Cost of Living

Posted on Sun Nov 6th, 2022 @ 3:37am by Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Sickbay

Commander Wagnor in an exam room Sickbay; he was reporting here before Tony could order him. He didn't want to deal with doctors, he'd grow to accept the pain his profession caused. It was true he was dealing with more pain and his shoulder was causing him more issues, but so what. He was getting older, that was more than his comrades could say. To him the pain is like penance for his past.

Ruther ford was not quite faster than Pix, the little one was out from the cabinet where he had been taking stock and zipping across meet the Newcomer. She drew up short of his personal space to hover just at his head level but in a Polite way smiling and giving a small wave before she was hit by a strong wall that actually took her back a bit. Shaking her head to clear ine feeling she kept smiling and waited for Her Rutherford

"Hello Commander; what can I do for you today?" There was a feeling in Milton's gut this is not a simple call for a painkiller, the fact Wagnor did not favor the Sick Bay is obvious to Milton , so his being here was a sign it might be just the tip of an Iceberg.

Pix landed to sit on his shoulder and the ambient feeling from the man made her want to lean closer to Rutherford and use his minor Heritage to ease her own feelings as she hope Milton could help the man as Pix sensed a man in pain, the physical part put an ache in her own litte body.

Soran nodded to Pix before answering the Doctor. "Like a man who was hit with Klingon painstick, I have a burn where it hit me. Lt Rahl put my shoulder put in place, but it still not a hundred percent."

He didn't make eye contact with the Doctor.

"The swelling from the shoulder usually goes down on its own by now." He said casually.

Milton had his probe in hand; a natural reflex if you will, while he took a scan and raised an eyebrow.

"Is it more stiff than usual?" Milton asked as he had a suspicion; the muscles were not average and there seemed to be some reaction from the augmented tissue, it was not abnormal but more heightened in effect. "The inflammation is a bit more than expected from a Klingon Painstick, I know those types of wounds , seen them a few times."

"I'm not sure what to say about the painstick and the shoulder injury are all I've got going on." He shrugged. "I'm always pretty amped up after a battle, but I've had a harder time calming down lately."

"You do realize that being 'Amped Up as you say actually puts more of a strain on the body?" He mentioned almost casually. "Like doing isometrics to build muscle, force and resistance is good for exercise but bad long term. You need to relax the body once in a while." He chuckled. "Everytime I see you I am reminded someone casually ready to strike if needed." He shrugged "Just a casual observation of course." taking out his probe. "But let's have a real look at you."

Soran gave a cautious smile wondering if the Doctor knew how true that observation was, he nodded.

"My PTSD has been pretty bad lately, I'm in regular therapy sessions for it. It doesn't help that I have trouble trusting doctors." He sighed. "I have a high pain tolerance, but this has been bad."

"Then I guess calling me by my usual handle of "Doc Milton ' might be out of the question for the moment?" Milton tried to lighten the mood. "Come over to the Biobed and remove the tunic , I really need to get a better look at your shoulder and such. Technology is like a computer, gives only facts but leaves them to interpolation." He gesture to the nearest unit. "Nothing like a Hands on healer to get the real feel for what is going on."

"Alright Milton," Soran said

He hopped up onto the boibed favoring his left side, there was a fair fresh wound from the painstick. He didn't make eye contact with Milton. He hated the scars on his chest but he'd never bothered have them removed. He waited patiently for the Doctor to scan him.

"Give me Right arm first, let us see how this one feels?" Milton requested. "It might feel stiff yet I still have to move it about if you want some kind of relief?"

Soran paused for a moment before giving in to the Doctor's orders. "My right shoulder is sore from favoring the left one as imagine."

Taking the arm Milton did the most basic 'Rangge of motion tests by extending and checking the joint flexability, more paying attention to how his patient reacted to the full rotation slowly of the rotator cuff and then the extending and retraction of the arm and elbow. S simple test that usually net good results as the pain cannot be readily hidden so long a s a Doctor knows what to look for.

Soran allowed the doctor full control of his arm, It took every ounce of mental energy he had to let him do this. He his changed when the Doc got to edge of his mobility.

"Truth." Milton stopped as is proper but did not release. "Give me a pain scale 1-10?" This is what he expected and the reason he used this examination method.

"One," he said. "The left shoulder is the real problem, this one is just a little stiff."

Letting the arm loose to rest Milton nod and wanted to run the Left Shoulder through the same paces.

Soran cautiously extended his left arm and let out slow breath. He looked towards Pix as he felt the Doctor take his arm.

With the injured arm Milton went through the same testing, not changing the pace or motion speed; he needed to see the 'hesitation' and such that came with the pain. He observed how easily Soran moved the arm and noting any expressions of discomfort, Pix was watching as well and she could be very frank if a person did not relay accurate appraisals of pain. With the test complete Milton let the arm back into Soran's control.

"I could use a form of Cortozone to ease the pain and movement made easier in the short term, but you body seems to be fighting itself in a manner of speaking." Milton said with full eye contact, you are using a type of Isometrics constantly, compensating for the pain and the body tensing up due to lack of good rest and your tendency to 'always be ready for a fight' is taxing on even someone of your physical being." He sighed. "You need to see a massage thearipst and actually try sleeping to just relax than just to refill energy reserves. DO you get my meaning or need I really break it down?"

Looking straight at SOran for a second.

"Get- Some -Sleep-and -rest- the -body." He said slowly.

"I understand doctor," he looked at the floor. "I've gotten used to dealing with pain as part of my profession, but lately… Well it's taken a shot of Rothin whiskey to numb things, I'm running low on it and Tony doesn't like to see me drink. Don't look at me like that, my people's doctors have been prescribing Rothin liquor as an anti-inflammatory for years. one shot is hardly excessive. "

"I find that Prednisone works as an anti-inflammatory by reducing the swelling and redness of skin. Dexamethasone works by increasing the production of other chemicals that reduce inflammation." Milton began. "If you supplement it with tomatoes and olive oil in a Marinara sause over noodles is a more tasty way to help reduce inflammations, also green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards ae foods known to help. "Milton suggested. "For snack food you can eat nuts like almonds and walnuts. fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines. For a sweet tooth you might try fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges."

Milton chuckled. "I am not a fan of taking a 'snort for the pain." He shrugged. "And I am not implying what is excessive, one shot is not considered excessive unless there are mutiples of that One Shot in a short time frame." He put up his hands. "Just mentioning, not making any judgements. But dietary changes are known to help a pluthera of ailings medically."

"I'll take that under advisement," Soran smiled. "It seems the positions of my people have a different approach than those in the Federation."

"It is also that I was raised by a Country Doctor how hated having to go into town to get medicines when the Farmers and such had herbal and food remedies at ready hand." Milton chuckled. "A place where the people knew him as 'Doc and few really knew his given name."

Soran smiled, "Sounds like a good man, I will call you Doc if that is your preference. There were a number of things that were used to treat Angosian soldiers, Some are known in the federation and band and others are just incredibly hard to find. Traditional Rothin whiskey includes Medicinal herbs that are similar to the ones my people have used for centuries. I can bring you a sample if you'd like to analysis it.

"That would help me, that way it would not be as much a shock to your system if we can weasel in something else to help with the pain and all." Milton nod. "I am not saying this is bad as it has been in use for a while and after analysis might be the best choice." He added. "My prescriptions are based on what I know; the more I am aware of the better I can help you of course."

"If you could sympathize something similar that would be greatly appreciated, Rothin Whiskey is hard to come by."

"Cost effective and does the job." Milton noted the parameters. "I think I can work with that."

"I would appreciate that, Doc." Soran smiled, "Would be okay if use a Holodeck massage program? I'd like to keep my condition as quiet as possible.

"There is a training program I had in Medical School about Massage Therapy in Physical rehabilitation that might work better for you than most 'pleasure ' programs; it might hurt a bit upon occasion but the physical rewards would do well over most programs meant to just ease and relax. This one is designed to help physically." Milton suggested. "I will give you the program, and you can save as a 'patient' since it is a medical program it has a Confidentiality subroutine so you can save it for you alone."

"I was intending to use a medical holo program and I'm no stranger to pain." Soran smiled "Thank Doc."

"You are more than welcome, just try to relax a little more and I will get back once I analyze the sample you give me." Milton grinned. "I promise not to sample the sample."

"I'll get you a bottle of something good as I thank you I have connections."

"That would be kind." Milton offered a handshake. "Come by anytime of even say hello in the corridors, I am not one to be 'On duty all hours, I like to socialize as well."

Soran smiled and shook the doctor's hand I think we've got a deal Doc."


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