I don't think I've mentioned on here before that I was in a car accident in February. It involved 4 cars and I was kind of in the middle, which meant that I got hit from behind and pushed into the 4x4 in front of me.
It was my first car accident and all pretty horrible. I was shaken up at the time and was seen by the paramedics that came to the scene of the crash, but I didn't go to hospital.
Since the accident I've had pretty much constant head aches and pains and have had a couple of migraines, which I was never prone to before. My doctor fobbed me off with pain killers (which pretty much knocked me out for a few days) and said that it was just basic whiplash and would sort itself out.
6 weeks after the crash I wasn't any better and went back to my GP who then decided to refer me for physiotherapy. I've been having physio once a week since the end of March and am still no better
My physio is a really lovely lady and has been a great support to me, as I've been getting quite frustrated at not feeling better!! A couple of weeks ago she referred me to see a private orthopaedic specialist and surgeon (I have private health care cover through work).
My appointment with him was last week and he has diagnosed that I've damaged the nerves at the base of my skull - where my scalp meets my neck and this is the cause of the headaches etc. They're called the occipital nerves.
He sent me for an MRI scan, which I had yesterday, and has booked me into hospital for a procedure which involves me having a general anaesthetic and then getting steriods injected into the occipital nerves
It's a week tomorrow.
As if the thought of having needles into the back of my head wasn't enough - he's also told me that the steriods can cause side effects including weight gain, acne, rashes, swelling and (my personal favorite...) growth of facial hair
OH JOY!!!!
However, if it stops the constant headaches and pain a small beard will be worth it!!!
I'm relieved that the end is in sight anyway, as it's been ongoing for months now. It's also taught me that people are very dismissive of "whiplash" injuries. I must admit that I probably would have been one of those people before too. You hear so many tales of people saying that they have whiplash after a car accident in order to make a personal injury claim and I think that because of those people the few of us that do have genuine injuries get overlooked as it is presumed that we're crying wolf
It's not fair, but c'est la vie I suppose.
Incidentally, I am putting in a personal injury claim but will not be looking to reach any kind of settlement until I am actually 100% better. The money isn't what's important to me.
So, please think of me next Monday, 30th June, when I'm having injections into my head
and I promise to post a pic should I grow a beard!!!!!