I got my first physio session yesterday, thankfully, a very nice young lady called Holly. She asked lots of questions first, had me standing, walking up and down, standing on one leg (difficult, I'm very wobbly and off balance). She asked if I'd ever been to a Balance and Falls clinic....I said I never knew they existed! Then she had me lying on the bed whilst she tested the range of movement and pain level in my legs and hips. She agreed with the GP's diagnosis of bursitis, but said I also have significant inflammation in my hip muscles and tendons. She asked about my walking stick, and said I'd been using it in the wrong hand! (I should hold it in the opposite hand to my painful hip, apparently). She's given me a couple of exercises to do daily, and will see me again in 3 weeks. My hip was extremely painful for the rest of the day yesterday, as I expected, and I didn't sleep well. It still hurts a lot this morning.
Husband got an appointment with the GP late yesterday afternoon, I'm very thankful that we can always get a same day appointment with the doctor. He listened carefully, asked questions and then did a number of tests on husband. He ruled out one condition (it was one I hadn't even heard of actually) as husband didn't exhibit one of the main symptoms of that particular thing. He agreed husband may have a cognitive and/or balance problem, which may or may not be caused by his new meds. He's lowering the dose of one of them as a trial, has booked him in for a blood test, and has asked for husband to monitor his blood pressure every day for 2 weeks (we have a BP machine). Once the GP has had the results of the bloods and BP readings, he may refer husband for a head scan. We're relieved that he's being properly investigated.
Well, we had an email from the housing department yesterday - they've accepted us and put us on the Silver banding. However, there's one thing we're not happy with at all, apparently we can ask for a mandatory review and offer up any further supporting evidence and a different housing officer will review it. I'll be drafting the review application and submitting it today. So it's a case of close but no cigar, as the saying goes, it's a bit of a blow actually. Oh well, these things are sent to try us.
Rambler, you asked if many of the other caravan owners will arrive at the park early in March. The answer is no, most unlikely. Last year there were only a handful of owners early in the season, I don't expect it to be any different this year. We know of one couple who said they will definitely be there when it opens, I'm sure there will be 2 or 3 others. We live much nearer to the park than most other owners, so it's no bother for us to go there just for a few hours, whereas the majority who live further away are most likely to go only when the weather warms up considerably and they'll be able to stay for a few days.
I wouldn't be too annoyed with yourself for using your walking stick in the wrong hand, most people get it the wrong way round until told otherwise. A walking stick should always be used to support the 'good side' as it is compensating for the 'bad side' and this can lead to even more problems further down the line.
ReplyDeleteToday is the first day that people can return to their caravans at the site I used to be on. It's an eleven month site now ... gosh I am still tempted!! I used to be last off and then first back on when it was open for ten months of the year.
It's good that your husband is getting fully checked out. Here's hoping the med change helps. I hope the exercises help your hip. Trouble is, when it's painful, it's difficult to do them! At least you know you're on the housing department waiting list now, and hopefully, you can get the review in your favour. I've got everything crossed for you! xx
ReplyDeleteThere's plenty of good news there and fingers crossed for the rest. I'm glad the physio has started, despite industrial action. xx
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