Not Me But...
My brother J had a motorbike accident about 7 years ago. He was taken to hospital and was knocked out on morphine for a couple of days, then after a few more days they discharged him with bruised ribs. This was the diagnosis despite the fact he could not walk and had to be carried to the car gasping for breath. Once home he was bed bound for months. As this length of pain was not normal for bruised ribs, more x-rays were insisted on… which discovered that he had a broken vertebrae. This was about 6 months after the accident and it had already started healing itself by then. Doctor suggested operation but didn’t recommend it as there was a significant risk of paralysis. He was walking fine by then. The area between the shoulder blades goes out instead of in, (not Quasimodo style or anything) but other than that he seemed ok. So J opted out of operation.

Then this time last year he started losing feeling in his left foot. Hospital check up and MRI scans. These discovered that when back bones started healing themselves they fused awkwardly and started pressing against nerves. Neurologist said he’s fine… for now. But he may have trouble walking and stuffs when he’s about 70. There’s still no need to operate as there are still big risks. J’s “happy” with that as honestly he’s terrified of the operation, and he’ll deal with it when he’s 70.

BUT… there is a doctor at the hospital who had been pushing the operation since the accident happened. He thinks that it’s a miracle J is as able bodied as he is at the moment and it’s a short matter of time before it gets worse- the numbness in the foot being a warning of this. He feels so strongly he has written a letter to neurologist, copying in J, basically telling him his opinion is wrong and an operation is in order.

So back to hospital for J in 2 weeks to meet with the doctor.

Although the NHS fudged the diagnosis and x-rays, I wouldn’t put all the blame on them. J should have pushed harder for results/ compensation. Not that he would admit it, but I know he’s too scared to deal with it which is why he accepted to ignore it the first time around. And he would have taken the neurologist’s opinion last year as the final conclusion if he wasn’t copied into the letter which the doctor sent. I alternate feeling sorry for him and being frustrated with him.

This isn’t an amazingly interesting post I know, but felt like having a rant as I had worried Mumsy being all upset about it on the phone yesterday.

In other news I have had one filling. When my dentist drilled, he hit a nerve and my whole body jumped in the chair. Then when I left, I’d been walking around for about an hour before I met up with Ma where she pointed out the glaring dried trickle of blood down my chin. I make sure I brush twice a day to avoid this trauma in the future.
( awayfromthenumbers, Mon 15 Mar 2010, 14:02, Reply)