E-scooter accident in Mount Maunganui: Man can no longer use his right hand

“As far as I know, I lost control, hit the curb, flew over the handlebars and collided with a concrete flower box.

“The sudden impact alone broke ten ribs, pierced both lungs, fractured my collarbone, shattered three vertebrae and severed three nerves in my right arm.”

Glamuzina was taken to Tauranga Hospital and underwent spinal fusion surgery. He was placed in an induced coma for six and a half weeks to allow his spine to be fused.

He developed a staphylococcal infection, was flown to Auckland Hospital and placed on a lung bypass.

Confined to the house for six to eight months

Glamuzina spent about four weeks in Auckland Hospital before beginning rehabilitation, which included physiotherapy, at a brain rehabilitation clinic.

He wore a neck brace for about three months.

“It would have been quite possible that I would not have woken up or would have ended up in a wheelchair.”

He was housebound for six to eight months, leaving only for medical appointments.

Since then, he has been able to partially regain the function of his right arm, “but it is limited and I cannot use my right hand.”

This presented “many challenges” since his right hand was his dominant hand.

He no longer wears belts or shoes with laces. He has changed a few things at home that “make life easier” for him.

“I have a kind of small vice on my kitchen counter that I use to hold things while I cut them.”

He bought a tricycle to take his six-year-old daughter to school and had all the controls moved to the left handlebar.

“No desire” to ride an e-scooter again

After his accident, Glamuzina repaired his e-scooter and sold it.

“I didn’t feel like getting back on a scooter.”

He bought it about four months before his accident and described himself as a “fairly experienced” driver.

E-scooters came onto the market in New Zealand in October 2018.

ACC data shows that between January and June 2024, 1,830 new claims were filed for e-scooter-related injuries.

In 2023 there were 2934 new applications and in 2022 there were 2565 new applications.

Glamuzina said his wife Ulemj and daughter had contributed “significantly” to his recovery.

He regularly climbed the Mauao barefoot.

“I have a desire to go snowboarding again one day… but I’m not there yet.”

A new profession: pain coaching

Glamuzina said the pain in his arm was the hardest part of his recovery, which led him to “pain coaching.”

Before his accident, he worked in recruitment and as a career coach. After his accident, he became a pain coach and runs his own company.

“Many people suffer from persistent or chronic pain, and neither medication nor surgery relieves it.”

Glamuzina said pain coaching helps people understand pain and its manifestations.

He described pain as the body’s “alarm system” that warns of danger.

“But the danger can be perceived or real. When someone has experienced trauma, their body becomes more vulnerable to events it perceives as similar, and it becomes hypersensitive, sending out pain responses even though there may be no real threat.”

For example, Glamuzina’s right arm has become “more sensitive” to sensations because his body is trying to protect it from further injury, he explained.

Glamuzina bought a trailer about two months ago in which he and Ulemj plan to host couples retreats.

“The intention would be to offer … a focused weekend of health and wellness.”

Ulemj would offer art therapy and “general coaching.” The couple would try to bring in other healers with different methods, he said.

Anyone interested in pain management can contact Mate at [email protected].

Michael Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.