Al surgery has been refused

Apparently they aren't allowed to anymore. Up until a year or so ago if you were assessed by an independent legal medical surgeon they could also do the Op but that has been outlawed. We had a private surgeon lined up but the 3rd party are refusing to pay and it's now going through court.

Can your GP not then refer you to the surgeon who would do it privately, on the NHS?? This still happens in Scotland. Obviously different system of NHS as our hospitals are not trusts. There must be some way round it.

Have you presented the evidence from the private surgeons to the NHS ones? Surely if two surgeons will operate then there must be a reason. They don't do back surgery for no reason. Most on here will tell you the fight they have to get things fixed, me included.

Just don't take no for an answer.

I realise you are in a bit of a dilemma with the court and insurance but it's your health!!!!!! If it turns out to be on your favour make sure you claim for the distress and anxiety caused by the wait and the pain you've had to go through!

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I have a meeting on Monday evening with the consultant who called me today to go over things. I will be taking all of the reports I have detailing the private surgeons findings. You never know he maybe swayed but I am not holding my breath and there is also the private route should my solicitor get them to pay? I am not sure about what else the GP will do? I've had to fight just to get this far over the two years. I've had physio and multiple injections and pain management classes. Even they have said I need surgery. Fingers crossed for Monday I guess. I hope all is well with your back now.

Hope Monday goes the way you hope. It's a really pain having to battle to get what you really need. Too many hoops and obstacles to get over and through.

I'm in recovery just now. Had a double ALIF of L4-S1 9 weeks ago. Slowly getting there but I've now had 3 Op's which have left a lot of nerve damage. Latest surgery has taken 80% of my back pain away which is great. Still have a right foot I can't feel and a dead left thigh! Strange how nerves work and curtail what you can do. I had a discogram before this op which damaged nerves on my left side, left with Femerol Nuropathy (dead left thigh)! It's a pain I put up with having almost cured my back pain. Three sources of pain I can't deal with, two, well, one yeah! Hopefully the pain clinic can sort the left thigh with a lidocaine infusion. Fingers crossed.

Keep us posted about how you get on.

Wow, you really have been through it. Hopefully they will get you sorted soon. I too have a numb foot and sciatica in my left thigh. As well as other pain in the legs and back. I hope they can explain why I have all of these problem when they say there is nothing to operate on?

I'll let you know how it goes after the meeting on Monday. Like I said I won't be holding my breath.

Have a good weekend

Matt