I hobbled my way to see the doctor yesterday. Having been made to wait almost an hour past my appointment time my back had stiffened considerably and I was forced to laugh at myself as I attempted to outpace a pensioner with a walking stick. Inevitably I failed. Not for the first time either.

The waiting room was packed with people. Three young girls with a baby between them (was not clear who owned him as he was passed around when they tired of him) sprawled themselves out in the 'Children's Quiet Area' they talked incessantly on their mobile phones, despite the HUGE signs that asked them to turn them off, used the foulest of language (often directed towards the child which was once referred to as 'it') and were generally offensive and irritating throughout. An eldery lady, so tired of waiting, herself sat and swore at whoever would listen about the language being used by the girls and ranted over the wait. Another lady read Bob the Builder to a small child she appeared to have borrowed from a neighbour and other people sat coughing, sneezing, moaning and sweating. It was not a nice experience.

Eventually my name was called and I hobbled my way along the coridoor to the doctors room. She listened and smiled as I explained that I had sneezed and caused myself some damage. After some questioning, prodding and pulling she finally exclaimed that I had trapped a nerve in the disc in my back. Thank goodness I thought, it is not something long lasting. She prescribed me some nice floaty light painkillers, an anti-inflammatory and told me there was to be no driving for a few days, to keep active whilst being 'sensible', how to sit and lay and a consideration of signing me off from work and I was on my way. The good news? It is not as nasty as first feared. The bad news? She can not tell me how long it will hurt. Or how long until I get the strength back, It could work itself out in days, it could take weeks. 'If it hasnt improved in a month, come back and see me' A month! A MONTH! I am reduced to tears after a week! Fingers crossed it will be sooner rather than later!