First Run

Filmage of the first time I broke into a shamble, that is to say a run, after spinal surgery last november. Doc said give it six months and I sort of did.

I managed 5k in 39 minutes, that's partly walking. I'm so encouraged by the lack of pain that I might just enter an event just for a reason to train.

As before stated, this is basically my diary. Feel free to be completely bored. Personally I'm stupidly excited.

In other news, I contacted a bodhrán maker and I'm considering this as my next purchase...

Laters

Back

Back - not a good subject, but one I intend to discuss anyway.

(This is old news to those who have the misfortune to se me socially - I've been bending the ears of friends good and bad, relatives close and distant, and strangers in the street since these events transpired)

I finally got the NHS to give me an MRI scan, and it's gruesome.

Having said that, a lot of things fell into place when I saw the scan - for instance, I now know why I've had increasing discomfort when driving for the last few years. I now know why I've had bouts of sciatica every time I play my beloved game of squash. I now know why I was laid flat last year when wifey and I lifted some doors up three flights for an installation she did. Etc etc.

The official diagnosis is Scoliosis, probably genetic. It's nothing to do with the amount of exercise I've done - which is a relief.
The good news is, it's treatable, and even better, it's keyhole surgery. Two days in hozzy, six weeks rest and I'll be fine, I hope.

The treatment is called XLIF and there's a rather rose-tinted description of it here:

Rosy cosy xlif video

When I went recently to sign the consent forms, the surgeon was keen to manage my expectations - ie he made it plain that jumping around straight after the op is not an option, and probably won't be an option for quite a while - maybe never (sob). There's also a possibility that if the result isn't good enough there may be follow-up proceures to put rods and screws in. That's worst case. Best case is I get to be an inch taller and spend my late middle age on a squash court.

I got them to send me the actual MRI scan and the viewing software, and then I made this little animation which shows sections in sequence, from the side. It gives an impression of just how twisted I am:



I expect the surgery to be in March, and I'm very excited about it. More when I know it.

Laters.

Sciatica

This business of being a cripple is interesting. I've woken up this morning (4am, thanks for asking) with pain in my shin and the top of my foot. Yesterday those items were functioning fine and dandy. This follows on from the sore hip which came on me unexpectedly at a wedding last week. I'm told the pain will move around as the disc heals, so I suppose if it changes fast it must be healing fast, right?

And to all those people who keep smugly telling me "this will happen again", here's my answer - no it won't.

No drums yet, but expected this week. I've actually forgotten how to use the damn things but will enjoy re-learning it all.

Oman - now there's a thought.

My Spine (and Obama's lack of one)

It's kinked. But we think it's temporary. However, the leg-length (I'd guess a bit less than a centimetre) issue that was the root cause is long-term and needs treatment. Otherwise I'll continue to have problems as long as I keep hopping, skipping and jumping. I'm waiting for an appointment with a bloke in Buxton who's an expert on musculo-skeletal problems. Doc also noted that the muscles in my lower back are much bigger on the right side - this probably means they are in spasm due to the pain, which pulls the spine into a kinked shape. That's why I have to take the pills - the theory is if there's no pain the spasm will go away. Anyone good at massages?

But enough about me, what about this thing with BP and Obama? The blame game, played out on a huge scale, with people missing the point all over the place in their haste to hold on to the moral high ground, and in Obama's case, some opportunistic tub-thumping. How can one bloke, however verbally careless, be held responsible for this? Whatever caused the explosion will be brought to light, and the series of unfortunate decisions that led up to it will be examined, and procedures will be put in place that reduce the likelihood of a repeat. That much is obvious. The cleanup is also obvious and BP will have to pay for it, but these are side-issues. What's happening to stop the oil? What's happening to clean the beaches and estuaries? How much cooperation between agencies is there? Thse are the real questions. The heads of these agencies should be telling the people of Louisiana/Florida what they are doing about it, not issuing sound bites about how "Someone will pay for this". Suing BP won't help the heffing shrimp population will it? The worst of it is, the shrimp farmers are lapping up all the litigation-speak. Their society is so twisted, they think that's the right way to go about things - in a disaster situation, the primary goal of all concerned is not to fix the problem and get on with it, but to hunt down the culprit and screw him for all he owns. Gah, I despair. People's ability to miss the point so criminally makes me want to be from another planet.

My next blog will be from Pluto. If you don't like it, sue me.

Ooyah

(wrote this last week, forgot to post it...)

My back is killing me. I have an appointment at the quacks on monday. Meanwhile no heroics. There are people in the new office who are aware of my near-legendary squash prowess, and they are queueing up for a drubbing, but I'm having to make sissy excuses because of my back. I hate being sick in any way, it's a personal insult from god. (..who?)

Work fairly slow, I begin to wonder if there really was any hurry for me to get here. Oh well, I'm sure it will get busy eventually.

Wifey and I have done two successive evening shifts at the installation site in Bolton this week. We've built a wooden frame around the staircase with a door (my poor back), so no light can leak into the installation from the stairwell. It'll be worth a visit when it opens if you're remotely interested in contemporary art. Details nearer the time. For a relatively unimportant (apart from the hectic rush for a first-class degree) third-year show, an awful lot has gone into this, and the other things she's done this year. I can't wait to see how busy we get when the final year rolls around. I may have to retire and become a full-time chippy/electrician/ladder-carrier/general handyman.

(..and now this week..)

Doctor prescribed the stronger anti-inflammtory drug Diclofenac, which has made me feel like I'm 25 again. Nothing hurts. You know you only notice things when they suddenly disappear? Well it turns out I've had aches and pains everywhere and just been ignoring them. Shoulders, back, knees, wrists, all feeling fine now thanks very much. I'm going to hate it when I have to stop taking these pills. I even feel like I could manage a game of squash, but best not until I'm off the sicklist. Doc reckons the back will be fixed after a week or so.

Work stayed boring for a week, got interesting for a few days, and is now boring again. Damn.

In other news, I found out yesterday that Leftfield have reformed with most of the lineup from 1991 (Leftism album) and are playing Manchester on 5th June and Sheffield on 6th. Must drag the missus along to one of those. I think they clash with some arty stuff - serious discussion ahead (gulp).

Speaking of arty stuff, Lyn filled the kitchen with white plaster fingers. I took some photos and made an animation, but the effect was much more spooky, even gruesome, in real life.



In other news, it seems we are going to have house-mates, in the form of Odette, and later Emma and Jody. One question - where will I put my drums when they arrive from Thailand? It's all temporary while they sort out jobs and places to stay, hopefully in New Mills. It will be nice for our social sphere to expand a little.

While we're on drums, I had my first drum lesson since my return yesterday and loved it. Loads of new stuff to practice as soon as I get some kit. That boat can't arrive fast enough.

Have to go, time for my medication. Be good.

Rutnin

Rutnin - no, not a new band. It's the eye hospital in Bangkok. I went to see if the prognosis for my condition (Coats' Disease - look it up) had changed in the last 30 years. Bad news - it hasn't. Good news - after exhaustive tests my left eye shows no sign of developing problems. Sarcastic whoopees all round.

I did get a severe lecture from the eye quack, about playing squash sans goggles (Lynny, find my prescription gigs and send them over please).

I also got a lecture from the missus which was along the lines of "fix the teeth first, you moron".

I also got my left eye's pupil dilated for the examination, then sent out into Bangkok sunshine to make my way home (eyewatering), hoping it would wear off before my squash match later in the day (it did).

While we're on squash....Who said nothing ever gets fixed in Thailand? This is one of the courts at Supalai Park (my apartment block). I can nip over and play any time I like and I'm just as happy as a clam.

I've bought four new albums this week, all by artists you lot won't have heard of, you bunch of Philistines. When I've listened exhaustively to them all I'll post a track from each album here, as part of my ongoing (and rather sad) atempt to enlighten you all to the pleasures of music that isn't either a) a thousand years old, or b) written with the latest x-factor contestant in mind. By the way Sandy, that Philistines jab doesn't include you. Gosh, I can hear the howls from everyone else already. (Note from editor - this is better stuff, edgy, cynical.) Which brings up a question - hands up anyone who's actually gone and bought music on the strength of my posting it here? Do any of you actually buy music, or have you fallen into that curse of modern society, the illegal download? Or would you rather watch telly than turn on the stereogram? Shame on you for either.

I watched a guy die this morning on TV, and I'm not happy about it. I sat down and there it was - the terrible accident on the Luge at the Olympics. No need to go into details, but the point is, why show it? Not in the public interest at all. Gave me the heeby geebies, and so sad for his family.

Right, I'm off to sulk. Be good.