Thursday 7 February 2013

Thankful Thursday

Last Friday I twisted my neck rather badly: just short of 12 months since I twisted my back on the croquet lawn.  This time it was in the gym.  On both occasions I was very grateful that it happened here in New Zealand and not in the UK.  Why?  Because the health care system here has separate services like physiotherapists which can be accessed other than through the hospital service.  In the UK I would have had to go to the doctor who would have to refer me to the hospital.  I would have been exceptionally fortunate to have seen a physiotherapist within 5 weeks of the incident.  In that time the neck would either have cleared itself up or have become so inflamed and tight that it would be as major job sorting it.  As it was I decided within three hours of it having happened that it was going to be a problem and the diclofenac sodium anti-inflamatory I'd taken was not relieving the pain.  So withing two hours of my decision I was having my neck treated and the next day the pain and discomfort was significantly less.  After another couple of treatments it's well on the mend.

So today I am very thankful for that particular aspect of the New Zealand health care system.

16 comments:

  1. Phew! Glad to know you are better already, and the treatment was started to soon.
    I have not yet managed to twist my neck but am an expert in back-twisting due to my skoliosis. In the past years, I have had to be "re-aligned" several times. Always a scary experience which I am absolutely not keen on repeating any time soon (besides, physiotherapists advise against it and only use it as a last resort).

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    1. Thanks Meike. I know that when I put my back out years ago and couldn't move for hours the Doc said that every time the back is manipulated like that it weakens it each time so it must me much more severe for skoliosis. I didn't really know what skoliosis was until I first read that you had it. I can't recall whether I then researched it or you explained it on your blog but I do remember what it is.

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  2. Glad your neck is better. We do have a lot to be thankful for, don't we?
    The gods were on your side, that the injury occurred while you were in NZ.
    I do believe you may have been watching some hot babes in the gym and that's why you twisted your neck. So stop that!!

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    1. I think all the hot babes and fit young men too (from what Wendy, who goes at 7am, tells me) are there long before me. I go when it's quiet in the late morning with all the geriatrics. It's quite good because, apart from the personal trainers, I'm amongst the youngest there so there so I feel quite fit.

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  3. I'm glad you were able to get help so quickly - and knew where to turn.

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    1. One of the first things I sussed out when I came to NZ, Monica, was where a good physio practice was.

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  4. Poor you but next time a pretty girl goes by try turning your head more slowly!

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    1. Now, Spesh, have you ever known me turn my head to watch a pretty girl?

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  5. I'm sorry to hear of the injury, but glad that you're on the mend and able to obtain help so quickly.
    ;^)

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    1. Thanks Cynthia. Good to see you in Blogland again even if only for a fleeting visit from you new life. Go well.

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  6. Ouch - sorry about your neck! I won't add my own saucy suggestions as to what you were looking at in the gym. All I will say is that you don't appear to have contradicted any of the suggestions. Let's be kind and presume you haven't had time.

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    1. Your presumption, Katherine, is entirely correct. As for saucy suggestions, I cannot believe you would ever make such a thing. Too ladylike you are by far.

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  7. Yikes!
    Glad your getting speedy treatment. In the us it takes me a couple of months to get into physical therapy if I injure. Plan ahead start complaining in August and by the time you need it in October you will have it.

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    1. That's pretty much the same as the UK Cat.

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  8. There is a drop in clinic at the hospital on a Monday and Thursday - no use though it you pull something on a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday.

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