Posts made in October, 2009

It’s strange isn’t it? You know that feeling when you find yourself unwittingly in the right place at the right time but for the wrong reason? Well, this morning just happened to be one of them! When Paul and I rendezvoused with our film crew at the New Victoria Hospital in Glasgow we were met by the BBC outdoor news broadcast unit. They were there to record the launch of Scotland’s flu vaccination programme by Government Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon and the country’s chief medical officer, Dr Harry Burns. We left the fray and headed for the offices of lead pain management psychologist Dr David Craig to film some establishing shots with he and his colleague, consultant anaesthetist Dr Pete Mackenzie on day three of our Chronic Pain...

It was a good decision! Getting up early and running through city streets is not my idea of a perfect start  to the day but we’re in Glasgow for a week of filming so I chose my route carefully. A jog along the Clyde then down Sauchiehall street and back to the merchant quarter was more uplifting than I expected and brought me face to face with the rhythm and pulse of early morning commuters, in this vibrant city. As the we left our suites for a busy day ahead a kind American woman held the door open for us as we worked in convoy to load our equipment into our kerb-side vehicle. With the last of the gear safely stowed I thanked her and she replied; “Sure, you guy’s are welcome. Have a great day!” “Oh, we will, and you too!” I responded. “The kindness...

So, when did you last experience a pain in the neck? Oh no, not the human kind! Hey, we all meet those from time to time, thats just life! What I mean is that deep searing burning sensation, which spreads from your neck, then into your shoulders, and seems impossible to escape from? Or the deep dull ache in your lower back which makes you wince at every move? Can you imagine having to live with that every day of your life? Well, thats a very small indication of chronic pain, which affects one 1 in 5 of the worlds population, causing misery and wrecking lives. It’s a serious and and debilitating condition which costs the UK economy, a staggering £18 billion a year (almost $30 billion) and 208 million lost days of work. Over the last two years I’ve...

It never fails to amaze me how the human psyche has the capacity to both nurture and self destruct, concurrently. It’s a fascinating – and never ending – dichotomy of our human condition! Recently and quite unexpectedly I came to a watershed which took me by surprise both in it’s suddenness and volatility. A metaphorical and literal finger was thrust at me in the finest mode of “ j’accuse! ” and hat given which did not belong to me. There is a natural sense of outrage in such circumstances where one has become the victim of a kangaroo style court where the  finding of “guilty ” is imposed without recourse to fact. While reflecting on the immorality and unfairness of this emotional assault – from frankly someone who should have...