About 4 months after I hurt myself, I have finally had a diagnosis. The MRI scan shows a prolapsed disk in my neck - C7 for those in the know. Oddly enough, when he saw me shortly after the incident, my dentist predicted that it would turn out to be a prolapsed disk.
Since it has taken this long to reach a diagnosis, during which time there has been no improvement, it seems the only recourse is surgery. Unless I opt to go the private care route (which I can't afford), there is likely to be a lengthy delay.
Now that I have been diagnosed, I have doctors tutting at me, saying "You must be in a lot of pain." Funny they should mention that, because that's what I've been trying to tell them for 4 months. It seems pain isn't taken seriously until it has been verified by a medical consultant. Your own claims to be in agony are probably just you trying to jump the NHS queue, or looking for attention, or trying to get your hands on drugs... or all of the above.
My best friend in high school became a surgeon. She is still my friend today, I wonder if she can be prevailed upon....
Nah. I guess that wouldn't be right. It's not quite the same as asking a mechanic friend to look at your oil filter, is it?
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
So I've had a diagnosis at last!
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4 comments:
I guess next time she's round you could have some big sheets and sharp implements that just happen to be near your kitchen table?
When I was in labor with my daughter, my husband was watching the "pain" monitor at one point. "That one wasn't as bad as the last one, " he said. "You want to bet?" I screamed. It is amazing how a machine legitimizes our pain, but if there is nothing to measure it, did it really happen? Sort of like learning.
@Norman Great idea - except that she lives in Bloemfontein, South Africa and we have actually seen each other face to face since our 20th high school reunion, which was 10 years ago tomorrow!
@V_Yonkers Exactly. If a tree falls in the forest, and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?
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