Danny
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If you look back at this forum about 10 years ago, I mentioned that I felt like I was losing the use of my hands.
Well, over the years, it’s only got worse. And I mean worse.
At first, it was little things—dropping cutlery, struggling to thread a fishing hook. I kept going to the doctor, getting passed from one department to another, but no one had any answers.
Then it escalated. I started losing feeling down the left side of my body—sometimes even the right. More tests, more specialists, but still no explanation. They were looking for a brain injury, something that could make sense of what was happening.
I ended up with neurology, where they ran nerve tests, MRIs, CAT scans—you name it. Yet, they found nothing.
Meanwhile, my life was getting harder. The symptoms were becoming more frequent. Simple things, like getting my 6-year-old daughter ready for school, became a challenge. I had to rely on other parents to do up the buttons on her dress or brush her hair because some mornings, I just couldn’t. And yet, other days, I was completely fine.
Neurology told me it was all in my head—that I was making it up. That hit me like a tonne of bricks. I knew it wasn’t in my mind, but after hearing it so many times, I started doubting myself. The fear of losing complete use of my hands sent me into a deep depression.
Then, one day, I lost both arms. Just gone. I forced Jane to drive me to the hospital, and by some stroke of luck, I ended up seeing the same neurology doctor who’d previously accused me of faking it. He sent me for an MRI straight away.
And finally, they found it.
Turns out, the tendons and ligaments in my shoulders have been swelling up to protect my worn-out joints. But in doing so, they’ve been trapping a nerve, completely shutting off that side of my body.
So, in September, I’m having my first operation to remove some bone and rebuild all the damaged tendons and ligaments in my shoulder. The downside? My arm will be in a sling for six months—no driving, no exercise, and a 12+ month recovery before they can do the same surgery on the other shoulder.
And, of course, being self-employed, I’m entitled to zero government support during that time—despite the insane amount of tax I’ve paid over the years (like most of you). Really glad I invested so much of my savings into building my office, laying the foundations for the 75m² garage, and putting money into my honey business.
The reason I’m writing this? To make you think.
Plastering takes a serious toll on your body. Those little "love jobs" you do for friends and family? They’re wearing you down. Take care of yourself, because you don’t realise the damage until it’s too late.
Well, over the years, it’s only got worse. And I mean worse.
At first, it was little things—dropping cutlery, struggling to thread a fishing hook. I kept going to the doctor, getting passed from one department to another, but no one had any answers.
Then it escalated. I started losing feeling down the left side of my body—sometimes even the right. More tests, more specialists, but still no explanation. They were looking for a brain injury, something that could make sense of what was happening.
I ended up with neurology, where they ran nerve tests, MRIs, CAT scans—you name it. Yet, they found nothing.
Meanwhile, my life was getting harder. The symptoms were becoming more frequent. Simple things, like getting my 6-year-old daughter ready for school, became a challenge. I had to rely on other parents to do up the buttons on her dress or brush her hair because some mornings, I just couldn’t. And yet, other days, I was completely fine.
Neurology told me it was all in my head—that I was making it up. That hit me like a tonne of bricks. I knew it wasn’t in my mind, but after hearing it so many times, I started doubting myself. The fear of losing complete use of my hands sent me into a deep depression.
Then, one day, I lost both arms. Just gone. I forced Jane to drive me to the hospital, and by some stroke of luck, I ended up seeing the same neurology doctor who’d previously accused me of faking it. He sent me for an MRI straight away.
And finally, they found it.
Turns out, the tendons and ligaments in my shoulders have been swelling up to protect my worn-out joints. But in doing so, they’ve been trapping a nerve, completely shutting off that side of my body.
So, in September, I’m having my first operation to remove some bone and rebuild all the damaged tendons and ligaments in my shoulder. The downside? My arm will be in a sling for six months—no driving, no exercise, and a 12+ month recovery before they can do the same surgery on the other shoulder.
And, of course, being self-employed, I’m entitled to zero government support during that time—despite the insane amount of tax I’ve paid over the years (like most of you). Really glad I invested so much of my savings into building my office, laying the foundations for the 75m² garage, and putting money into my honey business.
The reason I’m writing this? To make you think.
Plastering takes a serious toll on your body. Those little "love jobs" you do for friends and family? They’re wearing you down. Take care of yourself, because you don’t realise the damage until it’s too late.
