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Discitis

Posted , 3 users are following.

Debs63
Debs63

Hi

Has anyone been diagnosed with Discitis in their Cervical spine and if so what treatment did you need?

My consultant discharged me a few weeks ago telling me nothing was amiss and his following clinical letter to my GP was pretty condescending and very rude in places and did not really state clearly what we had discussed regarding my decision not to have the cervical fusion and decompression surgery.

I therefore e-mailed the hospital to ask for the clinical letter to be revised and to reflect clearly my reasons why I had refused the operation which was because my consultant never informed me in December 2017 that any delay in having the operation would result in permanent nerve damage in my fingers on both hands and he just told me decide as and when you want to go ahead. He has now told me that it is too late to reverse the damage at our last appointment and that all i can expect to gain from the operation is maybe some pain relief for a while.

The hospital sent me all of my mri reports and also the scan images on a cd. I noted that my March 2019 MRI report noted end plate Odema and early Discitis in my C5 C6 discs. It also stated I have bi -lateral disc bulge in my L4/L5 and also annual tear in those discs and compression on both exiting nerves. I also have complete loss of csf in my cervical discs and high signal.

None of the above was told to me at my appointment which was specifically to discuss the mri results and I am puzzled as to what Discitis is and if that should be investigated or left as I do have intense constant upper spinal pain, stomach ache and fever/chills and have had for a long time.

I'm not sure what to do now . Should I ask to be referred back to a different consultant or put in a formal complaint as none of the mri results were told to me or my GP and I've been left in pain and told nothing is wrong.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • mike09523
    mike09523 Debs63

    Posted

    Hi,

    Neurologists do not like to be questioned on their decisions, nor do they feel that you the patient need any or all of the facts of your predicament. They are all knowing, we mere mortals should be grateful of their time.

    I have suffered much, and will suffer more, thanks to them.

    Mike.

    • Debs63
      Debs63 mike09523

      Posted

      Hi Mike

      Thanks for the reply, yes I agree we are just numbers to them unless we are really lucky and get a good neurologist. I've just done the daft thing and googled Discitis and it appears to be rare inflammation and infection of the spine that is a red flag to the consultant !!!! It needs to be investigated to see if its caused by bacterial infection or an auto immune disease that's attacking the spine. if it's the first then it should be acted upon swiftly to stop possible sepsis developing with a 6 week daily intravenous course of antibiotics.

      I think i am going to discuss this with my GP and also make a complaint to the hospital and see what their response is. It may not get me anywhere but at least ill feel like i'm doing something and it take my mind off the constant pain which morphine isn't touching.

      Debs

  • missmagwumps
    missmagwumps Debs63

    Posted

    Oh dear - yes - I have been on the receiving end of a consultants displeasure after questioning politely their findings and not being properly informed before embarking on a course of steroids! and been discharged back to my GP in quick time - while he swung back in his chair with a smirk on his face I could have slapped from here to kingdom come! Ha - I think you are in UK...then you should send your initial inquiry to PALS at that hospital - they pick up on complaints like yours fairly quickly as they are afraid on any litigation - none of us want to go that route but need answers other than being summarily dismissed by some snob faced consultant......or see your GP and explain how you feel but they do rather intend to stick together - understandably...good luck and let us know how you get on...x

    • Debs63
      Debs63 missmagwumps

      Posted

      Hi

      Yes I'm in the Uk. I've never complained about any medical person but I'm at the point after having had cancer where my quality of life is rapidly going down hill. I'm cancer free at the moment so really wanted to get out and live but now have this crippling spine problem.

      This particular consultant I have found recently to have been previously suspended 4 years ago when working in a different area in uk due to mis diagnosis and performing the wrong operations rending someone unable to walk again. It seems from the little I've read in reviews and the local paper is that he was finally re- instated but only with supervison in the operating theatre.

      I just feel that this is my 3rd MRI scan in two years and the obvious decline showing on the latest one should have been discussed with me or at least my GP otherwise they seems little point in having a scan. I have the feeling he just doesn't want to operate or be bothered with his patients in general. I asked him why I was unable to balance or stay upright when my eyes are closed and why my leg keeps giving way. His reply was I don't know humans are funny.!!!

      I've just sent a complaint to the hospital and will let you know the outcome.

      Debs

    • missmagwumps
      missmagwumps Debs63

      Posted

      Okay- crikey - from what you say about his history I would dig a lot deeper and follow a formal line of complaint..so sorry for your trouble...like me...after winning two battles with cancer you are reluctant to give in easily...what did we fight for in the first place it not a better quality of life to be fobbed off with "Humans are funny" ! Good luck xxx

    • Debs63
      Debs63 missmagwumps

      Posted

      I'm definately digging away here if only to be sure of all facts before i hand this over to a company who can take it further for me.

      My main aim is to make sure no one else gets so poorly treated and also to get the treatment I need to stop this infection progressing to a dangerous point.

      I'm pretty sure having read through his findings and written report after looking at my MRI scan that he's been negligent in neither informing myself or my GP and then discharging me. His clinical letter to the GP even contradicts his own findings. I have a feeling due to the 3 month gap from MRI results to my actual appointment that he didn't look at his report before I stepped into that room. I was his last patient before lunch and he was a good hour behind time too so probably keen to get me in and out as quickly as possible.

      The real shocker though is if he had written a decent clinical letter to my GP that I would never have written to the hospital to complain and ask for all the reports and imaging to be sent to me and been none the wiser. It's only by being unhappy with that letter that lead me to seeing the real findings on my scan and realising I am walking around with a potential rare life threating infection that would have been left to progress 😦 xx

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