Saturday 18 March 2017

A bionic wargamer but don't get the tv remotes mixed up!

On Sunday morning (tomorrow) at 7:30 a.m. I have to report to James Cook Hospital in Smoggyland (Middlesbrough) for an interesting little procedure to attach an electronic stimulator to my spinal cord (at L5/L6 or thereabouts, and I hope they know exactly) with the aim of significantly reducing my leg and back nerve pain. It won't cure me but it will hopefully help manage the symptoms.

I'm quite relaxed about the procedure (as I write this anyway) and have had to go through all sorts of physical and psychological assessments to judge my suitability for what is still an experimental trial. Its on the NHS but at around £20k a pop just for the hardware they have to sure I can cope with the implant in body and mind.



They normally only use a local anaesthetic for this procedure, with a generous dose of sedation, as its best if the patient is conscious throughout. I'm fascinated in a ghoulish kind of way. Shall I take a book to read I wonder......?


By -

17 comments:

  1. Norm18 March 2017 at 14:56

    Amazing, good for you for getting on the program and thank goodness for the wonderful NHS.

    ReplyDelete
  2. David18 March 2017 at 15:14

    All the very best for tomorrow Colin. As Norm says and I will echo, God bless the NHS!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Scott1314@virginmedia.com18 March 2017 at 16:13

    Long live the NHS...

    ReplyDelete
  4. commissarmoody19 March 2017 at 05:14

    Good luck, I am currently getting shoots in my back do to a few compressed disk and a hernia.
    I usually just chat with the docs and nurses when I sit there. Of course your procedure is a little more complicated.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Steve-the-Wargamer19 March 2017 at 09:02

    "Shall I take a book to read I wonder......?" Nah.. take a selection of paints and few miniatures to paint... :o) I admire your stoicism.. i'd be scared sh*tless!

    ReplyDelete
  6. tim19 March 2017 at 09:48

    Hope all goes well!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mark Cook19 March 2017 at 10:21

    I wish you the very best Colin, Perhaps listening to some "Spinal Tap" may (or may not) help.
    cheers,

    ReplyDelete
  8. Colin Ashton19 March 2017 at 17:58

    Back home. Sedation knocked me out. Wires dangling and wounds rather sore but hey ho! 😀

    ReplyDelete
  9. Keith Flint19 March 2017 at 21:29

    Very best wishes Colin. Hope you get to normal asap and the procedure is a success.

    ReplyDelete
  10. StuartInsch19 March 2017 at 23:40

    Best wishes and speedy recovery. Hope all goes well!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous20 March 2017 at 11:01

    All the best with everything to do with the op.

    I will be e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y disappointed if we do not soon see the Revolutionary Wars Austrian battalion that you painted while under the surgeons tender ministrations! 8O)

    Salute
    von Peter himself

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Colin Ashton20 March 2017 at 11:35

      Thanks Von Peter

      I just need to do the bases and give them a final varnish ;-)

      Delete
  12. Mark Cook20 March 2017 at 13:47

    welcome home!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ed M20 March 2017 at 18:55

    Just noticed this post. Coming late the party, but still wish to send along best wishes for a successful procedure and a rapid recovery (and of course that the dingus provides the promised relief).

    ReplyDelete
  14. marinergrim23 March 2017 at 07:12

    Bit late to this but I trust all went well and that the time reading a book was not wasted.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)