What a Pain!
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
debris4spikeYes - I did say I would have a moan. The trouble is I am starting to feel better again - so now feel guilty as I start typing this. But for those who have read odd bits on my posts they will see me from time to time mention a back problem. So really ought to fill you in.
This last week it has really caused me some grief - for no reason which is annoying.
However -
I know that I am lucky to be alive, let alone walking, let alone symptom free most of the time. So overall I am very thankful - just occasionally I get to screaming!!
Lets start at the beginning ... as the song says - "A very good place to start"
It was back in June 1982 ... 2 days before my 21st birthday, when I was at college in central London. There was an underground strike on, so I used to catch the main-line train from where I lived in Upminster to Fenchurch Street station and then cycle to Trafalgar Square.
That was Ok on day 1 ... day 2 as I was cycling back along the Embankment, a taxi came from a left turning and turned (through red traffic lights) straight onto me. He, at the time, admitted to doing over 40 mph. Fortunately for me I had previously done 7 years of judo - and there is one thing you learn ... How to fall!
So - I literally walked into the ambulance that had been called, although I later found out I had been unconscious for a few minutes. By the time I got to Barts Hospital, my right leg was numb - but nothing else really to notice, other than a graze on my left ankle. The ambulance men had sung "Happy Birthday" to me - so that was good.
Sadly the hospiteal was busy - so a "silly student" who had got herself run over at lunchtime was the least of their worries! They told me I was OK and dressed the graze and sent me home!
2 days later (my 21st) i went into college again as I had an exam. I think my friends thought that I had jumped in front of the taxi to avoid getting the bumps!! They were also used to the fact that I am accident prone (hence my user-name here) - so wern't phased by me looking "the worst for wear". The exam was OK - I passed, by the way! By the next day I was aware how much my ankle itched - and I took off the dressing that was meant to be on for another few days to see... a mess. I went to the doctors to fond out that I had an ulcer as the staff hadn't actually cleaned the graze!
Anyway the leg numbness increased and became painful - as did my back. There is one major advantage that I have at this point, though - I am training to be an osteopath - and the principal of the college is my "local" osteopath .. So I go to see him for an assessment.
I had torn all the ligaments in my pelvis and low back on the right hand side. I did judo left handed - so landing on the hip at about 40mph or tarmac, is not the easiest thing to do.
Anyway - 2 years of treatment starts. As I said - great it's my profession as I get free treatment. Also I can genuinely sympathise with my patients. My osteopath (who I also worked for over the first 2 years after I graduated) was also great at re-training some of my working practice.
So really - 25 years on I have a scar on my left ankle (from the ulcer) which still itches from time to time; I have to wear a permanent heal lift to try to artificially re-balance my pelvis and I have a leg that goes numb if I drive for more that 45 mins at a time.
BUT - that is all!!
This last week I have had a really week leg - therefore I can't ride by myself as I have no control over DJ's sideways movement; but I don't know why. Since I took up riding 12 years ago I have been so much better - so this is frustrating.
However I will finish as I started - I may moan, from time to time - but I am very lucky with how I am.
[A small note for those who are wondering - not a penny compensation. In those days cyclists were considered as second class road users - and there were no big claims for anything!!]
PS
Thanks for letting me ramble!!
This last week it has really caused me some grief - for no reason which is annoying.
However -
I know that I am lucky to be alive, let alone walking, let alone symptom free most of the time. So overall I am very thankful - just occasionally I get to screaming!!
Lets start at the beginning ... as the song says - "A very good place to start"
It was back in June 1982 ... 2 days before my 21st birthday, when I was at college in central London. There was an underground strike on, so I used to catch the main-line train from where I lived in Upminster to Fenchurch Street station and then cycle to Trafalgar Square.
That was Ok on day 1 ... day 2 as I was cycling back along the Embankment, a taxi came from a left turning and turned (through red traffic lights) straight onto me. He, at the time, admitted to doing over 40 mph. Fortunately for me I had previously done 7 years of judo - and there is one thing you learn ... How to fall!
So - I literally walked into the ambulance that had been called, although I later found out I had been unconscious for a few minutes. By the time I got to Barts Hospital, my right leg was numb - but nothing else really to notice, other than a graze on my left ankle. The ambulance men had sung "Happy Birthday" to me - so that was good.
Sadly the hospiteal was busy - so a "silly student" who had got herself run over at lunchtime was the least of their worries! They told me I was OK and dressed the graze and sent me home!
2 days later (my 21st) i went into college again as I had an exam. I think my friends thought that I had jumped in front of the taxi to avoid getting the bumps!! They were also used to the fact that I am accident prone (hence my user-name here) - so wern't phased by me looking "the worst for wear". The exam was OK - I passed, by the way! By the next day I was aware how much my ankle itched - and I took off the dressing that was meant to be on for another few days to see... a mess. I went to the doctors to fond out that I had an ulcer as the staff hadn't actually cleaned the graze!
Anyway the leg numbness increased and became painful - as did my back. There is one major advantage that I have at this point, though - I am training to be an osteopath - and the principal of the college is my "local" osteopath .. So I go to see him for an assessment.
I had torn all the ligaments in my pelvis and low back on the right hand side. I did judo left handed - so landing on the hip at about 40mph or tarmac, is not the easiest thing to do.
Anyway - 2 years of treatment starts. As I said - great it's my profession as I get free treatment. Also I can genuinely sympathise with my patients. My osteopath (who I also worked for over the first 2 years after I graduated) was also great at re-training some of my working practice.
So really - 25 years on I have a scar on my left ankle (from the ulcer) which still itches from time to time; I have to wear a permanent heal lift to try to artificially re-balance my pelvis and I have a leg that goes numb if I drive for more that 45 mins at a time.
BUT - that is all!!
This last week I have had a really week leg - therefore I can't ride by myself as I have no control over DJ's sideways movement; but I don't know why. Since I took up riding 12 years ago I have been so much better - so this is frustrating.
However I will finish as I started - I may moan, from time to time - but I am very lucky with how I am.
[A small note for those who are wondering - not a penny compensation. In those days cyclists were considered as second class road users - and there were no big claims for anything!!]
PS
Thanks for letting me ramble!!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-04 08:34 pm (UTC)Hope you feel a bit better soon
and grrrrrrrrr at that casualty department for not doing their job in the first place
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 07:21 am (UTC)Yes - it is the hospital that annoys me - that is an unnecessary problem - which they didn't even know they had caused - At least the driver saw me flying through the air!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-04 09:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 07:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-04 09:47 pm (UTC)Such a shame your leg and back are causing you problems at the moment - hope they improve soon.
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 07:14 am (UTC)Yes - Judo is great - and came in handy knowing how to fall when I took up riding!!
Yes - I am slowly feeling better - just frustrated as there is so much I want to do!
Hope work is OK and that you are settling into the routine.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 12:31 am (UTC)as the staff hadn't actually cleaned the graze
People working in health care, whatever their job is, are probably the most important people in the world, and should be acknowledged as such. They deal with life and death. As such they also have the highest level of responsibility and *they* should also acknowledge that.
Ramble away, sweetie... and I've started "working" on your icons ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 07:17 am (UTC)Have fun with the icons ... a great excuse to study Spike, isn't it??
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 07:46 am (UTC){{Hugs}} I hope you are feeling better by the time you get to read this.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 11:03 am (UTC)PS - Love the icon!
no subject
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 09:07 pm (UTC)Thanks