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Difficulty getting Referral for Prolapse/ Sciatica Please help

Posted , 10 users are following.

christophe24300
christophe24300

Good evening people.

I'm Chris Im 33, I'm a a bit of limbo at the moment and I have found some helpful posts on here and was wondering if anybody could give me some advice.

About 4 weeks ago I noticed a slight twinge in my left buttock and thought it must just be a tight muscle, I even went to the gym and felt no pain whilst training.

The week that followed It got very painfull in my buttock and slightly in my thigh and I was fininding it painful to sit and stand. 

I went and saw a gp who did a few tests and said it was my si joint and prescribed me indomdicine and told me to take paracetomol with it.

This hardly touched the pain and I had bad side effects from it so I stopped and returned to the doctors again 6 days later, the pain was a lot worse by then. I explained this to a different gp and she basically didn't seem at all concerned and sent me off with an over the counter strengh co codomal prescription, which I got cheaper without the prescription.

The pain carried on getting worse, I was in agony sitting down and standing up, pain all through my buttock, spasams and locking up down to my ankle, having to stand still once on my feet and limp around very slowly before walking, I also got a bad spasam up my higher left back after rolling over in bed one morning.

Feeling like I was getting nowhere I went to an osteopath, she said she agreed I had an si problem but also a tight piriformus and very tight hamstrings. She massaged me and clicked my back etc, that day I felt really good and only took some medication around 8pm.

A few days after the pain was even worse so I decided to stop the medication and go to a good walk in centre I knew, so I would be in maximum pain, which I sure was, this was 6 days ago and he could see my pain, checked me out and told me he was pretty certain I have prolapsed a disk and I have siatica.

He prescribed me Naproxen 500 twice a day and 2 mg diazepam 4 times a day and told me to go back to my gp and tell them what it was and that I need a referral for an mri scan.

I went the follwing day ( Last Friday ) and saw yet another different doctor, explained to him all the gp's I had seen, medication etc and that I need to be rereffed for a scan, I told him the pain relief I was taking was not really doing a lot and he could see that so he prescribed codine and refered me, when I asked if it was to the back clinic a few miles away he said he didn't know but it would be local to me.

I am currently taking naproxen 500 twice a day diazipam 2mg 4 times a day 60 mg codine 4 times a day along with 1000mg paracetomal 4 times a day and laxatives, well I just took my last diazipam.

I am off work with no pay as I'm self employed, when I'm not in pain Im hazey from all the medication or sleeping a lot and just feel like I'm being dosed up and not getting proper help diagnosis and treatment.

I rang the doctors yesterday (Tuesday) to follow up and ask where he had referred me to and I was told he had only reffered me to a physio, I explained to the receptionist all that had happened and that I was told I need this scan and I had pressumed he had reffered me for it, she told me she would make the notes and either herself or the doctor I saw last would call me back and advise me.

I then called 111 to see if I could go to a and e and they told me I need to see my gp again within 24 hours.

I called back the doctors in the afternoon and spoke to a different receptionist who told me no notes regarding the conversation I had with the receptionist in the morning phone conversation where on my file.

I explained I had spoke to 111 and I need an appoinment within the next 24 hours, she said they had nothing and I need to call back on Friday morning, she then put me on to the receptionist I spoke to in the morning, I have to admit I was a little frustrated by now, I wasnt rude and didn't swear but I expressed I was not happy about being messed around for weeks and not getting the proper referral, she basically told me the same, that I would have to call Friday morning to try and get an appointment and I could see either of the last two doctors I had seen last. I said to her that to be honest I would rather not see either as they had not listened or helped me and could I see the first doctor I had seen but she said he had left.

So thats it I've been left another week in limbo, sorry for the long post I hope it makes sense.

I will try and go back to the doctors on Friday and get referred but I'm not holding out to much hope due to the treatment I have already explained.

Today I have not felt as much pain but I'm pretty sure that could be the medication masking it.

If you have any advise for me I would greatly appreciate it as this is effecting all aspects of my life including my mental heath as I have been on mediaction for depression for a number of years.

Kind Regards 

Chris

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0 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • christophe24300
    christophe24300

    Posted

    Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated : )

    I have just read my post and the spelling is terrible ( I blame that on the medication lol )

    The doctors have just called me and I have been referred for a scan too, this by the the sounds of it is only because the walk in centre had sent the information to him telling him to referr me for the scan.

    I'm unsure what to do about work, if I should stay off until I get seen by the specialists or not. I dont have a labour intensive job. I'm a security officer but I am up and down a lot and that's when I get the most pain, also I don't like the feeling of being on all this medication too at work and driving around and I don't want to make whatever I have worse.

    I have been stretching and doing heat packs, that helps.

    Today I have differnt type of pain in my bum and leg it feels dull, I'm wondering if this is the naproxen taking proper effect?

    Thanks again

    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 christophe24300

      Posted

      Hi Chris

      It probably is the Naproxen doing its job, it took months for it to start working for me. As for working, aggravating the pain won't help and can cause more muscle spasms, a lot of medication advise against driving if they make you sleepy, could affect your insurance if you have a prang.

      Really pleased you're going to get a scan, I used alternate heat and ice packs on my back and they did help.

    • angie42070
      angie42070 christophe24300

      Posted

      Please be careful driving on any of those medications. Many of them are now banned due to sedating effects. The new laws that came in earlier this year, make it an offence. Can you bus to work? I am a community mental health nurse, I've stayed in work as the distractions help rather than sat at home with the same pain and focusing too much on it. I've lived with it so long that my brain has adjusted. I just take ibruprofen during the pay with paracetamol if needed. Always have a hot water bottle with me, I do specific Pilate moves to stretch out the muscles which feels good, and I can do them in the office. Sometimes if I know I'm not driving I'll take some tramadol but it only dulls the pain and gives me a horrendous headache. The body has a really good set up to cope with long term pain, and can provide its own chemicals. Have you tried a tens machine? They can help disrupt the nerves receiving pain messages from the brain. Try and keep moving as sitting down too long will seize up the muscles and create more pain.
    • christophe24300
      christophe24300 angie42070

      Posted

      I have just read an article and I cant see that any are banned?

      This is a quote from it

      However, according to some experts, a loophole in the law will mean that it will be hard to secure a conviction for drivers found with higher levels of medicinal drugs in their system. “There is a very clear defence for people prosecuted for having higher levels of prescribed drugs in their bodies, called the medical defence,” says David Barton, a motoring lawyer. “Under the law, if a driver claims that he has been prescribed the drug for medical reasons and that he took only the prescribed amount and followed the instructions, then he has a defence.

      “Once the driver raises this defence, then it is up to the prosecution to disprove it. I think it will be very difficult to prove when someone took a drug or that they didn’t follow instructions, because even if the levels are very high, everybody’s metabolism is different.”

  • johnabuja
    johnabuja christophe24300

    Posted

    Hi Chrisstophe,

    Just seen your discussion and as with everyone else feel bad for your situation !!

    I am a Brit living and working in Nigeria and so don't have access to NHS facilities, but before I came down here I went through all the frustrations that I read about in these discussions.

    Point is that I had a trip to India in 2010 and after investigations (done in two days) had a three level fusion (L3-L5) and really never looked back. The whole thing cost about $17k (is that about £ 12k).

    Not everyone can put that kind of cash together, but if you are self employed this issue is seriously affecting your earning capacity, so the sooner fixed the better !!

    The Indian hopsitals were very high quality, I used the Manipal in Bangalore, so no worries there, all done quickly, efficiently and back on the road after about four weeks.

    Think about it !!

    Wish you well for future whatever you decide, but I do know the agony !! 

  • christophe24300
    christophe24300

    Posted

    Unfortunatly I work in a rural location and there is no bus or train close to it.

    I certainly can't afford any type of private treatment as I earn minimum wagea nd work 30 hours a week, I claim working tax credit as I'm on a low income and from what I have read I can carry on claiming that for 28 weeks of sickness. It's only £50 per week but I won't be doing a lot and I recently moved back with my parents so don't have any large regualar bills.

    I am thinking I should stay off untill I have seen the specialists. 

  • david50463
    david50463 christophe24300

    Posted

    HI Chris ,sorry to heat of all your problems , glad you have an appointment for a scan , make sure your GP explains everything to you , mine could not undersatnd the results  , not sure why. I have a slipped disc number 5 had for 16 months reffered to a speciallist who spent 15 mins and was told that the saiatic nerve repairs itself 7mm a week so if you are tall like me unfortunately it could take some time. I have found that sitting in a chair that is high helps , the modern sofa is not good. I am going for another scan as the dr feels that the disc may have sliiped more so we will see. Do not be scared to pull your weight with the doctors you have a right to the services. Walking is the best excercise. I stretch myself every day , it hepls but dont strech your self using a door fram , it can cost you dearly , ie new door frame.

    best of look and tell your self each day there is a succesful outcome to it , don.t let it get to you .

    David

    • christophe24300
      christophe24300 david50463

      Posted

      Thanks for the kind words David.

      So they send the results back to my go? Not looking forward to that.

      I'm 6ft tall so looks like it will be a while for me too.

      Have you taken any time off work?

    • david50463
      david50463 christophe24300

      Posted

      Self employed so I am able to come and go when I like. Forgot to say brother in Law a GP and when I told him about the 7mm he rolled his eyes so maybe it was just pure bull**** Ask to see the scan if your GP can work the computer that is . In respect to operation brother had it and he now has a drop foot situation , not heard of any good results but we are all different so maybe... Watching daytime tv doesn't help either.

      look after yourself

      David

    • christophe24300
      christophe24300 david50463

      Posted

      I am too but they are set days and hours and they find it hard to get cover, so I can't just have a few days off every now and again, I'm worried if I go back next week and it dose me now good for a few days and need to go off again, that my chances of keeping my job will be slim.

      Can't say I fancy an operation, haven't even had the scan yet so let's see.

      Cheers

  • drinxs
    drinxs christophe24300

    Posted

    Chris,

    I have a bulging disc which is compressing on my spinal cord causing horrible nerve issues in my legs(numbness, burning etc). I have resisted medication, as I feel it cures one thing and causes another, everyone is different.I have to have surgery.

    I have had to take everything into my own hands, I paid for a private consultation circa £180 and then went back on NHS( as they told me it would be 18months before a consultant could see me)- this moved thins on and I got my MRI a couple of months later via NHS.

    To prove you have a prolapse you will need an MRI- but with cutbacks on NHS if you just go away that is the GP's prferred option so insist on MRI or maybe try the route I did.

    Keep me posted on how you get on.

    • christophe24300
      christophe24300 drinxs

      Posted

      My persistence paid off because I have been referred for an mri, just awaiting the appointment and one for the physio.

      I don't think I could cope with no medication, ibuprofen and paracetamol alone don't touch it.

      I would rather not be on all this medication but its better than the pain and being crippled, well for now.

  • joyceb
    joyceb christophe24300

    Posted

    Chris, it sounds like a really nightmare time you've been having and I can really sympathise.  I had to really push for an MRI last year and have had to push for other appointments at hospital.  When you're in pain it is awful to have to push and push for appointments in order to see exactly what is happening with your spine.  I really hope you get your MRI as soon as possible and can then get the treatment you need soon after.
    • christophe24300
      christophe24300 joyceb

      Posted

      Thanks for your kind words.

      We really shouldn't have to keep pushing to get proper treatment, its not right.

      I hope I get an appointment soon too, its not nice feeling in limbo with no clear answers.

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