Over the past few years, I have been passed from pillar to post, consultant to GP to specialist, clinic to operating theatre, and back again.
My MRI's show at least six prolapsed discs bulging against my nerve system.
Everyone agrees I need surgery, but no-one has created that opportunity yet.
Whilst I wait for the new Tory Administration to ring-fence NHS spending, and formalise budgets, I have been given smack to take away my pain.
DAY 1:
On the advice of my GP, I take a small teaspoonful of oral morphine. It's a fairly insignificant amount, compared with the bulk quantities of distalgesia and neuropathic pills that I imbibe on a daily basis.
Initially, I get a slight headache, although this could be due to the copious amounts of coffee I had this morning, fueling my desire to become a 'Trainspotter'.
I seem to be talking a lot, although I'm usually quite loquacious; but apart from an obvious thirst, nothing really happens.
Until about half-an-hour has elapsed.
The light-headedness I feel is akin to that first sip (or gulp) of wedding champagne, on a warm summer's day. The nice bit, before the tiredness and uncomfortable shoes start to dictate proceedings.
It's lovely!
I'm not one for getting drunk. I like the first bit. But similarly to most people, I struggle to maintain that level of tipsiness.
I'm constantly searching for a 'session beer', lower in alcohol than the stuff you find on pallets in Tesco.
And as I get older and "lurch unsteadily to the Right" (Tim Clare) I find myself slowing down for horses, keeping a safe distance, picking up other people's rubbish, and trying to keep the warm feeling of premature drunkeness afloat, rather than drowning in complete & utter pissed twat.
This is where I'm happily at, after one hour of morphine.
The pain has all but gone.
Incidentally; if you'd like to learn more about the ageing process, and the political swingometers of the greying-pubed, early-middle-aged gent, go & see Patrick Lappin's show 'Chasing Norman Tebbit', currently showing at the Brighton Fringe.
http://ticketing.brightonfringe.org/comedy/9195/patrick-lappin-chasing-norman-tebbit
After more than an hour, my head is less tipsy, and a lot more furry, blurry and misty around the edges.
It's a bit like being on mushrooms.
I find myself talking constantly, mainly to myself, but pretending I'm talking to the dog.
I talk to every dog-walker I encounter, even the ones I normally try to avoid.
I smile a lot.
This is really nice.
The pain has been completely eradicated.
After a couple of hours I begin to feel a bit detached.
A bit fucked if I'm honest.
It feels like the MDMA 'plateau', after the initial rush has subsided.
I feel compos mentis, but I'm inadequate in what I try to do.
I fumble a lot.
I could quite happily lie in the bath forever.
I find myself literally laughing out loud.
I run around the house totally naked, and free of any inhibitions.
I smoke pot, because I feel the need for a leveller.
I think about dying my hair, but slump in front of the telly.
I watch a programme on aerial archaeology.
When I wake-up, I have a banging headache.
My aches and pains are returning, and to be honest, I feel like shit.
I rush around tidying.
My OCD is back to a high state of alert.
And my back feels worse than its ever done.
I think about having another hit, but decide that it's probably time to cook the wife's tea.
Maybe tomorrow................
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