I can walk !!! (cont'd)

"Work" had to be started, not only all over again, but from minus square one!!.

Franklin worked magic with his hands. I felt better each time I leave the clinic. But the "magic" got eroded with passing days. Fortunately, the residual "magic" was accumulative. After a number of physiotherapy sessions, the Pain on my left said goodbye and left me. The right side of my body remained hurtful but made good progress.

Then DISASTER struck without the any warning.

It came in the form of a sudden weakness in my right leg.

"P-R-O-N-K", I fell suddenly. The fall sent me crashing heavily, hard & fast onto the concrete floor.

When it happened, Ling, was happily chatting and walking besides me.

Upon recovering from her surprise, she tried unsuccessfully to pick me up. (Try picking up a size 18 female who is neither light nor petite) The pain at my swollen, right knee was excruciating. I tried standing with her help . She laughed at the funny situation that we were in.

"Don't laugh at me", I chided, but couldn't stop myself from giggling.

2 male staff on the premises where I fell, borrowed a wheelchair from the concierge. Then they helped Ling to help me, into the wheelchair & later got us into a taxi.

At the clinic, I wasn't unduely concerned. The X-ray that was done, showed no broken bones. The doctor send me home with some pain killers. Both the doctor and I ignorantly, expected my early recovery.

As my knee/knee cap were recovering, I tried standing. BUT the moment I stepped on the floor, a sharp pain shot down from my back to my right foot, bringing tears to my eyes.

I went to the doctor again.

The doctor referred me for "an early appointment" to see an orthopaedic surgeon -- An appointment that I rejected. The "early appointment" (big joke) was to be 3 weeks later!! It was also one week later than the day that the orthopaedic surgeon (who was treating my initial pain in my back, butt and leg) at the hospital was to review me. Moreover, my faith in doctors, particularly orthopaedic surgeons, had been much eroded over the past 15 years. Experience told me that they are "scapel happy" and are the last people to consider any alternatives to surgery.

Further, I was due to see Franklin.

The sight of Franklin with his ready smile, was enough to raise my low spirit 2 notches up. He contained his surprise to see me, in a wheelchair. Then he took over the wheelchair from my maid, wheeled me into the privacy of a consultation room before asking what had happened to me.

As Franklin re-assessed me, I shared my fear of a long confinement in the wheelchair. I was then when he responded in a comforting tone and assured me that I should eventually walk without any aids.

He was right.

I could walked again, without any form of help/support. (Albeit for a short distance)

In the interim, I was seen by the orthopaedic surgeon. I was still in the wheelchair then. After hearing about my fall, and that the X-ray showed no broken bones, he ordered for a "MRI" to be done before seeing me again. (Appointment: next month). During that consultation, the good doctor spent, all of 2 minutes with me.

On the other hand, I spent 3/4 of an hour in the process of registering/waiting to see the doctor. An equal amount of time was spent in making payment, getting appointment for the next review & appointment for "MRI". The collection of pain killers from the pharmacy took 28 minutes. Total time spent at the hospital: 3 and a half hours.

If I'm to take into consideration that I was escorted/assisted by my brother, the number of hours (for two persons) doubled to 7 hours. That is equivalent to almost a full day's work for a working adult.

I wondered how many work-days were thus lost, DAILY, in the various hospitals' corridors.

How much does this loss in time costs the economy??