To worry about flying home tomorrow... any Greek MNs, or anyone in Mykonos?

[HollaHolla]

I’m in Greece on holiday, due to fly home tomorrow- and I’ve hurt my back really badly. I don’t know what to do for the best, though.....

So, I have a lengthy history of back problems - had a double discectomy 4 years ago, and other than a residual chronic pain problem, structurally, things aren’t too awful.

Four days ago, my back began to get sore, and I thought I’d pulled a strained muscle or the like. It’s gotten sorer and sorer, and from last night, I have been almost completely immobilised. I called my insurance and the local Polyclinic here on Mykonos, and an orthopaedic doctor came out and saw me in the hotel this AM, as I really can’t walk. He thinks it’s a pulled/spasmed muscle, and injected cortisone, an anti flammatory and some tramadol. I’ve also got more tramadol to take. I’m supposed to be on a flight tomorrow at 5pm. I’m now really considering that I might not be able to do this. I fearful that this is another disc issue, as I have radiating pain in the front of my thigh, which I just have a niggle about.

There’s apparently no hospital or MRI scanner on the island. I’m desperate just to get home but I don’t know if I can sit for 5 hours. I’ve got assistance for a wheelchair transfer booked, but I don’t know if I can even get out of the fecking hotel, as we’re in the old town, where you can’t get a car into. Anyone know Mykonos, or have any advice of a medical nature?? I’m just totally miserable. Thanks in advance.

Do you have holiday insurance? I think you'd do well to call them for advice.

Thanks. I have done, as above. They said I needed to organise to see a local doctor, which I did. :(

I sympathize, did this in Rhodes years ago but did manage to fly. Suggest youo report back to your insurers expressing your concerns.

Medical assistance is really limited in the Greek islands, frankly you were very very lucky they found an orthopedic doctor for you. The island will have a helipad for medical evacuations to the mainland where there are decent hospitals ( Igeia is probably the best private hospital for spinal surgery if you need it). Best to contact your medical insurance and see what they think.

Hope you feel better soon, it’s very scary to be ill away from home.

This exact things happened to me last summer on a different Greek island. I posted about it here. I herniated a disc and got awful sciatica and literally couldn’t move without screaming and shaking. Eventually the Greek doctor told my travel insurance I needed emergency surgery and could not sit down so they arranged an air ambulance to fly me home where I had surgery. It cost the insurance over £20k and now my back is uninsurable but it was the right thing to do.

Thank you all. I have a Greek ex-colleague who has an NHS background who is currently on the phone to the doctor here..... we’re definitely trying to get a way for me to get home tomorrow, and see a doctor there. I’ll be calling my insurer first thing, but getting reassurance that my friend is speaking to the doctor without the language barrier too.
So sorry to hear that this has also happened to others. I’d forgotten just quite how awful this feeling is.

@Sciatica2 - I think I posted on your thread at the time. I’m glad it worked out for you in the end.

@HollaHolla thank you. Things sort of worked out in that I got the surgery which cured the acute sciatica and drop foot but unfortunately I’m left with chronic pain which seems to be getting worse not better. It sucks. I hope your friend has come up with a good plan with the doctor and you get home.

I remember @Sciatica2 It sounded awful.

Since then we’ve had a brush with foreign hospitals and my advice is to let the insurance people do as much as you can get them to do; they will have people who speak’ the language for a start. I hope you get it sorted relatively painlessly OP

Yes the holiday assistance do this all the time. They will have Greek speakers who can speak to doctors and establish the best time and way to get you home. It may be you need extra seats / stretcher. I would confirm with them who will be covered to stay with you - it would usually cover one adult (if you are on the same policy) but obviously if you have children with you you will be best to clarify what is covered.

They can also arrange transfer straight to a uk hospital if needed.

Thanks all. My friend is in Athens, but he’s spoken to the doctor here, and both think I need to get back to the UK, if I possibly can. Insurance weren’t great yesterday, to be honest, so I’ll call them again this morning and push them on helping me more. I’ve arranged a wheelchair from checkin, through a change of flights in Athens, to Home.
I’m with a friend (both unmarried, no kids) so if she has to go home without me, so be it. My friend in Athens has said he will come over if I need to stay, and we’ll arrange for my Mum to fly over as needed. To be honest, I feel more secure now he’s spoken to people here as he’s bilingual and a health professional - and as I’ve worked with him, I know he knows what he’s doing.
Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I’ve already had 2 surgeries on my back over the last 4 years.... I really don’t want to have to spend another birthday in emergency surgery this year!

@Sciatica2 I’m sorry to hear about the chronic pain issue. I have one too, following my previous surgeries, and it’s a pisser. Happy to chat offline with a bit of shared wisdom from someone a couple more years down the track, if you like?

This might seem a silly question, but is standing ok? Only that if it is, then stay seated just for take off and landing, and stand for the rest - there's normally space near the galley.

Good luck x

Fingers crossed for you Op, how are you feeling this morning? Who are you flying with?

Sciatica, I read your post last year and it was so similar I checked hollas post date three times and was really confused. I’m glad you eventually made it home and insurance did their bit. Sorry to hear you’ve got chronic pain.

Thanks all. Keeping everything crossed that I make the flight.... and get home. Insurance are being vague as to whether I’m covered.... even though I declared my previous back issues. Argh!

Sorry - flying with Aegean. They’ve been good at organising me a wheelchair transfer. Fingers crossed I can manage to sit/stand/whatever.

Did you manage to get home OP?

Thanks everyone. I’m home. It felt like a torturously long slog, but made it on and off two flights (Aegean were fabulous, btw), and through a 4.5 hour wait at A&E. Saw a great Registrar who checked all the neuro signs and thinks it’s more of an irritation, with a bit of a disc bulge. I’ve got tramadol, diazepam, and some oramorph and to see how I go over the weekend.
Fingers crossed for me that it settles somewhat. Very glad to be back in the UK, and in my own bed.

That’s good news! I hope you see a big improvement.

Well done you! I hope it settle soon soon.

I hate that A&E has nowhere for people in pain to lie down as they wait. I was once sobbing lying on the dirty floor during a two hour A&E wait because I literally couldn’t sit or stand.