Arroyo wears smile, neck brace

CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo walks out of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City where she was confined overnight for neck spasm. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Former President and now Pampanga 2nd district representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was wearing a smile and a neck brace when she was discharged Friday from the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City after being confined overnight for the neck ailment cervical radiculopathy.

“I’m okay,” Arroyo herself told reporters as she walked towards her vehicle and boarded it unaided. She was brought to the hospital by her husband, Miguel “Mike” Arroyo on Thursday morning after complaining of severe pain in the neck area.

Attending physician Dr. Juliet Cervantes said Arroyo had been discharged earlier than scheduled because there was no need to let her stay longer at the hospital. “There’s no more swelling and she is no longer in pain,” she said.

Cervantes said that Arroyo could resume her regular activities. “No restrictions. She can do anything she wants,” she said.

The doctor also said that she had advised Arroyo to undergo daily physical therapy and take oral medication to ease the pain and that she had to continue wearing the neck collar for at least a week.

She also explained that Arroyo had a pinched nerve at the upper cervical spine since she was in college, but only diagnosed as cervical radiculopathy two or three years ago.