Years ago, a physiotherapist made my body much worse once, I spent over two weeks in bed after tying someone new when my regular lady had been away. I could not get treatment in Cairns because of Thalidomide, I can not just ring any physiotherapist and ask for an appointment, the last time I tried that I went through 6 before I found one prepared to have a go at treating me because Thalidomide has made my body so different to normal and I scare them. It was an extremely difficult decision but sometimes you just must put things into perspective. In tears, I had to agree with Trevor the best thing for me was to cancel the rest of my school visits on this trip and immediately return home to get treatment. Who would have thought just how much I move my neck to dress, wash myself or simply brush my hair or my teeth?Īs a lay in bed hoping the pain killers will take the edge off the pain and wondering just how I would survive the next 7days visiting schools having lost the ability (temporarily) to move my neck. Losing my balance or falling over is not a good option (luckily, I just fell back onto lounge), especially with no arms to brace the fall or simply grab onto something to stop the fall. I do know my pain levels have gone through the roof and I’m unable to function at the moment.

It does not matter how I injured my neck, be it by the poor road or simply because I moved it the wrong way or just cause I am a Thalidomide survivor in my 50’s.

Yes, the poor excuse for a national Highway we have here in Queensland was probably the contributing factor or should that be the poor repairs to the road, makes the drive so rough. Trevor and I set off in the car to Far North Queensland for 2 weeks of school presentations, only to be sidelined by Thalidomide and what it continues to do to my body.

Kick Assitude by Trish Jackson