MEDICAL MATTERS

[Big Kev]

[Stanley]

That's a result Ian! Now for a favourable decision from DafT on the driving licence.....

[Stanley]

Alabama has passed a law making almost all abortions illegal including in cases of rape or incest. The maximum sentence for doctors who perform the operation is 99 years. This is the most draconian of any state in the US. The tactic, favoured by the Republicans is for the Democrats to appeal in the state court and then for it to be referred to the Supreme Court as an attack on Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that legalised abortion. Trump has loaded the court with his own nominees. If this strategy works expect an explosion!

[PanBiker]

Can't really describe the U.S, as the land of the free can we? Mind you when could they ever really claim that?

[Stanley]

It is a retrograde move and will cause tremendous reactions.

[Cathy]

I really hope it does cause a huge reaction. The mother would remain a victim for the rest of her life. And the children, for them to know that they were conceived in rape would be awful too.

[Tizer]

We're sliding backwards, from liberal to libertarian.

[Stanley]

You are both right and I agree with you. However, in the matters that really count look at the news that a Darwinian approach to cancer treatment looks promising and could lessen or eliminate the crude interventions of chemotherapy, using poisons to kill the abnormal cells. Then there are the advances being made in phage therapy. The machinations against freedom of choice on abortion remind me of the arguments about capital punishment. The one thing about unwanted pregnancy after rape, incest or flaws in the foetus that stands out for me is that they are all life sentences and a tragedy for the woman. She should at least have a choice! What right has anyone to pass that sentence?

[Big Kev]

MRI scan booked for Friday morning at the Beardwood Hospital in Blackburn, they've given up on physio

The results are in, there's a tear in the cartlidge across half of the knee joint, what was described as a 'divot' in the bone at the top of the joint and there's s lot of fluid at the back of the knee which is causing the numbness in my toes. Surgery it is then, won't be allowed to drive for 3 weeks afterwards so it sounds fairly invasive. Wonderful.

[Cathy]

That is bad luck Kev. All the best with your recovery.

[Big Kev]

Thank you Cathy. Hopefully the 3 weeks without driving is just a worse case scenario

[Stanley]

Hard luck Kev. I hope the repair works and you get a good knee back as a result. Did they offer any explanation of how it happened,? Is it an injury or just something waiting to bite you.

[Big Kev]

The cartlidge tear is an injury but I have no recollection of how I did it. The 'divot' is early onset arthritis.

[Stanley]

Cheerful stuff..... All the best with it Kev...

[PanBiker]

I hope that all works out OK Kev. Which knee is it?

Is the driving ban an advisory or have you to inform the DVLA? Don't want to put a downer on it but if you are obliged to inform them the DVLA don't normally do less that a 6 month suspension, that's the trap I am in. I have heard nothing yet about my licence return.

[Marilyn]

Good Luck Big Kev, but like me after Spinal Surgery, I expect getting back behind the wheel will be at your own discretion. Took me four weeks, and I am still only driving locally with confidence ( drug free for 5 weeks but still have residual foot numbness).
Had my 6 week post op check today and was relieved to hear all was well and I am still to expect further improvement in the foot numbness/foot drop/gait.
I've had a heavy cold ( which makes all sorts of things ache!), so I was glad to hear most of my discomfort can be attributed to the virus. I felt a bit better this morning, but felt 95 years old yesterday! Hard to give an accurate account of how you are flying when every muscle aches...

[plaques]

Possibly the driving ban is only advisory. They don't want you stamping on your brakes and doing yourself an injury. Take care at the B&Q junction.

[PanBiker]

I expect getting back behind the wheel will be at your own discretion.

If the DVLA are involved in any way, they don't do discretion.

That's what is wrong in many ways, there is no level playing field.

[Marilyn]

I was not given any instruction on driving when on opiates...I didn't think it appropriate that I drive ( and I was in too much pain anyway). I made the decision not to attempt to drive until I was drug free.. I'm still restricting myself to local driving which is no further than the bank/Greengrocer/supermarket. Hubby drove to the city today. No doubt I will have to do that for him at some point in the future when he has been poorly. I wouldn't allow him to drive on drugs either.
You just have to think of others. How would you feel if you killed someone?
I would never drink drive either. Life is so very very precious.

[Big Kev]

It is only advisory, I'm not allowed to fly for 6 weeks either...

[Big Kev]

I hope that all works out OK Kev. Which knee is it?

The right one.

[plaques]

I'm not allowed to fly for 6 weeks either...

I would have thought that once you had reached take off speed and the stress was taken off you knee then your arms would have been OK.

[Big Kev]

I'm not allowed to fly for 6 weeks either...

I would have thought that once you had reached take off speed and the stress was taken off you knee then your arms would have been OK.

I said the same thing to the consultant but I don't think his sense of humour was on the same level

[Marilyn]

Did he put time constraints on your sex life!!!?
( honestly...who would have even thought to mention flying?!)

Even riding my bike was "up to my own discretion" after spinal surgery...

[PanBiker]

DVLA obviously consider a bloke poking around inside your head as pretty serious then.