[Rio_]

...but I feel like a waste of space at the moment. This morning I was kneeling down to try and tidy some books off my bedroom floor (I'm in the middle of revising for exams, and it's a bit of a mess ), and when I tried to stand up again I felt a sharp pain in my lower back and down my right leg...since then I've found it hard to walk, and even stand up straight. Mum's had to bring my books dowstairs for me so I can work there, and if it doesn't go away she's offered to call the doctor. But I wouldn't be able to get an appointment before Tuesday, because this Monday is a bank holiday, and in the meantime if this keeps up I'm going to be completely useless for the next few days - I won't be able to see my friends tonight, I won't be able to go to my driving lesson tomorrow or go into town...and it hurts!

Thanks for letting me whine.

[pegasus]

Well that's not irrational. Sounds like you may have a trapped nerve or something like that. Hope you can get to see a doctor soon.

[Rio_]

Thanks, pegasus. I took a paracetamol, and it didn't do very much...looks like I might have to see a doctor at this rate. But I don't know how long to wait to see if it'll just go away by itself...or even if I should be waiting, because I've no idea how serious this is. All I know is I'm going to be annoying people by letting them down until this gets better on its own or I work up the courage to do something about it.

[pegasus]

Go get it checked out as soon as possible and then you will know what the damage is and the doctor may give you some stronger painkillers.

Surely your friends will understand, you are not letting them down on purpose.

Let me know how you get on.

[January]

Rio,

You aren't letting anyone down. You're sick. Surely your friends will understand that. If they don't, they aren't truly your friends.

I hope you feel better soon. Be sure and go to the Dr. Do you have any walk in clinics there? Maybe you could go to one of them.

Hugs,

Jan

[Rio_]

Thanks again, Pegasus. With another couple of paracetamol, I was able to see my friends - was limping a bit, but it wasn't too bad. Had to cancel my driving lesson today, though, because it hurts when I put the handbrake on.

Dad thinks that this is muscle pain - apparantly he gets it a lot. So he reckons it'll go away by itself in a few days, and I just need to keep active. After this morning, though, when I tried going on a walk and came back home worse than when I went out, he's agreed that if it's not better by Tuesday then I should go see the doctor. In the meantime, more painkillers, I guess! Found out last night that I can actually take twice as many as I originally thought, which is good.

[Rio_]

Thanks, January. You're right, I'm sure they would have understood - I wasn't thinking straight yesterday.

Thanks. If this hasn't gone away by Tuesday, I'll try and see a doctor then. As far as I know, there aren't any walk-in clinics in this town, but I could check.

[January]

Do you have emergency rooms at hospital? You might try that if you can't find a walk in clinic. I don't want you to be in pain.

Hugs,

Jan

[Rio_]

Thanks, January. There's an A&E at the hospital in Stirling (couldn't find any walk-in clinics around here, unfortunately), but I don't think this is quite that bad, luckily! The paracetamols are helping a bit. But if it doesn't go away in a few days, I'm definitely going to try and see a doctor.

Edit: Doesn't look like there are any walk-in clinics in Scotland!

What care can I get on the NHS?

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Walk-in centres

Walk-in centres are NHS centres in England and Wales, staffed by nurses. You can go there without an appointment. They will treat minor illnesses, for example, coughs, colds, and infections, as well as minor injuries like strains, sprains and cuts. They provide information about all other local health services, including pharmacies, dental services and out-of-hours GP services.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

[Rio_]

Well, I have a doctors appointment now...for next Monday. It does seem to be getting better, though (not sure if that's because of the painkillers, but whatever it is, it's great, and it meant I could go to my driving lesson today ), so I might not need to go any more by then. Still, it'd be nice to know what's actually wrong - both my parents have different theories.

[Rio_]

Well, I did go to the doctor...he said he thinks it's sciatica. I've got some stronger painkillers now (this is giving me a lot of practice in taking pills! ), and I'm to go back in a week if they don't help. Apparantly this can take 4-6 weeks to go away completely!