GRx Success Story - Emma-Kate

Outdoor Girl Back On Track!

A love of outdoor adventures like biking and kayaking in the beautiful Nelson environment took a turn for the worst for vivacious Emma-Kate when she had an accident resulting in an injured disc in her neck - a nasty, long-lasting problem which meant this fit 37 year old initially could hardly move her head, neck and shoulder.

After the usual treatments that went on for many months, Emma was frustrated at her lack of improvement, and finding her mood was pretty low. The constant pain meant she couldn't sleep well and that in turn made her feel grumpy - she even shouted at her beloved dog! Mentally she was feeling a real loss of confidence, suffered muscle spasms in her arm and had a very real fear of doing anything that might make her condition worse.
As a bit of a thrill-seeker, she found the fact that she had to give up mountain biking extremely frustrating - but more significant was the very real fact that her career as a kayaking guide could come to an end.

Emma reached the point where she decided to take up a friend's suggestion and ask her doctor Bev Nicholls at Stoke Medical Centre for a referral to the Green Prescription support service - she thought they may be able to help her feel more motivated to keep going with the right sort of exercises, try something that would relieve her symptoms and generally give her encouragement and belief that she would get fit enough again to try to pass the physical tests for entry into the NZ Police force - her ultimate goal.

Emma was contacted by her GRx Patient Support Person and after receiving what she considered to be a 'wonderful pack of information' together they came up with an action plan. Emma chose to check out some aqua exercise at Riverside Pool and find out about the cost of a local gym - she'd made a positive start! Talking to her support person who always checked up on her and was in Emma's words 'immensely helpful' and being sent Exercise Reminders helped Emma stay focussed on her ultimate goal as she persevered with a gym programme tailored for her particular needs. Sometimes she woke up sore and wondered if it was worth doing, but the GRx patient support phone calls always made her feel more motivated to hang in there!

Nearly 4 months on Emma has noticed a steady and significant improvement in her range of movement, has less pain and best of all she feels her energy returning more and more as her self-esteem rises - so much so she has got back on her road bike and had a go at some hill walking. So far Emma has managed to pass her Police physical tests and says 'getting Green Prescription help was definitely worthwhile and very motivating - I'm 95% better!!'.

A great result for all the hard work Emma has put in - she's back on track and enjoying life again - go Emma!