Sciatica and sacroiliac joint

Hi,

You shouldn't need to pay for a scan privately. It probably wouldn't help much anyway, because you would need to get another appointment afterwards with the Consultant. Which could take several weeks.

If the problem is that they lost your girlfriends file, I would call the Patient Complaints Officer at the hospital, tell her your story. They will have the power to speed up the new scan date and get an early appointment back with the surgeon. It's called \"forced booking,\" there are many of these slots available, even if you are told that due to waiting lists you can't be seen sooner, they keep these open for such situations as this. The NHS can actually move very quickly when it wants to, but unfortunately you have to have good grounds to get taken seriously. If you feel that they are at fault, it is worth a call. Sounds to me like it is all turning into a bit of a circus. Time to talk tough??????

Let us know how you get on.

TFU

Hi

Sorry to hear your girlfriend is in so much pain, it all sounds so familiar!

I paid to see my surgeon privately initially and then had a three wk wait as his private list is as long as his nhs one. He then fast tracked me back to nhs for mri and had to wait two wks.

Then came the hiccup with getting a nhs follow up appointment, I was told twelve week wait! Anyway I kept ringing to get a cancellation and was successful.

Your GP should be able to get your girlfriends appointment accelerated. Don't be fobbed off keep pestering. Also get the number of the consultants secretary and pester her. Its the only way to get somewhere unfortunately.

The nhs can fast track when they need to, I had a date for my op within two days of appointment for two wks after seeing surgeon.

Good luck

Donna

hi

thank you both

over the last two days its moved from her foot up to the knee of it bearable at moment. we are going to see the gp and find out what he can do to speed up the appointment.

girl friend said i would like to see a doctor who as this so they really know the pain.

bye for now

u s b

hi, i paid for my mri scan and it cost me £550.00 but worth every penny just to prove to my doctor i did not have a pulled muscle in my back.

i hope i will be reinbursed at some point when the lithuanian hgv driver who sideswiped me is taken to court, long process though.

i am currently having physiotherapy 3 times week and also having traction although i dont believe that the traction is actually doing anything to help.

my consultant doesnt think it will come to surgery and i hope he is right.

stick with it, shout and scream at the doctors if ness and make them listen

no one should be in pain like this.

take care.x

Hi

Hope every one is looking after thereselves just after a bit of advice again iam waiting to see comsultant for op for a L5 S1 i have had this for about 11 weeks now, but over the weekend my back seems to have gone aswell iam bent right over trying to stand as stright as i can.I have still got pain in left leg but i was thinking maybe iam in this much pain as the disc is going back in can this happen or am i just hopeing.

Foot is still numb and still got pain in left leg.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks for replys

Stacey

hi all

my heart goes out to you all, i know from experience how frustrating this waiting game can be and yet again i find myself on it but at least im still in work this time, i really thought when the new system came into force in march that we would see an end to all this waiting around when obviously in such tremendous pain, BUT as im seeing theres always a way around it by the powers that be, thinking back to 2005 when i originaly hurt myself if i had known then about paying private i would have had no hesitation, and if my symptoms become worse now then i certinally will be following the private route, there is no way i,ll be fobbed off for 2 yrs again! best of luck all. gail

As gail says go private, if you can afford it, as thats what i have done, i wouldnt say i could actually afford it but how long can you go on in pain?, i know my answer to that, the sooner you get something done the better, please do not let it go on and on as i did, the longer you leave it in my experience the longer it goes on and the more painful it gets.

please if you do nothing else, get your doctor to refer you to a private consultant, its soo much quicker to be seen, i wish i had done it earlier.

all the best.xxx

Hi Stacey,

It could be something to do with your posture as we sometimes try to compensate to reduce the pain from your leg/back and you may have strained something? If you are concerned it may be worth having a chat with your GP though...just get it checked out...hope the pain eases for you hun..

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

hi, i've now had back pain for 7 years and been told after 3 consultants and 2 mri scans taking 1-2 years to achieve, that i'm too young and still managing to work so my slipped disc is to be lived with!!!!!! i'm currently off work and going back to the consultant in 2 weeks time. wish me luck, i'll need it and i'm fed up now. i would go private if i could afford it!!

Hi Stacey

At the beginning of my problems I was bent double and very stiff after sitting.

This was before I had a diagnosis, I have a large extrusion at L5 S1.

I am wondering whether with you like me that bit was muscular, I have been having chiropractic treatment since December and whilst it won't cure me it has kept me mobile whilst waiting for surgery.

I have heard of others having physio could this be a option for you? Go back to your GP and pester!

HTH

Donna

Hi everyone

Just letting you know it's my pre-op assessment tomorrow. Still no phone call to arrange an operation date. Not sure how long it will all take?

I've been in more pain recently, not just my leg, but my back too so I'm taking cocodamol on top of my 1200mg of Gabapentin a day. I'm feeling a bit high again :lol:

Love

Jude xxx

Hi Jude

Good luck for tomorrow. I'm sure you'll be fine. Then hopefully a week or so later you'll get your operation date through. At that point you can start to make some plans for the next few months. After all this time of waiting, that will be a welcome relief. It must be great having a summer op, at least you get to lie around in the sunshine as part of your recovery.

Just takes things easy in the meantime. The light is now at the end of the tunnel!!! :D :D :D

Best wishes

TFU

Hi Stacey,

Like Donna and Jules I had similar problems. In my case my back went into spasm. The pain was awful and it lasted for several weeks. It does muddy the waters a bit though doesn't it, because you can't know if it is a disc problem, muscle problem, or indeed something else such as the effect of the inevitable poor posture on the hips/pelvis. This was always my criticism of the NHS.....I found that my symptoms were like a moving target, changing daily or weekly, but there was nowhere to go with this new information. Between appoinments, or between seeing the Consultant and surgery you are pretty much left to it. At least I was.

I would mention it to your GP though, just to make sure. Maybe he can suggest something to help.

Best wishes

TFU

Hi folks

Just a quikie. I started with a very severe cold on Sunday and was bedridden. I couldn't move an inch or I got searing pain everywhere. Monday I was much the same, but had to get the kids to school etc, no rest. Same Tuesday. Then on wednesday I started with nasty coughing fits that hurt my chest and sent my back pain searing through me. Its worse today and my chest is rattling like mad. As I am not very mobile and cant walk outside on my own I'm a little concerned. I heard us spinies if imobile and geta chest infection, it can be very dangerous. Is this correct?

Was debating seeing my GP next week if still have it.

Jessica

Hiya Hun,

Good luck for tomorrow...I'm sure it will all be fine. At least you will then be one step closer to the op and then you'll be able to get on with the rest of your life. Big big hugs for tomorrow....let me know how you get on...I'll be on FB tomorrow as I'll be finishing yet another essay tonight....ooohh and enjoy heroes tonight.. :D

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D