Missmonfret Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Hi everyone, I'm a student at the royal ballet upper school and I'm new to this forum ????. One of my friends, Dana, has a bad back injurie that has kept her from dancing for months now. I wouldn't normally ask to share a link or donate money for all the causes on the Internet but she is really desperate and of course needs some good quality treatment that costs money which she can't afford. Her story is in the link below and it would mean an awful lot of you could share this on Facebook or even donate no matter how little. http://www.gofundme.com/danaprolotherapy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taximom Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Has she considered being referred to the NHS dance clinic? Information on the dance UK site. Certainly worth a try if she hasn't already. Hope all goes well for her. Heather Aka Taximom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taximom Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Www.nidms.co.uk/injury-referral/ Will hopefully take you to the correct place!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missmonfret Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 She just really wanted to do this with a doctor she knows and trusts as this is a serious thing that will affect her future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 I too would suggest going to NIDMS or contacting the Dance Again Foundation at http://www.danceagain.org/. This was set up by the parents of Jack Widdowson who overcame horrendous injuries from a mugging where he was left for dead, but is now fully recovered and dancing professionally. These experts really will know how to treat the problem, and I must say I am surprised that your friend has not been advised of their existence before. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Don't you have to have BUPA or other health insurance at RBS Upper School, as you do at all the other Upper Schools? Wouldn't this be covered by insurance in that case? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 (edited) Hi, if your friend is at the same school as you, then it would be best to take their professional advice, otherwise as others mention, the NHS now has a very good dance injury clinic. Also, if you search on this forum, there are mentions of specialist dance physios on here somewhere, and perhaps she could go to one of them and get checked out. edited for spelling Edited April 4, 2015 by taxi4ballet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarplumsmum Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 My heart goes out to your friend and i wish her a speedy recovery. At the choreography show at Tring last week Jacks mum did a presentation about the dance again foundation, they sound amazing and was telling us about the insight into treatments and how to get better for cheaper and that most time the nhs is the way to go. Most Dr's treat both private & nhs and they know which doors to knock so I would definitely be contacting them. Big hugs your a lovely friend in helping and supporting your classmate 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdance Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 I would definitely recommend seeing the NIDMS doctor. Many people have worked incredibly hard to make this provision a reality. It is free - an NHS service and the London branch is based at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The consultant who oversees it all is Dr Roger Wolman who has worked very closely with many esteemed dance medicine teams including the Royal Ballet. You can't get any better. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Am wondering if treatment is classed as 'evidence-based' as in a lot of cases it would have to be self funded as insurance or nhs might not pay or carry out. Not to say it might not work just an additional factor re some treatments in terms of there being insufficient evidence at present for it to be funded. Hope your friend is able to get whatever she needs to move towards recovery as it can be a slow and frustrating process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletqs Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 The trouble is RBS are quite definite about who they will allow their students to see. So as much as all the suggestions are very correct the school and Dana need to stick with a specific team of people or it really is opening a can of worms. But contacting Jack's foundation would be a good bit of advice to follow up. Miss M as well as being a fabulous dancer (I had a student in your year at WL) you are a very sweet friend. When I have some money coming in again I will gladly donate, I know Danas old teacher well too. I had the same injury at US and couldn't get treatment but I hope this works for Dana she deserves it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I think that's a very nice thing to try and do for your friend missmonfret. I wish Dana every success with her treatment and hope she can return to dancing soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missmonfret Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Thank you all for your help and advice, I sent the link to Dana and she appreciates it very much too. The only problem, as balletqs said, is that the school has a team of doctors provided as well as Dana has found the right person to do this, this doctor has been following her since the very beginning of the injury and knows her injury well. But she also needs the treatment really soon because time is so valuable when you have company auditions just around the corner (we are second years)... Thank you so much for your help though, and I wish everyone a happy Easter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Autumn days Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 The trouble is RBS are quite definite about who they will allow their students to see. So as much as all the suggestions are very correct the school and Dana need to stick with a specific team of people or it really is opening a can of worms. But contacting Jack's foundation would be a good bit of advice to follow up. Miss M as well as being a fabulous dancer (I had a student in your year at WL) you are a very sweet friend. When I have some money coming in again I will gladly donate, I know Danas old teacher well too. I had the same injury at US and couldn't get treatment but I hope this works for Dana she deserves it. Is this really current RBS thinking? If so, then it sounds rather shortsighted. Surely it is better to have treatment from any well respected practitioner familiar with dancers than no treatment at all? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missmonfret Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 No of course they always try to do what is best for us, but Dana has found the right doctor who truly knows her spine injury and has been following her for quite a while. that's why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Autumn days Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Whilst I do have every sympathy for your friend I cannot help but think that, if that is the case, she should at least pursue another avenue before asking the general public for money. She may find that there are other doctors out there that will understand her injury and offer suitable help. I am sure tha if her current doctor understands her financial concerns that he will be happy to pass on her notes etc to ensure the best possible outcome. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Sounds as if it's a case where the proposed course of treatment not funded by medical insurance maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdance Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I don't understand why the school a) can't help out with this, and b ) allow access to doctors that charge what sounds like a lot of money, when there is a free facility in London! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletqs Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I know when I was at school a clause in our Bupa agreement (meaning a much cheaper rate) was that we could only use limited and agreed practitioners and if we sought free treatment elsewhere none of our in school Physiotherapy/rehab would be covered so we wouldn't be able to use that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missmonfret Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 I do not know all the details of my friends problem I am only trying to help her out really. I'm sure the school is trying really hard and doing all they can to help treating and recovering from any possible injuries that might cross our path while we are at school. I do not want to criticise them in any way as I know they are doing everything they can and we have some great help provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 With respect, I should think that the RBS, which has long experience of dealing with injured dancers, is likely to have more knowledge of suitable specialists than your friend or you. Does your friend not have BUPA cover? Why can she not access the free facilities mentioned above? I wonder how wise it is for you to post this appeal naming your friend? The RBS may take a dim view of your friend ignoring their advice (whatever it is) and appealing to the general public, through you, for money, using their name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletqs Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Admin Would it be possible to lock this post now? Only my opinion but I think an innocent plea has snowballed and I don't think it is fair on Miss Monfret to have to discuss all the points unless she wants to. As I understand it the school are fully aware of the situation with regards to the treatment needed and I'm sure, as Miss M says, that they would be pursuing the quickest and best possible path for the injury and the student. I think everyone has made valid suggestions which I am sure have been passed on to Dana and unless there are any other constructive ideas that suit the situation perhaps this is not the best place for further discussions. I have absolutely NO intention of offending anyone at all. Miss Monfret all the best to you all for the summer term and next year. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelly the Elephant Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) Just had the same thought balletqs. I'm sure it was posted with good intentions but am worried its getting a little unfriendly! Edited April 5, 2015 by Nelly the Elephant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 If people are being asked to donate money then they have every right to be interested in where that money may go - particularly when the treatment seems to be available on the NHS. I don't think that is "unfriendly" but I agree that the thread should now be locked. Miss Monfret, I wish your friend the very best of luck and hope she makes a full recovery. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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