To say yesterday could have gone better would be an understatement.
I got through to the clinic around 2.30pm, and was number 2 in the queue.
I only waited about 45min, and then the doc showed up, and i was seen straight away!
A good start i thought. Maybe this was my undoing?
He wrote me a prescription to get my xrays taken, and then i was wheeled through to where you need to pay for the xrays. Then it was off to the queue outside the radiology dept.
This was an hour and a half wait while everyone else went first.
When i finally got to the front of the queue, the woman shut the door, telling me to wait a while.
Half an hour later, with no one else even waiting to go in apart from me, she let me in.
I climbed onto the table where the xrays are taken, and proceeded to sit there for another 20min while other people that had started arriving in the queue, just walked in and chatted to her, then she disappeared off with them to do something else?!
Eventually it was my turn, and the xrays were taken.
As she was finishing up, my doc walked in and looked at the xrays with me.
It was a little strange because normally i would head back to his office to discuss things, and get my cast off on this particular visit...
So, we looked at the xrays very briefly, and i asked him if the gap between the bones on my repaired tibia was a good thing or not.
He replied that i should put full load bearing weight on my left leg so that the weight of my body on my leg pushes the bones together and they can mend properly!!
What???
I couldn't believe what he was telling me!
The specialist in SA had told me that i was to put very little weight on my left side, as my hip was still fragile and should be looked after.
Then he asked me to sit on the edge of the table with my legs dangling over the side, and told me that my exercises i have been doing are not good, as i should have a lot more range of motion in my left knee by now.
In the sitting position, he took one hand and held my quad firmly down on the table, and with his other hand he forcibly pushed my leg inwards, effectively bending my knee.
Obviously my knee did not have this much flex in it, and it hurt like hell, then he straightened it again, and then pushed back in again!
This carried on for about a full minute while i screamed in pain.
He told me that i should be doing proper physio every day.
Well, this is impossible as the physio is in La Romana, 40min from where i stay, and i cant afford to hire a car every day to drive thru for this! Plus find someone to drive me every day!
So i will have to try figure something out at home??
And that was it.
"Thank you for coming, and by the way, pop back on monday to pick up your xrays!"
Yeah, sure, i'll just hire a car, find someone to drive me and pop in again on monday?!!
So, 4.5 hours spent getting 4 xrays taken, and my cast stays on for another month!
I think that the cast didn't come off because he was in a hurry to get home, which is why he arrived early.
And is also why he came to see me in radiology.
So, thats great...another month of this damned cast!
Digna, my helper, is in La Romana today, and i have given her a shopping list to buy me some crutches, and also the pain meds that the doc prescribed to be taken before physio! This evening will be my first "proper" physio session then...
As far as the legal side of things goes, my lawyers spoke with the hospital, and then spoke to me after.
They have no idea whether the driver's wife has paid any money to anyone. They will be investigating this further in the next few days.
They have also advised me to pay the hospital some money. Even though my contract states i have 6 months to pay them even 1 cent, my lawyer said that our case would be better if i paid them something, and we got a signature from them with a receipt...
So, all in all, nothing really positive to take away from this visit.
Apparently my lawyers are having talks with the insurance company next week, but i was told last week, this was happening this week, so i wont hold my breath...
Hopefully the next few days will hold some sort of answers...??
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Next turn on this roller coaster ride!
Unbelievable!
Just when you start to think there is some sort of semblance of normality in all this, i have another confusing morning!
The hospital has phoned me a few times in the last week asking for my address here.
I eventually gave them a near enough address, and they managed to track me down this morning...
The same woman who shouted at me in Spanish and waved documents under my nose in the hospital, and her male colleague just finished a half hour visit here.
Everything was conducted in Spanish, which i understood most of anyway.
They were here because they have apparently spoken to Katushka, the drivers wife, yesterday, and she told them that she had given me money to pay the hospital??!
Also, they were here to discuss me giving them a false passport. Apparently they had information that i had a duplicate UK passport???
What the hell?!!
After assuring them my only passport was the one which they had safely locked away in their offices, we moved onto the issue of payment!
She said she gave me the money. She might have meant she gave it to my lawyers to give to me to give to the clinic?
No matter who she gave it to, if she did indeed give it to anyone, i know nothing about this, and have no clue where the money is, or how much it is??
I phoned my lawyer, and after a long time, he phoned back and spoke to the clinics lawyers, arranging to meet them tonight at 5pm at the clinic.
Luckily this ties in with me having arranged a lift to the clinic today to get my plaster cast off, so i will also be there around that time. At least i can chat to my lawyer straight after and see what the hell is going on?!
I spoke with him now on the phone, and obviously asked him where the money was, and what she was talking about?
He said he doesn't know anything about this, and that if she had given money to my lawyers, maybe she gave it to my first lawyers, who still haven't gone away!
This would just create a bloody nightmare situation, because they still want their $4k that they say were the expenses for the 3 weeks i lay in hospital and they didn't lift a finger for me!
Problem is, if they have gotten a payment from her, pretending to still be my lawyers (which technically they still are), then they will probably insist on keeping their $4k out of however much she paid them!
Ah shit man, this is just an ongoing bloody nightmare!
I dont have Katushka's number to speak to her directly, but have left a message for my friend to please get her to contact me urgently so that i can at least know what has happened before i hear anything from anyone later on.
I suppose the only positive i can draw from this is that if she is telling the truth, then a payment has been made, and we can at least try to get the clinic off my back?!
But, as far as a client has a contract with his attorney, they should speak to me before accepting any amount of money from any of my cases, as i am ultimately the one who decides if the offer is good enough!
This is all well messed up again now!
Today should provide some very interesting information...
Stay tuned...!
Just when you start to think there is some sort of semblance of normality in all this, i have another confusing morning!
The hospital has phoned me a few times in the last week asking for my address here.
I eventually gave them a near enough address, and they managed to track me down this morning...
The same woman who shouted at me in Spanish and waved documents under my nose in the hospital, and her male colleague just finished a half hour visit here.
Everything was conducted in Spanish, which i understood most of anyway.
They were here because they have apparently spoken to Katushka, the drivers wife, yesterday, and she told them that she had given me money to pay the hospital??!
Also, they were here to discuss me giving them a false passport. Apparently they had information that i had a duplicate UK passport???
What the hell?!!
After assuring them my only passport was the one which they had safely locked away in their offices, we moved onto the issue of payment!
She said she gave me the money. She might have meant she gave it to my lawyers to give to me to give to the clinic?
No matter who she gave it to, if she did indeed give it to anyone, i know nothing about this, and have no clue where the money is, or how much it is??
I phoned my lawyer, and after a long time, he phoned back and spoke to the clinics lawyers, arranging to meet them tonight at 5pm at the clinic.
Luckily this ties in with me having arranged a lift to the clinic today to get my plaster cast off, so i will also be there around that time. At least i can chat to my lawyer straight after and see what the hell is going on?!
I spoke with him now on the phone, and obviously asked him where the money was, and what she was talking about?
He said he doesn't know anything about this, and that if she had given money to my lawyers, maybe she gave it to my first lawyers, who still haven't gone away!
This would just create a bloody nightmare situation, because they still want their $4k that they say were the expenses for the 3 weeks i lay in hospital and they didn't lift a finger for me!
Problem is, if they have gotten a payment from her, pretending to still be my lawyers (which technically they still are), then they will probably insist on keeping their $4k out of however much she paid them!
Ah shit man, this is just an ongoing bloody nightmare!
I dont have Katushka's number to speak to her directly, but have left a message for my friend to please get her to contact me urgently so that i can at least know what has happened before i hear anything from anyone later on.
I suppose the only positive i can draw from this is that if she is telling the truth, then a payment has been made, and we can at least try to get the clinic off my back?!
But, as far as a client has a contract with his attorney, they should speak to me before accepting any amount of money from any of my cases, as i am ultimately the one who decides if the offer is good enough!
This is all well messed up again now!
Today should provide some very interesting information...
Stay tuned...!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A week of promise...
Well, after speaking to my lawyer on the weekend, he has told me that this week he is set to sit down with both the insurance company and the driver too.
I am hoping that i will be a little bit closer to wrapping things up by the end of the week, but i have learnt that with this country comes the reality that things take their own time here.
So i wont hold my breath on this one. We'll wait and see...
He did say that in his experience, once we have sat down with them, the cases should get wrapped up soon after, so, like i said, we'll see what gives...?
My mate who has helped me in the past with the trip to the doctor, has just started a new job today, so he wont be around to help me this week to head through to get my cast taken off.
Another mate has a day off on thursday, but doesn't know if he will be able to drive me.
I have 1 more person to call on, otherwise i am not sure how i will get there? It will happen, but maybe not this week then?
I have also decided to start a "Close shave of the week" photo section of the blog, for while i am still here in the DR.
My first "Close shave of the week", you'll find below!
Just a bit of fun to while away the time, and shock anyone that may choose to visit me!
Haha!
I'll be in touch with anymore news as soon as it breaks...
I am hoping that i will be a little bit closer to wrapping things up by the end of the week, but i have learnt that with this country comes the reality that things take their own time here.
So i wont hold my breath on this one. We'll wait and see...
He did say that in his experience, once we have sat down with them, the cases should get wrapped up soon after, so, like i said, we'll see what gives...?
My mate who has helped me in the past with the trip to the doctor, has just started a new job today, so he wont be around to help me this week to head through to get my cast taken off.
Another mate has a day off on thursday, but doesn't know if he will be able to drive me.
I have 1 more person to call on, otherwise i am not sure how i will get there? It will happen, but maybe not this week then?
I have also decided to start a "Close shave of the week" photo section of the blog, for while i am still here in the DR.
My first "Close shave of the week", you'll find below!
Just a bit of fun to while away the time, and shock anyone that may choose to visit me!
Haha!
I'll be in touch with anymore news as soon as it breaks...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Exercises...
Hey there,
Just a quick post to let you guys know what exercises i am doing to strengthen my legs and upper body.
My left leg I am doing exercises with my helper in the mornings and evenings, and as much as my knee will allow during the day as well.
Normally, about 10min or so of her letting my leg bend as far as it can in a sitting position, and then lifting it slowly back to straight again for me.
After about 10min the knee and muscles have warmed and loosened up enough that i can lift my leg by myself without pain in my knee.
So the next 30 repetitions i do myself, without any help.
Like i say, this is twice a day, and as much as i can in between.
Also twice a day, morning and evening, i do some weight lifting with my right leg to prevent the muscles atrophying there too.
I have taken a 5l water container, and looped my belt through it to form a noose that i put around my ankle, and then support my leg with my hands, and lift to straight and back down again.
This i am doing 30 repetitions of as well.
Lastly, i am using the wheelchair to do dips to strengthen my upper body.
I started a month ago with these exercises, and in the beginning it was 3 sets of 15 dips with a break of about 30s between each set.
When i started it was a struggle to complete the 3 sets, but now i am much stronger and complete them easily.
I am now doing 2 sets of 20 dips, followed by a final set of as many as i can manage, ie, to failure of the muscle.
At the moment my final set i can manage about 30-35.
Just a quick insert for anyone that reads this blog, with the same injury, and was wondering what they could do to exercise, etc...
Just a quick post to let you guys know what exercises i am doing to strengthen my legs and upper body.
My left leg I am doing exercises with my helper in the mornings and evenings, and as much as my knee will allow during the day as well.
Normally, about 10min or so of her letting my leg bend as far as it can in a sitting position, and then lifting it slowly back to straight again for me.
After about 10min the knee and muscles have warmed and loosened up enough that i can lift my leg by myself without pain in my knee.
So the next 30 repetitions i do myself, without any help.
Like i say, this is twice a day, and as much as i can in between.
Also twice a day, morning and evening, i do some weight lifting with my right leg to prevent the muscles atrophying there too.
I have taken a 5l water container, and looped my belt through it to form a noose that i put around my ankle, and then support my leg with my hands, and lift to straight and back down again.
This i am doing 30 repetitions of as well.
Lastly, i am using the wheelchair to do dips to strengthen my upper body.
I started a month ago with these exercises, and in the beginning it was 3 sets of 15 dips with a break of about 30s between each set.
When i started it was a struggle to complete the 3 sets, but now i am much stronger and complete them easily.
I am now doing 2 sets of 20 dips, followed by a final set of as many as i can manage, ie, to failure of the muscle.
At the moment my final set i can manage about 30-35.
Just a quick insert for anyone that reads this blog, with the same injury, and was wondering what they could do to exercise, etc...
Thursday, January 5, 2012
2012...
Happy New Year everyone!
Lets hope that this year holds many wonderful surprises in store for all.
As it has been the festive period, nothing much has happened really. But i did get a bit of news yesterday from my lawyer...
The driver's wife has agreed that her lawyer can sit down with my lawyer and try and settle things out of court. We have a court date with the driver at the end of January, so hopefully we can come to an agreement. The meeting will be sometime in the next week.
The other bit of news is that apparently the insurance company would like to sit down with us and discuss things too. This is great news to get things started, but, as with any insurance company, it is going to be a slow process of bargaining with them. But at least we getting the chance to talk to them so soon!
As far as how my leg is doing, i am still doing my exercises every day, and my injured leg is now strong enough to lift the weight of my plaster cast on its own. The muscle has returned to my quad section of my left leg, and it is feeling much stronger.
I still have limited mobility in my left knee though. Not much more than the last time i wrote.
This is a little worrying as i have no idea how long this takes normally to come back? I will ask the doctor when i see him next week to have my plaster cast taken off.
I am doing exercises on my right leg as well, and they coming along ok. My left leg actually feels stronger than my right! I have a set of crutches waiting to be used as soon as i get my plaster cast off. I am excited to start using them, as my mobility will be improved over the wheelchair. But most importantly, i will start using my right leg again, so can start to strengthen it again!
Still waiting on news back from the specialist in SA. He has been away on holiday, and i think he came back yesterday, so hopefully in the next few days...
Lets hope that this year holds many wonderful surprises in store for all.
As it has been the festive period, nothing much has happened really. But i did get a bit of news yesterday from my lawyer...
The driver's wife has agreed that her lawyer can sit down with my lawyer and try and settle things out of court. We have a court date with the driver at the end of January, so hopefully we can come to an agreement. The meeting will be sometime in the next week.
The other bit of news is that apparently the insurance company would like to sit down with us and discuss things too. This is great news to get things started, but, as with any insurance company, it is going to be a slow process of bargaining with them. But at least we getting the chance to talk to them so soon!
As far as how my leg is doing, i am still doing my exercises every day, and my injured leg is now strong enough to lift the weight of my plaster cast on its own. The muscle has returned to my quad section of my left leg, and it is feeling much stronger.
I still have limited mobility in my left knee though. Not much more than the last time i wrote.
This is a little worrying as i have no idea how long this takes normally to come back? I will ask the doctor when i see him next week to have my plaster cast taken off.
I am doing exercises on my right leg as well, and they coming along ok. My left leg actually feels stronger than my right! I have a set of crutches waiting to be used as soon as i get my plaster cast off. I am excited to start using them, as my mobility will be improved over the wheelchair. But most importantly, i will start using my right leg again, so can start to strengthen it again!
Still waiting on news back from the specialist in SA. He has been away on holiday, and i think he came back yesterday, so hopefully in the next few days...
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