I’m young (under 30), fit and healthy, but had niggling back issues now for two years, initially, my GP thought I had pulled a muscle in my back, however gradually over the last two years I had just bumbled along with a grumbly back until out of nowhere, around 6 weeks ago, it got seriously worse overnight. I couldn’t feel one of my legs, had burning hot pins and needles up my back and leg, and couldn’t control it with the pain medication I was already on. NHS 24 were fantastic at getting me help, I couldn’t get up off the floor, it was 2am on a Saturday morning, I was on my own and terrified. I was taken to ARI A&E just 15 minute after my initial phone call to NHS 24. I was diagnosed with sciatica caused by a damaged disk in my lower back. A&E managed to get the pain under control and scan me, my GP saw me first thing Monday morning, we re-evaluated my pain medication and I was told to self refer to physio.
I’ll admit, I was super skeptical, I expected to wait 10+ weeks, because every single experience I have had with NHS Grampian feels like it has involved waiting months and months for an appointment with a specialist to have to have it cancelled on me at the last minute. Except the self-referral team at physio had me seen within 48 hours. Within a week I was on a MSK rehab group, I had a treatment plan, I had a physio who told me clearly what was going on, managed to identify the problems I had in the first meeting and then set realistic goals for recovery. Helped me come to terms with the fact that for the next year or so…I am going to have a long road of recovery and that no, I’m not going to be running that 10K I wanted to next month. The team at Aberdeen Health Village have been amazing, even with me sat crying as I realised I’m not going to be able to go back to the competitive sports I was doing before my injury any time very soon.
Thank you, for listening, and for caring, and for understanding just how much that affects someone's life, when your entire social circle is sports related, and you can no longer do it…you become isolated from your friends, you lose your support circles to an extent. To have a team that look at you mentally, and how your injury has affected you in other ways was a huge thing and it’s the first time in my life I’ve felt like anyone in the NHS cared about how I actually felt. It’s gonna be a long few months, but, at least I know my physio has my back, pun fully intended.
"My physio has my back!"
About: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Emergency Medicine Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Emergency Medicine AB25 2ZN General Practices in Grampian General Practices in Grampian NHS 24 / NHS 24 (111 service) NHS 24 NHS 24 (111 service) NHS Grampian / Aberdeen Health and Care Village NHS Grampian Aberdeen Health and Care Village Aberdeen AB24 5HY
Posted by itsnotallbad (as ),
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