SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Francis Thrasher is in a constant pain waiting out a six-month waiting list to see a specialist surgeon after fracturing his spine.

Francis Thrasher, 26, broke his back and is on a six-month waiting list to see a health specialist from Edmonton. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

"I don't sleep," said Thrasher. "I sleep maybe three or four hours a night. My health is deteriorating because of the back pain."

The injury occurred last April, when the 26-year-old's truck broke down in Lloydminster, Alta.

"When the tow truck arrived he ended up crashing into my car and as a result of that action I broke my back," said Thrasher. "I ended up with a compression fracture. I've been going through (physiotherapy) for nine months now and taking medications to help me with the pain."

As a result of the accident Thrasher lost his job as a baggage handler at the Edmonton Airport and had to move to Yellowknife last July with his girlfriend and two children because of his financial situation. The waiting list for subsidize housing was much longer in Edmonton according to Thrasher.

"The doctors gave me a note to get into subsidize housing, so now I'm just surviving with my kids," said Thrasher. "I'm sick of this pain."

According to Damien Healy, manager of communications for the Department of Health and Social Services their are currently 156 people on a waiting list for orthopaedic procedures. He said that the current national benchmark is 26 weeks.

"Which in most cases were now exceeding from the time of booking until actual procedure," said Healy.

"This is a problem across all jurisdictions with increasing pressures on beds and or cancellations when people make an appointment and believe it or not don't come to their actual procedure."

Thrasher travelled to Calgary on Jan. 12 to see an orthopaedic surgeon to receive a diagnosis, something he did through his medical insurance.

"The problem is there is such a high volume of people that need to see the specialist," he said.

Thrasher is currently involved in a lawsuit with the tow truck company that was involved in his accident.

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