After being hit by a car two years ago, 60-year-old Marisa Poore from Yeovil was left struggling with severe pain in her hip, leg and knee, which dramatically affected her mobility and quality of life. Following two years of investigations into her injuries after the accident, and with limited progress through her GP, she recently came to Practice Plus Group as a private patient for shockwave therapy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment, and says it has changed her life.
“What means the most is getting my life back. I’m planning a walking holiday where I’m looking forward to getting on and off trains, walking along beaches and exploring places I simply wouldn’t have been able to manage before.”
Marisa Poore, shockwave therapy patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet
Marisa says: “I never imagined that one accident could change my life so dramatically. After being hit by a car, I was left in severe pain and my life became incredibly limited. I could barely walk for half an hour without being in terrible pain and completely exhausted afterwards. Even going up and down stairs was difficult, and I genuinely thought I might never walk properly again. The pain affected my sleep, my confidence and my day-to-day life.
“After the accident, I really struggled to get the support I needed through the NHS. I waited around 20 weeks just to access physiotherapy and, even then, I felt like I was getting nowhere and was still in a lot of pain. I had to push for referrals and seek help myself, which was exhausting.
“After one of my NHS MRI scans, I was referred for physio but it didn’t really do much to help. It was suggested I look into shockwave therapy as it could be very effective for injuries like mine. I heard shockwave therapy was now available privately at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet which was easy for me to get to. I wanted to start treatment as soon as possible and knew I would be able to file a claim to recover the costs from the insurer of the driver who hit me.
After being hit by a car, I was left in severe pain and my life became incredibly limited. I could barely walk for half an hour without being in terrible pain and completely exhausted afterwards...the pain affected my sleep, my confidence and my day-to-day life.
Marisa Poore, shockwave therapy patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet
“I booked an appointment with Mr Aleksandr Klink, an orthopaedic consultant at the hospital, and was seen within a couple of weeks. After a consultation and further scans, he ruled out the need for surgery because there was no bone damage, and agreed that shockwave therapy would be beneficial.
“I next met his physio colleague, Mr Lawrence Carmel, who works in the hospital’s new Mendip Outpatients Unit, and he carefully explained the shockwave therapy process. I was keen to get started, so I booked a course of five sessions. The shockwave therapy wasn’t painful – it felt like a series of pulses across my hip – and Mr Carmel gradually increased the intensity over time.
“The difference it has made has been remarkable. I noticed an improvement almost immediately after my first appointment. I could move more easily, walk faster and manage stairs again. Combined with the physiotherapy, massage therapy and exercises Mr Carmel provided, my strength gradually returned.
“Now, after completing the course of sessions, I’m almost back to how I was before the accident. I’m sleeping properly again because I’m no longer in constant pain, and I can stay active for much longer without suffering afterwards. Recently, my husband and I went walking for more than two hours with only a short break- something I could never have imagined doing before treatment. It honestly feels life-changing.
“What means the most is getting my life back. I’m now planning a walking holiday in North Wales with my husband, where I’m looking forward to getting on and off trains, walking along beaches and exploring places I simply wouldn’t have been able to manage before.
“Everyone at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet, has been so kind and caring from the very beginning – from the treatment I received from the clinical team to the support with invoicing and admin from Abi in the private patient team. I honestly can’t thank everyone enough for everything they’ve done for me.
“After everything that happened following the accident, I finally feel hopeful and positive about the future again.”
