"Proactive recovery from back injury"

In January I was rushed to hospital with agonising back pain, numbness in leg and inability to stand on my right leg, the pain was excruciatingly unbearable like a pain that I couldn’t breathe through. Having a high tolerance for pain, I knew something was drastically wrong.

The first positive step came when I received MRI results which revealed the spinal damage wasn’t irreversible. I held on to that even though my back was spasming regularly with uncontrollable pain, I had a 2 litre full bladder and was unable to pass urine. Admitted to a ward with two herniated discs, I could never have imagined the days ahead. Bed bound for 8 days and in hospital for a total of 16 days, each day I was determined to regain a little more of my independence, setting a small goal, simple things like progressing to sit up, to feed myself, go to the bathroom, taking first steps, all something I could never have imagined having to do in my 40s! The staff at QA were fantastic, from consultants, to radiographers, all nursing staff, physiotherapist and even the cleaners, all very personable and professional. I was truly grateful to be in such good hands. 

On discharge, my occupational therapist provided me with the  information and equipment I needed to continue my progression, Natalie and her team gave me confidence to keep on keeping on. Within just over a month of discharge from hospital I phase returned back to work then achieved a goal to go on holiday for a special trip with family, something that have been booked for a while which seemed impossible laying in the hospital bed. My determination and mind kept me going, I had a goal but also a family and a full time career to get back to. I returned to driving just over 3 weeks ago, it is so good to have my independence back.

Now I look back at the journey I have been on and am still very much on and I am immensely proud of where I am today. Today marked a real milestone for me, back in London now for three weeks commuting twice a week and today, I achieved my first commute to London back to my office without a crutch. I listened to my body over course of last few weeks, slowed down, yes it was frustrating at times but my body is grateful and I know sometimes you just have to slow right down and give yourself time to heal. Every day I am walking a little more and resuming a normal active lifestyle, my physio is progressively improving and I am excited to begin a pilates course at the hospital for 6 weeks beginning in June, to start to really re-build my core strength.