk because he had weights attached to his knee.
The days went by, but the seizures continued, and I would always have this experience in my sleep. I spent nights in absolute fear and insomnia. Sometimes I would see that my family was asleep, but I was suffering, and I didn't want to wake them up. My school days became boring, and this event had a negative impact on my learning and education. From childhood, I hated school and didn't want to go. The environment there was not good for me at all.
At school, I experienced a lot of fear and stress and was forced to go there. The teachers, principal, and vice principal would always beat, humiliate, and insult the children... and since I was also a poor student, I was always threatened by the teachers. I remember being whipped on my hands several times by my literature teacher for low grades.
Years went by, and I tried many doctors' prescriptions, each of which made me worse and worse. My parents were unaware of this and didn't know what epilepsy was, but they were always there for me with great follow-up and perseverance, especially my mother, who dedicated all her time to my recovery.
Finally, after many years of struggling with this issue and finding a competent doctor, I was able to overcome it and achieve full recovery. I haven't had a seizure in many years, but I'm sometimes afraid it might come back. I wasn't born with epilepsy and had no history of it, but I developed it. I'm fine now, but this label will stay with me forever. Until now, in 2024, society is still not aware of this issue. NGOs are doing their best, but I haven't seen any significant results.
I applied for a driver's license. By default, the validity of driver's licenses is 10 years, but when they found out that I had epilepsy in the past but had made a full recovery, they forced me to go to government medical commissions. I was tied up for a few months until they were convinced that I had recovered, but in the end, they gave me a license with a 2-year validity, which was really unfair to me.
I have never talked to anyone about having epilepsy in the past and as a child, and I still don't. I even evaded and did not answer when my friends asked me why my license validity is 2, because society generally has a skewed view. What will happen if my friends find out that I had such an illness in the past?
I can't imagine, they can't imagine in their minds what epilepsy and seizures are like. Society still thinks that epilepsy is a very dangerous disease. I remember when my older brother got married, his wife said to me, "If I had known you had epilepsy, I probably wouldn't have married you because I'm worried about my future and our child." When she said this to me, I felt the weight of the mountains of the world on my shoulders...
This is the first time I have ever shared my story. I hope that all people with special illnesses will one day be free and, more importantly, understood by society. Because we need to be understood, not pitied. I hope you are always in good health. Remember to be patient, the day will come when you will say goodbye to epilepsy, and if not, try to control it. Never try to suppress it, because it will become more powerful and your patience will diminish.
Stay strong.
Japanese poet and haiku writer Issa says:
In this world We walk on the roof of hell Gazing at flower
Ólafur Arnalds - Woven Song

Back pain treatment in Pune

Neck pain is a common complaint that influencespeople of all ages and backgrounds. Whether it’s a dull ache, sharp pain, or stiffness, neck discomfort can significantly impact your daily life and productivity. While occasional neck pain is usually nothing to worry about and can often be relieved with rest or gentle stretches, there are times when it’s crucial to seek medical attention from an orthopaedic doctor. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various causes of neck pain and discuss when it’s time to schedule an appointment with a specialist.

Understanding Neck Pain

Before delving into when to visit an orthopaedic doctor for neck pain, let’s briefly examine some common causes of this condition:

1. Muscle Strain: Overuse of neck muscles, poor posture, or sudden movements can lead to muscle strain, resulting in discomfort and stiffness in the neck. Back pain treatment in Pune
2. Poor Posture: Spending long hours hunched over a computer or slouched on the couch can strain the muscles and ligaments in the neck, leading to pain and tension.
3. Degenerative Disc Disease: With age, the discs between the vertebrae in the neck can deteriorate, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility. Back pain treatment in Pune
4. Herniated Disc: A herniated or slipped disc occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc protrudes through the tough outer layer, pressing on nearby nerves and causing pain that may radiate down the arm.
5. Cervical Spondylosis: Also known as neck arthritis, cervical spondylosis is a degenerative condition characterized by the wear and tear of the cervical spine’s vertebrae and discs, leading to pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Back pain treatment in Pune

When to Seek Orthopaedic Care

While minor neck pain often resolves on its own with rest and self-care, there are certain red flags that indicate a need for professional evaluation by an orthopaedic doctor:

1. Persistent Pain: If your neck pain persists for more than a week despite conservative measures such as rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers, it’s essential to seek medical attention. Persistent pain may indicate an underlying issue that requires diagnosis and treatment. Back pain treatment in Pune
2. Pain Radiating Down the Arm: Neck pain accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness that radiates down one or both arms could signal a herniated disc or nerve compression. This condition, known as cervical radiculopathy, often requires medical intervention to alleviate symptoms and prevent further complications.
3. Difficulty Moving the Neck: Severe stiffness or limited range of motion in the neck may indicate a more serious problem, such as cervical spondylosis or facet joint arthritis. These conditions can cause significant discomfort and functional impairment, necessitating evaluation by an orthopaedic specialist. Back pain treatment in Pune
4. Neck Pain After Trauma: If your neck pain follows a traumatic injury, such as a car accident, fall, or sports-related collision, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly. Traumatic neck injuries can cause fractures, dislocations, or soft tissue damage that may require immediate treatment to prevent long-term complications.
5. Accompanying Symptoms: Neck pain accompanied by fever, headache, nausea, dizziness, or difficulty breathing warrants prompt medical evaluation, as these symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying condition, such as infection or spinal cord compression. Back pain treatment in Pune

What to Expect During Your Orthopaedic Visit

When you visit an orthopaedic doctor for neck pain, they will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause of your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment plan. This evaluation may include:

• Medical History: Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and any recent injuries or activities that may have contributed to your neck pain. Back pain treatment in Pune
• Physical Examination: A thorough physical examination will assess your neck’s range of motion, strength, and reflexes, as well as any areas of tenderness or swelling.
• Diagnostic Tests: Depending on your symptoms and clinical findings, your doctor may order diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to obtain detailed images of the structures in your neck and spine. Back pain treatment in Pune
• Treatment Options: Once a diagnosis is established, your orthopaedic doctor will discuss treatment options tailored to your specific condition and needs. Treatment may include medications, physical therapy, injections, or, in some cases, surgical intervention.

Conclusion

Neck pain is a common problem that can significantly impact your quality of life if left untreated. While minor neck discomfort often resolves with rest and self-care, persistent or severe symptoms may indicate an underlying issue that requires evaluation by an Orthopaedic doctor in Baner.
By knowing when to seek medical attention for neck pain and understanding what to expect during your orthopaedic visit, you can take proactive steps to address your symptoms and regain comfort and function in your daily life. If you’re experiencing persistent or severe neck pain, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with an orthopaedic doctor for proper evaluation and treatment. Your neck health is too important to ignore. Back pain treatment in Pune

I’ll try to be quick and before anyone links the financial rights website I’ve been through it and I’m still not sure of what my standing is, Quick back story 5 years ago i was involved in an at fault accident, myself and the other driver both had ctp and comprehensive on our cars. Mine was a write off and theirs was repaired, I paid the excess and cover the cost of their repairs. I received my payout minus the additional fees and not a word of it was mentioned to me by my insurer or the other parties. Today I received a call from a law firm stating that I owe an amount of over $8k to cover costs for hire car in which my insurer said they did not cover, the person on the phone quoted me the other insurance company name and claim number, I told them I have never been with that insurer so and don’t know what’s going on here, I then rang my insurer and they stated that no one should be calling me even 5 years after the settlement to be chasing money and to give them my claim number if they ask for any further details. Has anyone had this occur before? What did you do? What should I do?

For context, I've been to my new dentist twice for dental work. The first was the top left, the second was the bottom left. And ever since I was a child, the left side of my jaw has clicked/shifted to the side when opening and closing. It's never sat right, and has occasionally caused me pain, but nothing like I'm dealing with now.
11 days ago, I got dental work done on the bottom left of my mouth. My molar has a permanent cap, so that one wasn't touched. They fixed the next two teeth though (not sure if it's important, but I did have one adult tooth removed from each part of my mouth before I got braces like, 10 years ago).
All was fine and well, usual soreness that I've dealt with at the dentist, until this past Wednesday when I started feeling pain deep in my lower jaw. I contacted my dentist, and they said it's normal for the swelling to settle in the lower jaw. My bottom teeth were hurting, but I chalked it up to the extensive work I had done.
Fast forward to Saturday, and I start experiencing the worst TMJ pain of my life. Now my top teeth and bottom teeth hurt on the left side. I wake up every 10-30 minutes due to severe pain. It's 3am on Monday morning now, and I'm laying on my stomach to get relief from this pain. Laying on my back and sides hurt severely. I still feel a dull pain in my teeth, and my jaw isn't naturally closing anymore.
I can't chew hard foods because it hurts. I've been eating soft foods for the last 36 hours. I can't open my mouth all the way without wanting to literally rip my jaw out of my skull. My mouth can close, and my bite doesn't really feel off. It's just painful to close my mouth, or to open it. I'm in a natural position of having my teeth open slightly, with my tongue pressed to the roof of my mouth. And I have high anxiety, so I'm usually a clencher.
I don't know what to do. I'm going to call my dentist today, but I can't deal with this pain. I take a low grade narcotic as needed for arthritis pain due to a car accident two years ago, and I took it hoping it would help with this pain. It doesn't even take the EDGE off. And that's what's scaring me. Because this medicine is helping me deal with a whole bulging disc in my spine, but isn't helping jaw pain.
I've had occasional jaw pain all my life, as I said earlier, but nothing like this. It hasnt kept me up at night. This is my second night getting virtually no sleep. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't keep going on like this. My husband is worried sick because of how he's already seeing my mental state deteriorate.
What do I do? Do I go see my primary care and try to see a surgeon? Do I go to the dentist and get my fillings shaved like so many people have? How long do I keep living with this unbearable pain? I got a disc replacement last year, and it was a walk in the park compared to this pain. I'm at a loss, and I have no clue what to do or who to even call about this.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've been a CP patient for too many years. I have worsening cervical stenosis, chronic degenerative disc disease, 7mm bone spurs, bilateral foraminal stenoses and right side foraminal narrowing.
I have my third CT in as many years in a couple of weeks to see how I've progressed over the last year.
A couple of month ago my GP finally prescribed me some low dose morphine (5mg tablets) to help with my pain. I've been taking them as directed, with an increase from 2 to 3 tablets a day, if needed.
Today I didn't take any, I don't want to build a tolerance. But holy moly, I feel super crummy today. Vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose, sore muscles.
Is it possible to have withdrawal symptoms after a relatively short daily usage of this 5mg morphine? Or is it coincidence and perhaps I've picked up a virus of some sort? I don't feel any kind of "need" to take more tablets straight away, buy if I need them again tomorrow or the next day I will take them again.

Apparently suicide was relatively common around Jesus' time. According to Dr. Bart Ehrman it was not considered wrong at that time. That is probably why we don't find it in the Bible.
Augustine then strongly condemned it in the fourth century. My question is this. Around the time of Augustine what would happen to a quadriplegic? Or someone with advanced, debilitating MS, or advanced Parkinsons (totally bedridden) or Alzheimers? ALS. Etc.
Did they have a way to keep suffering people around for years? Is there even evidence they had widespread neurological or chronic disease back then? Please don't just answer by guessing. Macular degeneration is a fairly recent disease, it was one in a million in mid 1800's now it is widespread. It is linked to a change in our diet but not proven.
Pesticides are a main cause of Parkinsons. Those did not exist. Car accidents obviously did not exist. We live in such an artificial environment now, most people don't even breastfeed.
There is a DJ in Italy that got into a car accident, lost all use of arms and legs and was blind. Instantly, When did that every happen in Augustine's time? He finally got the ability to get assisted suicide after three years. I think he was also in pain. Did Augustine every see anyone like that?
Leprosy you say? Augustine says Lepers are symbolic of ignorant sinners. That's not too empathetic. But still, lepers could generally walk and get around. No feeding tubes back then.
And did Augustine even know any lepers or quadrapligics? Probably not, probably people with broken necks did not survive, but who knows.
I was severlely injured by a powerful antibiotic my doctor gave me, and it's incurable. This was not around, obviously, in Augustine's time. I would rather it would have taken me out.
Why should we listen to a guy 1700 years ago who doesn't know what physical and mental health problems we have today? This guy coined the term self-murder which is an illogical term, you can't murder yourself just like you can't rob yourself.
Were there wheelchairs all over the place in the year 350. Hospitals and old age homes full of groaning people, some asking to die?
Much of Christianiy's ideas suicide, and hell, are based on Augustine. How does one guy get so much say over my life? Over everyone's? Who is he? Why does he get to interpret the Bible for everyone else? He said a lot of people were Universalists during his day but he was against it. So he gets to decide? He was just a person.
What are we supposed to do about modern problems or health, right to die, if we are stuck listening to someone from a different day and age. Did he or did he not see a world with this much chronic illness, including chronic mental illness. I say no on both. Yes people may have died younger but so what? It's easy to be against suicide if everyone is reasonbly healthy and then dies of the flu at 50 or 60. Did he ever see people on a ventilator? A feeding tube?

In January I received settlement money from an accident I had last September. Since the accident I never asked anyone to borrow money for concerts or go on a trip.. I was only worried how I’d be able to pay my rent. My dad is the type of person that if he sees you have money he will not leave you alone unless he enjoys of that money too and if he doesn’t get some of that money he will make you feel like you’re the worst person in the world..
He asked for money to go to a concert. I told him that I didn’t think that was possible because my priorities are to pay the rent and bills. He responded by going off on me and telling me that he wasn’t gonna steal the money he was gonna pay it back.. I didn’t wanna deal with him so I let him borrow it.. later that day he asked to borrow money again because he was informed that his brother got sick and he needed money. I didn’t offer him anything because I thought he had money to sent him.. he then told me to let him borrow money for his brother via text. I left him on Read, he saw I didn’t reply and he said that thanks for nothing, that that was the last time he was ever gonna ask me for money and that I better not need anything from the family because they will remember how I didn’t want to give my uncle money for his medical bills.
So I sent him money. That was in Jan. and has still not paid back, he’s been asking me for money for his car, gas, vinyls, books. Why do I keep letting him borrow money? Because my dad is a narcissistic asshole and I will never hear the end of how bad of a daughter I am for not letting him borrow money when he “needed”. He calls me to go out for lunch and stuff but I don’t like going because he will make me pay.. we’re not talking about a $10 dollar plate.. more like a $35 dollar plate per person.. not even I go to a restaurant with that type of pricing. I really want him to basically leave me alone, he doesn’t seem to understand that that money is for groceries and bills. What should I do? If I all of a sudden just disappear on him I’m sure he’s going to go to everybody telling them how bad of a daughter I am.
Today while eating he showed me a picture.. picture of him at Universal studios. I don’t even go to universal studios with that money. I told him today that I need him to pay me before the end of this month because that money is going towards the rent. He said no, that he’ll pay me back maybe by the end of June because he still needs to pay my brother what he owes him. I confronted him about this, asking him why he he’s asking for money if he has a stable job and he responded with “I don’t know.. “

My grandparents (especially my grandmother) are so mentally challenged (including my mother) to the point where I don’t and can’t establish a connection how it is i even come from these people. For example today an argument happened between my grandmother and I. I have been dealing with a chronic medical condition called tmjd and I’m miserable every single day of my life. Today moments ago we tried to have a conversation about it that ended in disgrace as it normally does because my grandmother has such a significant lack of comprehension it’s almost unrealistic. We try to talk and it starts out by her asking me if I’m ok. I go on in an aggressive way to tell her no. I can’t even bare the idea of talking to her anymore because she disgusts me to the point of disbelief which is the reason I aggressively tell her no. Mainly because our conversation end up no where and what she says makes no sense at all sometimes. At this point after 6 whole years of dealing with this condition and wanting to die because of it she still has the audacity to say why. I don’t even know if it’s audacity at this point or if it’s just such complete ignorance. How after 6 full years of conversation after conversation, doctors after doctors. Getting injection therapies and so forth can she be so belligerent to keep asking me why. Same thing with my mother . My grandmother is 75 now but she has been like this her whole entire life. So it’s nothing new what so ever. I got this condition when I was 22 and haven’t been the same since. I used to be a regular gym goer. I was into powerlifting and believe me I was a strongman not just your average powerlifter. I had super human strength. Could have made worlds strongest man competition easily. I was healthy as an ox. I just don’t understand at this point how they can’t tell a difference. I mean my physical appearance is even dramatically different. So back to that. So I began by asking her how she can’t tell a difference in my physical appearance and condition. She says you look like you lost weight. I’m thinking ok but I’ve obviously lost muscle I have bags under my eyes I sit in the house all day and don’t move from my bed and all you have to say is I lost weight? Then I say I used to bench press so and so weight. I say what’s that mean to you that I can’t do that anymore. She says “it means you look good” …….WTF? I’m thinking to myself like this lady has absolutely lost her fucking mind what does that even mean. How does that mean that and how does she even think that it means that. It sounded like gibberish just came out her mouth. I feel like I’m talking to a bunch of two year olds all the time. Over the course of my entire life she has always said nonsense similar to this but in other ways with other conversations. My mother as well. I just feel completely lost at this point they have made me absolutely hate them. I hate them so much that if I wasn’t in this state of condition I’d pack my things up and leave and never look back and change my contact information and all. They are all so mentally challenged that I have no idea how they made it in life. It’s absolutely astounding. My grandmother has never had a job in her life. My grandfather owns a bar and my mother runs it. But for Christ sake I just don’t know what to do anymore I’m in misery every single day of my life and I want to die. My family does not by any means make my life any easier and they help me in no way other than giving me a place to live. They don’t even know where to begin to help me even if they wanted to. I just feel like every time I talk to any of them our conversation feel child like. It’s like I’m the adult and they are the children. I just want to hold and intellectual conversation with my family but I know they are not capable of it and it’s saddening. But mainly frustrating to the point where I want to hit them. It’s not even about trying to have an intelligent conversation (because they aren’t capable) but it’s about even having a regular one which is difficult to them. It always ends up in an argument where they are saying things from emotion and not actually logical in anyway and so then it’s turns into this victim mentality situation and it’s just an absolute fucking mess. Or someone says something that’s utterly gibberish. It’s pointless to talk to them anymore and I have nobody I can speak with about it. It’s so awkward just being around these guys and not talking to them through the entire day. There’s times where my grandmother will constantly insist on talking to me me but I straight up totally ignore her. And she won’t understand that that’s what I’m doing and she’ll hold an entire conversation basically by her self but she’ll imagine she’s talking with me. I mean it’s absolutely crazy what I go through with these guys. If I want to ignore my mother she’ll turn hostile. But if I know it’s one of those days for her that’s she’s going to say some dumb ass shit I have two choices which is engage in conversation with her whether I like it or not and it still turns into an argument or ignore her which will turn into an argument. It’s a lose situation with her all the time. She’s also an alcoholic and won’t admit it. I just wish I had some help in my life but there isn’t any. I have hundreds of videos of these guys acting belligerent and senile. I just know if I ever get better I’ll always have these to reflect on and remember as to why I went my separate way and decided to never talk to any of them again. Any suggestions other than move out. Talk to a therapist or go for a walk. I also have about 8 disc herniations from a car accident. So makes it even more difficult to get out. I don’t have a job because I’m so disabled from having a constant head and the car accident. I just don’t know anymore. Trust me if I had the option to move out I would have a long time ago. I hate them so much. I mean I genuinely from the bottom of my soul hate them. Very badly hate them. I wake up in disgust. I look at them with disgust. Everything disgust me about them. And they don’t get that. They don’t even act accordingly to other emotions to towards them. If I knew someone hated me as much as I hate them I’d never try to establish a connection with them just based off of that. But they act as if they never get into an argument with each other one moment and then the other are screaming their heads off at each other. My mother does 90% of the screaming. She’s screams like a maniac. I understand everyone has yelled before in their life but when it comes to my mom she’s screaming on a regular basis. It’s made me absolutely despise her. I won’t miss a single one of them when they die. They have no respect for me or understanding that I’m going through what I’m going through. I can’t express how much I hate them. My stomach feels uneasy when I look at any of them let alone want to talk to them. My mother nonchalantly goes on with her life right after an argument and then will talk to you moments later as if it didn’t even happen. My grandmother does the same. I just want to feel better so I can move on in my life. I forget to mention my dad has never been in the picture. But from my understanding after talking to him a few times I understand exactly why he’s not apart of my life. I mean we talk over the phone. But I understand why the relationship between him and my mother never lasted. Just by what he tells me about my mom, I can relate the same experiences. Makes total sense and I swear to God, I do not blame the man.

June 15, 2023 my car was involved in an accident. One car rear ended another and then hit mine-on a freeway here in Az. Immediately had issues getting information from insurance company. Body shop that had my car couldn’t get any info, my own insurance was having a difficult time. Finally got my car back after 8 weeks. During this time I had a rental car-the insurance of the at fault driver said just send in receipts and total out of pocket when it’s time to settle. I did. Was told that of the 6500 in out of pocket they would pay just over 2k. So after realizing I was an idiot for believing my expenses would be covered, having put all of the rentals on credit cards, paying interest, -all that-I sign and notarized the docs they required and emailed to them. They will not return my calls. They will not return emails. I have called any/every number I have found and cannot get anyone to call me back to let me know the status of the claim. I have 14 unanswered calls/emails to date in the past 4 weeks. Over heard nothing since March. What are my options? Granted I’m out only like 4400 out of pocket, but this is on high interest cards. My car insurance took their settlement amount which was a% based on minimum ins requirements here in Az. No injuries. Should I retain an attorney? How can I get someone to reply to me? Beyond frustrated and feel like I’m getting steamrolled here. Any help? Advise? Similar stories to help me understand? Thank you

TLDR: major car accident 15 months ago in Utah with an at-fault uninsured driver and unregistered vehicle. Got my insurance settlement but what other options?
I (30F) was involved in a car accident 15 months ago in Utah that totalled my car. I was not at-fault. it was winter and the other driver lost control, turned in front of me and I crashed head-on into the side of his truck. I got a compound open fracture of my radius in my dominant hand and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I had multiple procedures, 2 night hospital stay, surgery, concussion, massive bruising, etc. I missed a full week of work and then 2 weeks part-time. I got a lawyer within a week, but it turns out that the driver of the car was not the owner and the car was unregistered and uninsured; however, they gave the police an insurance card with a bad policy.
Since then I have had 2 more surgeries (including one just last month), more missed work, PTSD, weeks of physical therapy/ chiropractic care, and treatment is still ongoing. I've had over a year of pain, lost function of my dominant hand, and have major scaring all over my wrist/hand. I got a full settlement from my car insurance to help pay medical bills. my personal injury lawyer said there is nothing else they can do since it is hard to actually receive a payout even if you win. I ended up having to pay a significant portion back to my health insurance as well. I have tried calling other firms and no luck so far.
I feel like this is completely unfair that I am dealing with the consequences and both the driver and owner really haven't had any. My lawyer says an uninsured owner probably doesn't have any money, but I know he has a decent job and makes probably double what I do. What legal routes do I have to go after a lawsuit for pain and suffering? Every lawyer I've talked to had said it sounds like I have a solid case, but they don't handle non-insurance suits.

TLDR: major car accident 15 months ago in Utah with an at-fault uninsured driver and unregistered vehicle. Got my insurance settlement but what other options?
I (30F) was involved in a car accident 15 months ago in Utah that totalled my car. I was not at-fault. it was winter and the other driver lost control, turned in front of me and I crashed head-on into the side of his truck. I got a compound open fracture of my radius in my dominant hand and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I had multiple procedures, 2 night hospital stay, surgery, concussion, massive bruising, etc. I missed a full week of work and then 2 weeks part-time. I got a lawyer within a week, but it turns out that the driver of the car was not the owner and the car was unregistered and uninsured; however, they gave the police an insurance card with a bad policy.
Since then I have had 2 more surgeries (including one just last month), more missed work, PTSD, weeks of physical therapy/ chiropractic care, and treatment is still ongoing. I've had over a year of pain, lost function of my dominant hand, and have major scaring all over my wrist/hand. I got a full settlement from my car insurance to help pay medical bills. my personal injury lawyer said there is nothing else they can do since it is hard to actually receive a payout even if you win. I ended up having to pay a significant portion back to my health insurance as well. I have tried calling other firms and no luck so far.
I feel like this is completely unfair that I am dealing with the consequences and both the driver and owner really haven't had any. My lawyer says an uninsured owner probably doesn't have any money, but I know he has a decent job and makes probably double what I do. What legal routes do I have to go after a lawsuit for pain and suffering? Every lawyer I've talked to had said it sounds like I have a solid case, but they don't handle non-insurance suits.

This is the story of Gavicus XXIX, the leader of the Aurean Dominate at the beginning of my book series. The Aurean Dominate is a declining empire centered around the Planet Aurea and a few pieces of the surrounding worlds. Despite this, the Aurean Dominate still remains one of the four great powers in the South Nebula, competing with the Haxamanian Empire over its southern and eastern worlds. The north is dominated by the Ishga Empire and the west is controlled by the mysterious and brand-new Tatiians. Minor powers include the Kingdom of Arturia, the Aztlanian Empire, the numerous Atlantean states, and the Kingdom of Vigam. Was Gavicus XXIX a good ruler in your opinion? Why or why not?
INFO ABOUT GAVICUS XXIX:
Gavicus XXIX was a Guant born somewhere in Occidens on Aurea 65 years before the end of Book 1. Not much is known about his early life, but it is known that Gavicus XXIX's birth name was Galerius Decimus Tranio and that he spent most of his young adulthood serving in the army during the war against Beyin Epivoulos and his criminal empire. He eventually became a Senator representing an area of rural Occidens, and after a few terms in the Aurean Senate, was chosen to become the Consigliere of Dominus Theodosius IV after the former Consigliere was ousted in the aftermath of the Great Nicopolitan Scandal. His tenure as Consigliere was short, however, as Theodosius IV died of the Blood Bleaching less than a year later. Galerius ascended the throne in Theodosius's place, and took the name Gavicus XXIX upon doing so. He was 47 years old at the time.
Gavicus inherited a bureaucracy that had just been stripped of the vast majority of its talent, as many of the best officials that had served under Theodosius had been implicated in the Great Nicopolitan Scandal and thus were barred from future office. Syagrios Komnenos, the Exarch of Tifinagh under Theodosius who had helped defeat Majorian IX when he tried to use Tifinagh as a base to usurp the throne, was replaced by Marcus Septimius Massgaba. Massgaba was an incompetent wealthy landowner who had bought his way into the Aurean Senate and would go on to spend his tenure as Exarch raising taxes like a maniac, triggering several small revolts, needlessly prolonging the war with the Haxamanians through his impatience and battlefield incompetence, and dying pathetically in the Battle of Tasfahn. Nassenia Montana, the highly capable Magistra Milita that had served under Theodosius IV was replaced by Gaius Caesonius Theodosius (no relation to Theodosius IV), a somewhat competent general who would go on to serve Gavicus well in the wars in Amorica but utterly fail him in the Battle of Tasfahn. For his Consigliere (2nd-in-command/heir in case of his resignation or death), Gavicus chose Tiverios Theodosiopoulos, the most capable of Theodosius IV's sons, who by this time was serving in the army and Senate as a Legate (Senator in command of a legion). As Gavicus was often away on campaign, Tiverios would go on to amass plenty of political clout and power for himself, as he is who Gavicus always left in charge of governance while out of the capital.
Almost immediately after ascending the throne, Gavicus was forced to deal with a crisis. In Lapum, a working-class satellite city of Aurea's largest city Nicopolis, an ethnic Tangolian civilian named Arslan Yi'it was murdered by Aurean legionaries stationed in the city, causing four days of ethnic violence and chaos known as the Lapum Riots. Large portions of the city were burned and looted. Gavicus personally led a legion into the city to quell the uprising, doing so with only 50 civilian deaths and a few hundred injuries, but this did little to quell the underlying ethnic tensions in the city and elsewhere in Aurea. Despite Gavicus's best attempts to invest in Lapum in the years following the violence, much of Lapum's terrified, ethnically Aurean and Centralian upper and middle class fled the city for Nicopolis and elsewhere, resulting in the beginnings of the urban decay the city is known for today.
Additionally and most importantly, Gavicus had inherited the war with the Haxamanian Empire that had cost the Aureans almost all of their territories on the Planet Awal. Only Tifinagh's islands and a small scrap of the mainland Theodosius IV reconquered just before his death remained under Aurean control. Immediately after dealing with the Lapum Riots, Gavicus traveled to Tifinagh, hoping to cement his legitimacy by reconquering the rest of Tifinagh. Due to the Haxamanians' attention largely being focused elsewhere, Gavicus and Massgaba managed to get significantly further than Theodosius IV did, marching east along mainland Tifinagh's northern coast to little resistance. A small Haxamanian force that tried to stop them outside the city of Dymox was easily defeated, and they took Chera, one of the largest cities on Tifinagh's mainland, with no resistance. However, the city had been emptied by the Haxamanians of its food, its civilians, its water, and its supplies. Immediately knowing this was a trap, Gavicus sent for reinforcements, naval resupply, and a fleet from Carthadasta, Tifinagh's capital. Too impatient to wait for supplies, Massgaba disobeyed Gavicus's orders to stay put and led small bands of cavalry to plunder what they could from the local countryside.
While on one of these raids, they clashed with a small band of Imazi cavalry, previously Aurean subjects who'd switched sides to the Haxamanians after the latter captured their land. The Aureans were victorious and managed to capture some, learning from them that the Haxamanians were amassing a massive army nearby, led personally by the Haxamanian Shahanshah (King of Kings) Bahram VII and his Spahbed (top general) Bacha Hilazai. Only a day later, a Haxamanian fleet appeared from the northwest and parked itself in Chera Bay, blocking reinforcements from reaching the city. However, just as according to Gavicus's plan, the Aurean fleet arrived soon after and defeated it, allowing the simultaneously arriving food and supplies to enter the city. Having lost their advantage in a siege, the Haxamanians instead opted to meet the Aureans in open battle, choosing a nearby site at the edge of the Imazi Desert. Gaius Caesonius Theodosius, who had arrived with the reinforcements, along with Gavicus and Massgaba, led the Aureans to a resounding victory, killing or capturing half the Haxamanian force and routing the rest. The victory at the Battle of the Imazi Desert allowed the Aureans to march much further into mainland Tifinagh, recapturing essentially the entire western half of the Exarchate. Meanwhile, Bahram and Bacha retreated to the fortified port of Vasanos to lick their wounds and await reinforcements. Hoping to return to governance, Gavicus left the situation on Awal to Gaius Caesonius Theodosius and Massgaba for the time being and returned to Aurea proper.
In his early reign, Gavicus focused primarily on strengthening trade relations with the Ishgas, but was soon forced to shift his attention elsewhere. 4 years into his reign, the galactic warlord Tate released a magical cataclysm known as the Iteru Genocide on Iteru, a moon of the Planet Awal with close relations to the Aurean Dominate, as it was a former Aurean possession. With Iteru's Pharaoh Nuterhek, a close personal friend of Gavicus, begging him for help, Gavicus provided what rice and wheat the Aurean Dominate could spare to help with the associated famine. While it wasn't enough to save Iteru, the food aid bought many of Iteru's people the time they needed to flee the doomed moon. Despite the Aurean Dominate's extremely isolationist policies for the past few centuries, Gavicus made an agreement with Nuterhek to resettle some Iteru refugees on Aurea, angering many hardliners in the Aurean Senate. The decision was only able to pass the Aurean Senate when Gavicus agreed to cap the total number of migrants at 60,000 and restrict Iteru settlement to the cities of Astras and Olinthaseia. Most consequential of these arrivals was Taftenkhamun, Nuterhek's 10-year-old son and heir to Iteru's throne, whom Gavicus agreed with Nuterhek to adopt as a son. Despite Gavicus's efforts, however, the Iteru Genocide killed or forced into exile all sentient life on Iteru, taking the life of his friend Nuterhek as well, who chose to die with his people rather than flee to Aurea. Gavicus would live with the guilt of not doing more to help Iteru for the rest of his life.
Gavicus would raise Taftenkhamun, much better known by his Aurean name of Taftus, as the son he never had. He allowed Taftus to live with him in the Palace of the Domini, continued his education, and did his best to balance spending time with him and showing him love and affection with the duties of being the Aurean Dominus. Despite Gavicus trying to push Taftus into going into politics like he did, Taftus was far more interested in the military, and enlisted in the Aurean legions at 17, as soon as he became of age.
After a year of scheming to turn the tide of the war, Bahram sent Bacha undercover to the rebellious Aurean Province of Tangolia, tasked with fomenting a rebellion so they could use the province as a springboard to attack Aurea proper. Many Tangolians, particularly the Otrar and Gazan Tangolians, both felt mistreatment under Aurean rule and had more in common culturally with the Haxamanians than the Aureans, and many flocked to join the revolt, which quickly took control of the north and center of the province. Qajeer, the Tangolian Khan loyal to the Aureans, fought off several attempts by the rebels to capture Tengribalik, the Tangolian Capital. However, once the Haxamanians arrived, led by Bacha Hilazai, their combined strength was too much for Qajeer to deal with and he was forced to abandon the city to the rebels and Haxamanians, fleeing to Tangolia's eastern seaboard, an area much more loyal to the Aureans. With Gaius Caesonius Theodosius tied down in Tifinagh and not trusting Massgaba to defend the Exarchate on his own, Gavicus was forced to rely on what was left of Qajeer's force, border guard units, and regional commanders to stop the ensuing Haxamanian-Tangolian invasion of Argentolia, the Aurean heartland. The border guard units proved to be little more than a speed bump for the combined Haxamanian-Tangolian force, which easily broke through the border wall and crossed the Hsia River, invading Argentolia. As most of eastern Argentolia's regional commanders with any actual talent had been implicated in the Great Nicopolitan Scandal under Gavicus's predecessor and thus were no longer in command, almost all of them were fairly new recruits with little experience leading troops, resulting in disaster after disaster. Daion was the first city to fall to the Haxamanian-Tangolian force, which then followed that up by defeating an Aurean field army near Cannoria. Within three months, both Cannoria and Ferum, the latter being one of the largest and most important cities in the Aurean Dominate, would be in enemy hands. Over the following six months, poorly led field army after poorly led field army would fall to the invaders, with the major cities of Eresus, Cercapese, Ager Capulum, and Sacrini all falling within the next year. For the first time since the Aurean Dominate's founding, the capital of Astras was within striking distance.
Under immense pressure from the Aurean Senate and general public, Gavicus finally recalled Gaius Caesonius Theodosius from Tifinagh after Sacrini fell, as the enemy was nearing Astras, thought for millennia to be untouchable. By the time Gaius Caesonius Theodosius had arrived, the Haxamanian-Tangolian force had seized Artegion, on the doorstep of Astras, and with it, a fleet. With the combined arms of their massive land force and this fleet, the Haxamanian-Tangolian force laid siege to Astras, with Gaius Caesonius Theodosius and Gavicus leading the defense of the city. The city's massive, three-layered walls, combined with its easily defensible location on the sea with only a few land entrances, allowed the Aureans to repel the invaders, marking a turning point in the war. While the Haxamanians under Bacha Hilazai simply sailed back to Awal, the Tangolians, with no such option and trapped thousands of miles deep in Aurean territory, would be dealt with piecemeal over the next three years. Around the same time, Qajeer had managed to reverse his fortunes in Tangolia and recapture Tengribalik and much of the province's center.
By year 6 of Gavicus's reign, the situation with the Tangolians was under enough control for Gavicus to return his military attention to Awal. While Gaius Caesonius Theodosius and Gavicus had been busy fighting off Bacha Hilazai and the Tangolians, Massgaba had lost some ground to Bahram VII in Tifinagh, having been pushed back to the city of Thubiscurum. Taking advantage of low Haxamanian morale after the failed Siege of Astras, the Aureans were able to push the Haxamanians out of Tifinagh entirely when Gavicus and Gaius Caesonius Theodosius returned, restoring the Aurean Exarchate of Tifinagh to full Aurean control for the first time in decades. Other lost Aurean Exarchates in the area - Kilikia, Meroe, Adua, and the Imazi Tribal Lands - were restored to Aurean hands over the next six years, putting the Haxamanians decisively on the back foot. During this time, Bacha Hilazai was killed at the Battle of Taoudenni, greatly weakening the Haxamanians and lowering their morale.
Relations with the Kingdom of Arturia were fraught, with conflict erupting 7 years into Gavicus's reign over the Aurean Exarchate of Amorica, an isolated Aurean territory on the Planet Arturia that the Kingdom of Arturia continued to claim. Paradoxically, these tensions began when Arturia's king, King Arturius, traveled to Aurea to meet with Gavicus to negotiate an end to their millennia-long conflict. While Gavicus was personally in favor of a deal, King Arturius refused to relinquish his claim on Amorica, leading to the Aurean Senate rejecting the deal and forcing Gavicus to continue the conflict. Additionally angering the Aurean Senate, Gavicus made the mistake of insisting that he meet with Arturius in Astras rather than on Arturia. Despite Gavicus's attempt to pitch it as a beginning of the end of Aurea's centuries of isolationism that even many Aureans were starting to regard as self destructive, this was seen as a bridge too far for most. During the failed negotiations, Gavicus briefly met Pompeia, a young disciple of King Arturius who would become of note much later. In order to make up his lost standing in the Aurean Senate, Gavicus was forced to escalate the situation in Arturia immediately after the negotiations broke down, distracting King Arturius with a vacation in Astras while he ordered a massive invasion force to land in Amorica and seize as much Arturian land as possible.
Exceeding even Gavicus's expectations, this force managed to break through the Arturian Alps and put Caerbannog, the Kingdom of Arturia's capital, under siege. Upon his return, however, Arturius managed to break the siege despite being taken completely by surprise, and defeated the Aureans in several battles, pushing them all the way back into Amorica. Eventually, Arturius, livid at Gavicus's betrayal, managed to invade into Amorica itself and fought the Aureans, led personally by Gavicus as he had traveled there by this point, to a stalemate at the Battle of Caerwent. While Gavicus still had enough resources to continue prosecuting the war, he felt that this particular episode proved there was no reason to continue the constant skirmishes with Arturia, and accepted an offer to negotiate peace terms with Arturius again, this time in Amorica.
The ensuing peace deal returned Aurea's and Arturia's borders to status quo antebellum, although Arturius was not happy about Aurea retaining Amorica. However, Aurea had to bite the bullet and recognize the Kingdom of Arturia's independence and normalize relations, as all of Aurea's previous Domini had refused to do this despite it having been fait accompli for millennia at this point. Aurea had previously seen the entire Kingdom of Arturia as little more than a rogue province that had somehow managed to slip from its control long ago. Aurea paid Arturia a hefty war indemnity, but this was paltry compared to the money that new trade relations between Arturia and Aurea brought in for both nations. Although recognizing Arturia's independence was not popular on Aurea at first, Gavicus was able to sell it based on the fact that he had retained Amorica, held the peace negotiations off-planet this time, and most importantly because of all the money that new trade relations with Arturia brought in, as Arturia sat along a key trade route linking Aurea more closely with the wealthy and technologically advanced Ishgas far beyond. This allowed Gavicus to hold lavish games, as well as expand Aurea's existing food dole for the poor to include protoceratops and psittacosaurus meat in addition to wheat, olive oil, rice, pork, and chicken. His popularity spiked, and in the tenth year of his reign, he would go on to sail to reelection against Qajeer Khan, winning 55% of the vote nationwide.
In the ninth year of Gavicus's reign, the last holdouts of the Tangolian revolt had been put down by Qajeer. Qajeer had his uncle Jamukha, who had led the revolt, strangled for doing so. However, Qajeer had his own reasons for helping crush the revolt instead of participating in it himself. While he secretly loathed the Aureans and the way they treated his people, Qajeer instead chose to bide his time, gaining the Aureans' trust and building a robust local power base while he waited for his own opening to revolt. For the entire rest of his life, Gavicus would be none the wiser. Qajeer would eventually revolt under Gavicus's successor, resulting in a multi-year civil war that would leave the already exhausted Aurean Dominate open to the machinations of Tate soon after.
Gavicus tried his best to manage the Blood Bleaching pandemic that circulated on Aurea during the first few years of his reign, but little could be done to spare Aurea from the destruction of that disease, and like most of the rest of the galaxy, Aurea lost a substantial chunk of its population. Thanks largely to Gavicus's enforcement of strict social distancing throughout its duration, however, the Blood Bleaching killed far less of the population on Aurea than it did on the hardest-hit worlds of Arturia and Iteru, each of which lost half or more of their pre-pandemic populations. In total, it is estimated around 10-15% of the Aurean Dominate's pre-pandemic population was killed by the Blood Bleaching, compared to around 50% on Arturia and a whopping 70% on Iteru. Even Aurea's relatively small loss was not without its consequences, however, as this caused a decline in tax revenue for years and a noticeable strain on the military's recruitment pool.
In the first four years after his reelection, Gaius Caesonius Theodosius managed to reconquer all of the lost Exarchates on Awal the Haxamanians had taken from the Aureans during Theodosius IV's reign. Nova Aurea, Caria, and finally Carmania were all finally returned to the Aurean Dominate after decades of Haxamanian occupation, and Gavicus's popularity soared as a result.
Despite having recognized Arturia's independence earlier, 14 years into Gavicus's reign, tensions flared up with Arturia again Amorica again. An Arturian garrison had left a border fort in the Arturian Alps briefly undefended, and a small Aurean force seized it without orders, prompting a small-scale war between Aurea and Arturia. This conflict was over in about two months, with the Kingdom of Arturia suing for peace after the Aureans seized a few more border forts and badly defeated an Arturian field army at the Battle of Allt-Gollau. At the negotiating table, Gavicus agreed to return the border between the Aurean Exarchate of Amorica and the Kingdom of Arturia to status quo antebellum in exchange for the freeing of 500 Aurean hostages Arturia took during the fighting and the Aureans who seized the initial border fort without orders were put on trial. Most notable about this conflict was the brilliance of an Aurean cavalry commander named Gorgo Gualtera at the Battle of Allt-Gollau, resulting in her catching Gavicus's eye. Gavicus promoted her to Exarch of Amorica, giving her full military and civilian control of the territory. Unbeknownst to Gavicus or anyone else, however, Gorgo was both the daughter of the dead Aurean crimelord Beyin Epivoulos (the crimelord whose forces Gavicus had fought in his youth), as well as a deep cover agent for Tate (the architect of the Iteru Genocide and many other atrocities across the galaxy).
The next year, the Haxamanian Empire was engulfed in a civil war, and Gavicus saw the perfect opportunity to strike at the Haxamanian Capital while the area was engulfed in turmoil, finally ending the decades-long war or maybe even conquering the Haxamanians completely in the process. However, things did not at all go according to plan, and all the armies he brought with him got destroyed by the forces of Rukhsana I Shahanzai, a disaffected member of the Haxamanian royal family who had escaped from prison, gotten an army together, annihilated the Aureans in the disastrous Battle of Tasfahn, and took the Haxamanian throne for herself. Several Aurean generals and other military leaders, including Massgaba, were killed, and Gavicus barely escaped the battle with his life. The Aureans had no forces left on Awal after this to protect their holdings there. On the other hand, Taftus, who was also present during the campaign, became a national hero when he used his tactical prowess to save the troops under his command from annihilation by a Haxamanian ambush deep in the mountains.
In the aftermath, Gavicus was forced to enter into peace negotiations. At first, Rukhsana demanded the Aureans cede all their lands on Awal to the Haxamanians, which Gavicus flatly refused (The Exarchate of Tifinagh on Awal was one of Aurea's most valuable regions and ceding it to the Haxamanians would have meant an end to the grain dole and mass starvation across Aurea). Eventually, a deal was reached in which the Aureans would cede all their lands on Awal except the Exarchate of Tifinagh to the Haxamanians, and the Aureans would have to pay a huge war indemnity to the Haxamanians as well. The Aurean Exarchates of Nova Aurea, Kilikia, Meroe, Adua, the Imazi Tribal Lands, Carmania, and Caria were all permanently handed over to the Haxamanians, essentially rendering all of Gavicus's reconquests except those in Tifinagh moot. This was formalized in the humiliating Treaty of Mingora, which Gavicus was forced to sign.
Gavicus's popularity took a nosedive in the aftermath of this event, and he dedicated the rest of his reign to domestic policy, commissioning public works projects, throwing lavish games, and beginning by far his most important legacy: he decided that to keep up with the rest of the galaxy, Aurea needed to end its isolationism and industrialize along the Ishga model. He decided that Aurea's largest city, Nicopolis, would be a good place to test industrialization, and he hired Ishga scientists, architects, engineers, and developers to transform Nicopolis into a modern city. While Gavicus's popularity would never recover to the heights it was at after his victory over the Arturians, this was enough to keep him from being assassinated (at least for a while).
For the rest of Gavicus's life, Taftus would alternate between his extremely promising military career and a middling-to-poor one as an elected politician, helping Gavicus with some of his later projects such as industrialization but turning out to be too scandal-ridden and debauched to be the protege Gavicus wanted. For all his military talent, Taftus had a reputation for extreme abrasiveness and anger issues, and it seemed every other week there was another rumor going around about Taftus having massive orgies involving female politicians and/or prostitutes. While Gavicus would never fully disown Taftus, he had largely abandoned him as a protege by the end of his reign, assigning him military command of the backwater province of Tiorangi where he didn't have to pay much attention to him. The year before Gavicus died, he made Gorgo Gualtera his Magister Equitum, supreme commander of all cavalry forces in the Aurean Dominate after the previous officeholder died suddenly of a stroke. While Gavicus had no way of knowing this at the time, this decision would eventually result in both his own death and Aurea being pulled into the galaxy's broader confrontation with Tate years later that would result in the bloodiest war in galactic history.
Towards the end of his life, Gavicus befriended Pompeia, a young woman of mixed Aurean and Tangolian heritage who had spent much of her life on the Planet Arturia before returning to Aurea by accident. She rose to superstardom as a gladiator, having trained in magic under King Arturius, utilizing magic in combat in ways that hadn't been seen in millennia. He was both shocked and intrigued by Pomepeia's friendship and past brief romantic involvement with Rukhsana I Shahanzai of the Haxamanian Empire. Gavicus saw great potential in Pompeia and reinstated her Aurean citizenship, even allowing her to serve as his Consigliere after Tiverios was indicted on corruption charges. However, there was some tension between the two, as Pompeia was from Lapum, had witnessed the Lapum Riots as a child, and was critical of Gavicus's failure to address the longstanding discrimination against Tangolians that led to them. Less than a year later, Gavicus was assassinated under mysterious circumstances (it would later be discovered that Gorgo Gualtera arranged his murder and covered it up so well that no one even suspected her until she would eventually reveal her true intentions years later), and Pompeia ascended the throne as the first female Dominus (Domina) in history. Gavicus's body was cremated after his death and his urn was placed in the Mausoleum of the Domini in Astras. Decades of constant conflict with the Haxamanians, both under Gavicus and his predecessor Theodosius IV, as well as civil conflict, multiple Tangolian revolts, the Hoc Nostrum conflict, and the Amorican Wars with Arturia would leave Pompeia with an exhausted Aurean Dominate, bereft of manpower, resources, money, and talent that would be completely unprepared to deal with Tate and his machinations only a few years after Gavicus's death.