The big Q and A

Question: What do you do in Korea if wake up one morning, bend over to pick something up, and pull something in your back?
Answer: Go to Dr. Kang's Pain Clinic near Jeonnam National University.

Q: Why Dr. Kang's, when there are so many other hospitals closer to your home, you ask?
A: He speaks fluent English and even used the word "sedentary" during my consultation, he also has a very calm and kind bedside manner. And I didn't know this at the time, but Dr. Kang actually specializes in back pain in addition to his family practice.

Q: What did you do at the pain clinic?
A: I received a series of anti-inflammatory shots directly at the source of the pulled ligament. I also had, what Dr. Kang referred to as "electric shock therapy" (he might want to consider rephrasing this into a slightly less threatening expression). The "electric shock therapy" ended up being kind of like those electric chair massages but with more force and sharper contact.

Q: Did you get any cool drugs?
A: The perscription that I recieved was a mild anti-inflammatory combined with a very low, slow-release pain killer.

Q: How much did it cost?
A: The first visit (consult, shots, and physical therapy) was 17,400won and 2,000won for the perscription. The second visit (consult, one shot, and electric physical therapy, doctors note) was 15,300won and 2,500 for three days worth of pills.
Total for two visits and two perscriptions:
37,200won (about $30 US)

Q: How do I get there?
A: By bus: take any bus that goes to Jeonnam National University Backgate and walk south towards the end of the backgate. It's across the street from the Gwangju Buk Gu Chung (district office)