The back is loosening. Even thought it is not a serious affliction, it is a debilitating one - the hinge of a door not working well.
It would be worse. I could be Mike who posted an X-ray yesterday of his broken collar bone. It looks like he has irregular lego in his shoulder. I think Canada basically has a great medical system and the fact that Mike can be so cavalier about his condition is - to my mind - in part due to the fact that his break didn't cost him, say, $25,000. That is good. I could also be like Ian who shares extensively his experiences of being on depression meds. It could be a demon. Dean is blogging about his recently started fight back against the bottle in rather stunning detail.
I could also be worried about the wrong thing. The Rukster has posted some oddish - to my mind - observations about emergency room decor experiences in a place where I have sat many times tired but full of gratitude knowing professionals were saving the lives of people I am related to, including very little favourite people. Apparently a separate room for the taste sensitive might be in order. I have been in a nicer hospital room in the same facility but those lazy boys are reserved for people getting chemotherapy, ladies my age in the head scarf that made one family member of mine immediately place their condition in context. I am not suggesting Pete is out of line with my observations as he is a decent guy - just that when there are fewer health dollars to squeeze, better waiting room chairs and paint wouldn't be high on my list.
It could be much worse. Last month, Shelly shared her true raw observations of a moment in yet another hospital room we all go through too many times in life. Strangely, the number of times we go through it is directly related to how lucky we are in the number of our loved ones.
It is just odd being human in someways - being pretty much a motile, partially hairy sausage with feelings, breaks, aches and pains.
Comments
Mike - March 9, 2004 9:44 AM
Good points. I was treated very well. i'll note that the injury occurred at the Dartmouth Sportsplex and my teammate started driving me toward Dartmouth General, but I asked him to take me to the Halifax side; just felt better about going to the main facility. Got triaged pretty quick and out within 2.5 hrs, not bad including xrays, etc. People were great. And the followup stuff has been minimal thus far but fine.
My family's very bad experiences with the system this past fall had more to do with the limbo in getting from the GP to the specialist/surgeon, forcing us to go the emergency route twice, making for extreme but understandable waits given the triage system. More of a knock against the GP really (although I think it speaks to the efficiency of the system's front end); anecdotally, the surgeons will often shake their heads and say 'why didn't the GP ask for a surgical consultation?' Once in the system, the results were great, and it turned out well in the end, but just by a hair.
Alan - March 9, 2004 10:00 AM
Good to hear. We each have horror stories like the guy who treated me in Truro in high school. You do the diagnosis. Fifteen year old male with lower right abdominal pain, fever and nausea. His guess? Gas. For Double Jeopardy points, tell me the right answer. Hint: I was in surgery within 24 and missed a bad situation by a hair.
But the vast experience I have had with the Canadian system has been great. I give my doctor pals a hard time between being amazed by their job demands. I never give my nursing pals anything but utter respect and cold beers when called for.
Ian Williams - March 10, 2004 2:24 AM
Alan- I spent a year in physical therapy for my lower back. Had an osteopath, an acupuncturist, spent $7000 on meds and PT (covered by insurance, thank God). Two things healed me: time, and a couple of very simple lower ab exercises shown to me by a fantastic Pilates instructor.
I just wrenched my back out again yesterday, did the exercises, and now I'm (relatively) pain-free again. They always say the most important muscle in your back is your lower abs. I'm a believer!
Alan - March 10, 2004 8:07 AM
Very true, Ian. I have a very long back and have been a quasi-yoga-like stretcher my whole life but a definately lazy sit-upper. The molson muscle is proof of that.