steroid injection – Mandy's Chitter Chatter

“It’s a wonderful world. You can’t go backwards. You’re always moving forward. It’s the wonderful part about life. And that’s terrific
Harvey Feirstein

Well hello my lovely people! It’s been a minute eh? First off I am sorry for the ridiculous long break I took away from the blog…..to be honest I was recovering and I wasn’t really feeling in the blogging mood if I am being 100% honest with you alll! 🙂

But I am back, I am not back to my normal self just yet, but I am so much better than I was. So let’s do a little recap/update first before I jump into popping more blogs onto the page eh?

As you will know, back in 2019 I was assaulted by a resident in the care home I was working in at the time (I won’t know the care home even though I REALLY WANT TO!). That assault led to a series of events, which ultimately left me being off sick for nearly two years. The resident in question had punched my shoulder three times resulting in some serious damage being done. Now at the time, it was during the pandemic, so everything was slowed down, which resulted in me not getting to see my GP quick enough and treatment being delayed. Eventually, I did see my GP who gave me a steroid shot, however at that stage it was useless, as the injury had gone too far by then.

I was referred to the pain management team who I have to say were excellent. They helped a lot with the increase in pain I was experiencing and the decrease in my mental health as by this stage I was starting to suffer from night terrors etc. I was unable to sleep at night because when I did I would see his face and it would scare me.

Throughout all of this ordeal, I was having to deal with my workplace on a near monthly basis. They made me feel like it was my fault. I had numerous meetings with them where I would explain exactly what was going on, and be met with question after question. it was horrific. It’s probably worth noting that from my first day of being off sick I was not being paid by my employer, as care workers, despite the work that they do, and the hours they spend looking after the most vulnerable people in our society, do not get paid sick pay if you work in the private sector. So I was having to rely on benefits at this particular time. I was eventually dismissed on medical grounds in December 2021.

Fast forward to October 2022, I am still not working. I am still trying to get my shoulder back to it’s former self, although I have been told that it will never be the same, it will be a life long condition, albeit one that I can get to a point where I can actually work with. I am now in a position where I have a concern that my LP shunt which I have had for a number of years may have been damaged in the attack as when I walk for any period of time, I get really bad lower back pain, coupled with an increase in headaches, so it’s off to the GP for me on Friday to get checked out. I was jolted and pushed against a bunker in the assault so it might well be the case that my back was damaged at I never realised it at the time because my shoulder was the priority! I still have some mental health issues from the assault, I’m not going to lie. I have trouble sleeping and I have this innate feeling of guilt that I am not able to work.

However, I have made some positive steps to get my life back on track. I have signed up for a course with Fairstart Scotland with the aim of helping me to get back into the workforce (anything but care work!), I will be starting to do my radio show again soon, I am starting this blog again (after this update post obviously), I have a better set up in our new flat so I am doing a lot more craft and weirdly I am reading a lot more!

I have overcome a hell of a lot in my life, from abuse, to serious illness and I am still standing. I cannot and will not let this beat me.

Until next time

Take care and stay safe

A xx

For those that know me, you know that I have always been honest in my writing. It is what I pride myself on, the raw, open, honesty that has been written on my blogs in the past. Well this one will be no different. Mainly because, quite frankly, I don’t know how to write any other way!

As some of you might know, I was assaulted in July 2020 by a resident in the care home I was working in at the time. The attack left me with physical and mental health difficulties. I was left with a severe shoulder injury. When I was initially attacked, my GP was very concerned and I had varying tests, x rays, ultrasounds etc but they couldn’t understand the cause of the pain.

It was only after some time that they finally realised that the tendons had been damaged in my shoulder. have severe tendon damage to my shoulder and impingement syndrome.

I was referred to a specialist at Queen Margaret who suggested having a steroid injection. Oh I need to bring you back to the start here as when I was first attacked, I’d had a steroid injection from my GP, to be honest mainly I think because he didn’t know what else to do! He justified it pretty well though by saying….”if this steroid injection works, we’ll know it’s muscular, if not we’re back to square one”! It didn’t. But when the Specialist mentioned going for another round, I was ever the optimist and decided to get it. It didn’t work the second time either!

This is how to administered to steroid injections. Painful going in and for days afterwards 😦

So, now I am just starting to rebuild my life. I have a fantastic physiotherapist now (not that the others weren’t great, they were!).

The attack left me with a whole host of mental health difficulties. From simply blaming myself for being attacked to having to need so much support to cope with daily life. The biggest thing for me right now is that my fiancé still needs to helps me when I’m taking a shower. I’m 37 years old

In good news, because you know there is some actual good news to come out of all this. Actually when I sit writing this, some of the bad stuff that was happening at the time, turns out to be good news!

So firstly, I was dismissed from the job in the care home where I was attacked in December. To be honest, I was happy. For a long time I was very unhappy there so at least now I am free of all that.

Secondly, just after Christmas I applied for an internship with a TV production company. I was short listed and ask to come along for an interview. As part of that interview, I had to do a 3 minute pitch for a new gameshow. So I did it! We (myself and Don) created Monopoly Live! Unfortunately, I didn’t get the place on the scheme. However I had a telephone chat with the assistant producer today, who to be honest could not have said nicer things about me! She said that herself and Ryan (the producer) both loved me, my pitch was brilliant and really well executed, there was just someone else they gelled with that like bit more. She did say I should keep knocking on doors and harassing people though because I’m really good!

Now if that’s not a confidence boosting statement, I don’t know what is!!!

The plan now is, I got in touch with Fair Start Scotland who do fantastic work and offer incredible support. So I’m just waiting to hear back from them regarding being signed up on their scheme for a year. They have access to heaps of college courses etc too! There’s an Invigilator job at the local schools for the SQA exams which I’ve applied for and also The Works is looking someone for 8 hours per week which I’m going to apply for too!

I also had my psychology assessment with the NHS recently and they are willing to offer me 12-18 sessions which is really good news as I feel there is a lot of stuff that needs talked about and talked over with a stranger in order for it to make sense.

As the psychologist said today, in a period where the whole world has gone through hell and back, you’ve experienced you’re own personal hell on top of that. That must be unbearable at times! And yes, yes it is. But I am lucky enough to have the most amazing fiancé, Don(ald), in laws to be, especially my father in law to be who has taken me to every physio appointment, not everyone has that and I am eternally grateful for it. And even though my own Mum lives in Tenerife, she’s been nothing but supportive throughout this whole ordeal, which again is wonderful!

So, yes, times have been extra rough for me, for the both myself and Don(ald). But I’d like to think that I am now starting to Get back to Normal.

Until next time, stay safe, and don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do something!

A xx

Tag: steroid injection

Update/Moving On

Getting back to normal