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And so it continues.....

Posted , 8 users are following.

james82082
james82082

so today I saw the consultant, sad

what a let down! 

The guy went through what happened first, then asked me some questions about the pain etc and got me to walk, tip toes, etc etc. 

then em said he won't operate. Instead will give me a root nerve injection. sad!!!! I'm totally terrified of needles and the thought of this is driving me mad sad

my my fiancée who was with me didn't like him too much and neither did I. He didn't seem like he was on this planet!

he kept asking me questions I couldn't answer. The pain killers mask virtually all my pain. The only pain I get is in my back and if I try to come down a dose, I get horrendous pain in my leg down to my heel and back. His attitude was, your obviously not in that much pain today so we won't even think about an operation! 

He was reading a letter from the pain clinic doctor who said I'm not a suitable candidate for an operation, yet the Orthopedic specialist I saw said I need an operation without a shadow of a doubt!

i have a friend who has had an l5s1 fusion, and he said don't have the nerve root injection. Someone who had one at the same time of him hasn't walked properly ever again. 

So if I don't do the nerve root, can I take anti inflamatories instead? He said he wants to do it as a diagnosis. 

0 likes, 39 replies

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  • james82082
    james82082

    Posted

    Right, saw GP. 

    She agreed with me in principle that 2 years have passed, nothing is going to move the disc away from my nerves except surgery. She was surprised he wanted to do the injections for "diagnostic" purposes. 

    Shes is is waiting for the letter to come from the hospital to see what he says, reason for not operating and for doing injections etc, 

    she was surprised people have seen neurosurgeons though. She has asked me to get some names of surgeons people have seen around the country, she said would I like to see a different doctor for a second opinion and of course I said yes! I might have to travel a bit further a field but I said I don't care, I need my life back! I would sign any form, any waiver. Just get me the operation to get the disc trimmed/removed so I can be pain free!

    • james82082
      james82082

      Posted

      Forgot to say, can people give me the name of their neurosurgeons, and where they are based? I'm looking at an L5/S1 disc prolapse with nerve impingement so people in similar situations would be good too. 
    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 james82082

      Posted

      Sounds like your doc is gonna push for it now, that's great news, my neurosurgeon is Mr G O'Reilly fab bloke, not sure where you are but he's based Hull area x
    • drinxs
      drinxs james82082

      Posted

      Hi James,

      You are making progress although I know it perhaps does not feel like it so well done- First step which I think us "lay' people could have told you is surgery, if nerve are involved.

      I went for my 2nd Opinion from Ireland To the Walton Centre in Liverpool( after extensive research - I could write a book!) and have elected to have my surgery there in 6 weeks.

      The Walton Centre is a NHS centre of excellence for Neuroscience (only one in UK) in otherwords all surgeons working there only specialise in Neurosurgery- it range from Brian, MS, Spine Etc- It has world class reputation). The two key Spinal surgeons I am aware of are Mr Martin Wilby(I am going to get my surgery done through him) or Mr Simon Clark. Both of these are on the NHS Surgeon registar website I told you about earlier in the week-Extensive operative experiece and having personally meet Mr Wilby a throughly nice chap.Go on Walton Centre Website and have a read yourself also look at patients reviews and overall they rate it very highly ( after all they are the only ones that count)

      Keep us posted on your progress - you will get sorted, keep positive but keep the pressure on the GPs, there is no other way.

    • james82082
      james82082 debbie1971

      Posted

      I do hope so! 

      I have your surgeon first on the list so far. What op did they perform on you? 

    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 james82082

      Posted

      Originally he was gonna shave off half the disc at L5/S1 but he said it was bulging so much he removed it completely xx
    • james82082
      james82082 drinxs

      Posted

      Hi drinxs, thanks for your reply. I began typing one for my iPad battery to die on me! 

      Anyhow, it does feel like one step forward, one back at mo. 

      It turns out, the letter saying I was not suitable for surgery was from the orthopedic clinic specialist I saw who said I must have an operation and soon! I wonder if the letter was typed for him and it was done wrong? My fiancée backed me up saying he was adamant I needed one and even told me it was going to be a disectomy! I am hoping my GP might be able to get me to see him again. See what on earth is going on! 

      I I shall read up on the Walton Centre tomorrow. It's a seriously long way for me to get to Liverpool. Would need to stay up there I think for a week or so if I had it done there! 

  • drinxs
    drinxs james82082

    Posted

    Hi James

    Make sure you keep all the paperwork as evidence this situation is extremely unprofessional.

    Regarding Liverpool distance is you get there the NHS should fund stay etc, but depending on severity of op. you may only need to be up there for a couple of days.

    There are other good centres - Stanmore, Middlesex;Cardiff look on the NHS surgeons registar and look at surgeonoutcome report number of. Ops and where the practice thats a good start- I did send you website address but think this site blocked it.

    Also British Brain &Spine Foundation is a good source of information.

    • james82082
      james82082 drinxs

      Posted

      That's good to know about funding the stay!

      I don't have this letter, only my GP and the consultant have it sad I will ask my GP to print me a copy when I see her again on 13th June.

      I hope by then this can be straightened out!

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