Day three – after the hospital
Just got back from the hospital in .
The hospital trip was really interesting.
Chamonix hospital must see a lot of ski injuries….
The main hospital in Chamonix seems to be tucked away at one end of the town. I arrived at 9:30 am, was seen before 10, examined, and x-rayed by 11. As I am a European Citizen (UK), and I was carrying a valid E1-11, I only had to pay 30% of the costs, which came to 20 euros. All the staff I met could speak English and I was given a prescription for an anti-inflammatory (Brexin – piroxiam), pain-killers (paracetamol) and a pair of crutches. The cost to fill the prescription was 49 euros.
The crutches are very good. Very light, blue in colour and they seem to have ’snow-tyre’ type rubber grips on the ends as they are surprisingly good in the snow!
It looks like I have ‘ripped’ all the muscles in the top of my left leg. The x-rays show nothing is broken. However, I have been told to avoid walking on it and skiing for 10 days and to visit my doc in the UK. I guess that is the end of the ski part of my trip.
I have also spoken to my travel insurance company (American Express Insurance), who offered to fly me back to the UK! I think I will hang around in Les Houches and do some work on the ski website.
Popped up to ‘La Chavanne’ for lunch (actually, it was less pop and more a long and slow limp… my hands were killing me after the ‘walk’. The crutches are great, but really hurt the hands!), which is in the main street of Les Houches, just opposite the tourist office and the Shopi. I had a very nice lunch of spaghetti bolognaise. I also tried to get a refund for the unused days on my ski pass from the tourist office but was told that was ‘for insurance’.
Snow covered and icy pavements in Les Houches made getting around on crutches interesting…!
Les Houches, France – map it
