A wise man apportions his beliefs to the evidence
David Hume (XXIII)
Don't work out, work in.
Sir Billy Connolly (V)
Beware of ‘speculative physicians’ with simple answers to complex problems.
Adam Smith (VI)
301 incomplete
To be functionally well, we need some help understanding our health.
The Biomedical Model of Health (Q),
This is the model that focuses on health at the physical level, ignoring all other factors.
It's the dominant model in most settings.
This reductionist theory means that complex issues are broken down, to better understand and address them.
By examining each part , a clearer understanding should be achieved, aiding treatment.
Although, specialists still make mistakes (R).
This approach labels life's worst experiences.
Treating the effects, while ignoring the cause.
NOW PLAY SONG 8
302 labels
To be functionally well, you may need to understand complicated labels.
Mine are,
This refers to a medical condition where a person experiences multiple traumatic injuries at once.
These injuries often involve several body regions and severely affect the individual's physiology.
Common scenarios where polytrauma occurs include severe accidents or blast-related events.
The injuries can be so severe that they require immediate medical attention and can be life-threatening.
The term is used in situations, where individuals have two or more severe injuries.
With each injury being serious enough to warrant treatment on its own, but when combined,
They present a complex medical challenge for healthcare providers.
I had broken my arm and ankle before, they healed in weeks.
my joints were shattered and will never function properly again.
2 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (T)
(PTSD) is a mental health condition that arises from experiencing trauma from a single traumatic event .
Individuals with PTSD may experience difficulties controlling their emotions.
A sense of disconnection from themselves and others, and persistent feelings of threat or danger.
Among many other symptoms.
This usually requires specialised treatment..
Having grown up in around depression ,
I'll offer this, If depression is being followed by a black dog.
PTSD is being chained to a black wolf.
The steps you have taken to protect yourself, failed .
It's hard to feel safe when your own systems are working against you.
I refused medication for PTSD, I chose to deal with the cause.
Labels should make things easier to understand and treat.
They were ignored
Four months after the accident, I was declared fit to work, although almost 3 years later, my leg was still broken .
303 pictures
left elbow, terrible triad, bones broken, dislocated and ligaments damaged. Shattered right leg, foot and ankle.
I was discharged from hospital 26-03-2018
I was discharged from orthopaedics 09-09-2018
MRI taken during the covid pandemic
304 mistakes
To be functionally well, people must do things right
I’m grateful, but I experienced the best and worst of the NHS.
They blue lighted an ambulance, stopping a life-threatening bleed,
The immediate care was exceptional, however, there were lapses.
Due to adverse weather (in Scotland), and with me being immobile,
Early on, I found myself in a situation where I had to pee my bed, with open wounds.
This was due to severe understaffing.
Further to this, I was released from the hospital within 11 days, due to a winter bed shortage,
Even though I had developed an infection.
I was quickly readmitted for additional surgery, but challenges continued.
The bathroom flooded, due to drains, frozen by the weather, and I fell,
injuring my elbow, which had two surgeries in the previous two weeks.
I began to feel really unsafe in the hospital.
My injuries made it impossible for me to stay alone, thankfully, someone took me in.
This forced me to live outside of my GP area, two floors up. A flight of stairs can be a barrier when you have injured both legs.
This had consequences, including a lack of access to community nursing, and dressings, despite ongoing wounds.
I attended every appointment and followed my rehab diligently .
I did everything I was told.
After nine months I was completely discharged from Orthopaedic outpatients, although injuries like mine take years to heal.
Exactly two years after the accident, I presented to a minor injuries clinic .
That night, I received a call, my leg was suspected to still be broken.
Which turned out to be correct,
Unfortunate timing, as covid shut down the world .
During lockdown under the strain, my left ACL snapped,
Which complicated recovery, when my right leg was fixed five months later .
My leg had been broken for almost two and a half years.
It had never healed.
305 trust
To be functionally well, we need a health service we can trust
The National Health Service is in trouble. It's a sick service.
If this had happened back then, I may not be here.
The system was designed to help with our health.
Unfortunately they can't fix our lives, as a consequence, as a nation our health seems to be getting worse
As health deteriorates, from under investment and austerity,
The focus is always at the top, with huge amounts being used to shore up a service that failing the people who pay for it.
NHS Scotland is the largest employer in Scotland.
NHS UK is the fifth largest employer in the world.
The staff are unhappy, overworked and underpaid, striking while waiting lists get longer.
In the year 2020/21: £14.7 billion was spent on health service operating costs.
This is a £1.6 billion increase on the
£13.2 billion spent in 2019/20.
In the same year only, £831 million was spent on social housing
I had appointments with physios and occupational health therapists
I attended a pain management and a lifestyle management course.
I eventually saw a psychiatrist when, after 3 years, I was offered 6 hours of CBT. I was hoping for an exit strategy.
There are none. Just signposts that lead nowhere.
Most of the time, the only person benefiting was on the wrong side of the desk.
They were being paid.
No-one told me anything, I hadn't already figured out while waiting to see them.
Endless talking about the worst thing, to people who weren't listening and could offer no real help.
here are 5 reasons to be cautious.
5 : Ignored Warnings (Z)
It is a tool of the state, a sacred institution dreamed up by a Welsh man. That's been run into the ground by whoever happens to be in charge.
