Official: herniated disc

In summary Nic does have a slipped disc, and is receiving treatment locally, which is helping already, some of which will be covered by insurance; beyond that we are making the best of our floating cottage. Those who relish the detail ... read on.

We had a quiet weekend, did go to see another marina at Lemkenhafen a few miles by car with an excellent fish lunch (pic) in Aalkate restaurant  (where our friends Susan and Rene, who came to visit on Sunday with Rene's mother in tow, had their wedding breakfast a few years ago). 

We did a few jobs around the boat, with much lying down for Nic inbetween - one was fitting a nifty blind (pic) to our main hatch which is combo blackout and flyscreen; we are anticipating midnight sun and giant mosquitoes in due course.

The diagnosis is more serious than we had hoped but we have had a lucky and productive two days in navigating the excellent German health system. On Monday Nic got a Medical Report from local hospital where he had become a familiar figure last week, recommending MRI; then physio at a health centre to ease the back, where they arranged a private MRI appt. Then our insurance agreed to pay (!). We then went to the "Largest Border Shop in the World" at Puttgarden. The car ferry from Denmark is only an hour, and it seems that all of Scandinavia comes here to buy alcohol at v low German prices. It is an old ferry converted to a warehouse of every imaginable form of alcohol and sweets, everything in large format (pics). We only went in for a look and spent £50 ... on stuff we do need (oh, plus some chocolate).

The MRI was done yesterday, which showed a herniated or 'slipped' disc. The radiologist spent some time with us explaining the state of my spine; seems it is wear and tear, that old friend 'age-related', and the disc just chose now to ooze onto my sciatic nerve. By chance in this same building (only on Tuesdays) was an orthopaedic surgeon, and he agreed to immediately  do a lumbar injection of cortisone to reduce inflammation in the disc and nerve which are rubbing each other up the wrong way.

Today Nic is sitting, which is progress, though the leg is still weak. May need another injection next week. Meanwhile our sailing continues to be postponed, alrhough our anchor windlass may be finally fixed on Fri - we'll believe that when we see the anchor going up and down.