Mr. Hudson visited his doctor with a back pain that had lasted over a week. The pain radiated down his left leg and into his foot, keeping him awake at night. He had recently moved homes and may have overdone it in the garden, possibly starting the back pain. Mr. Hudson worked as a postmaster for over 40 years, apart from time served in the army. He was married with two daughters and a son.

1. Ah good morning Mr Hudson. I see from your card that you have just moved into the area and perhaps
you could tell me a little about your previous health as I won’t get your records for another month,
month or two, and then we can deal with your present problem.
Well I heve actually, I have always been very fit up till now but…
Have you ever been in hospital ?
Only when I was a child. I had an appendicitis when I was eight.
And what’s your job, what do you do ?
Well, I am a, I work for the office. I am a postmaster.
And I see that you are what, 58, now and I have you ?
Yes
Have you always been with the post office ?
Yes, well apart from my time in the army you know…
I see that you are married. Any family ?
Yes, two girls and a boy.
Fine. That’s fine. Now can you tell me what seems to be the problem to day ?
Well, it is this terrible pain in my back. I have had it for more than a week now and it is..
I see, and can you show me exactly where it is ?
It is down here, here
And does it go anywhere else ?
Yes, it goes down my left leg. And I fell pains and needles in my foot.
I see, and is it there all the time ?
Yes, yes it is. It is keepoing me awake, awake at night and I can not get out into the garden. I have been
taking aspirins but the pain, it just comes back again.
And was there anything that started it off ?
Well yes, yes. I have been trying to sort out the garden at my new house and I do not know, I may have
been overdoing things a bit.