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Sciatica [bilateral] UK sufferers ???

Posted , 6 users are following.

Greebo64
Greebo64

Are there any other sciatica sufferers in the UK that have had trouble getting the treatment & surgery that they need ?

I am in south Yorkshire & I really need the "correct surgery" to sort out my on going and severe bilateral sciatica,...when I say the correct surgery I know that it is very very important to get the right neurosurgeon to do the "Right" procedure otherwise one could finish up with more pain & worse off than before the .

I have had all  the injections & all sorts of medication including the herbal stuff, I am currently having physio'  but its not getting any better.

I just don't want to get out of bed in a morning, as soon as I stand up the pain in my buttocks is agony & I know in for yet another day  Back & leg pain, Not a good way to go through my retirement, after grafting all my life, its an on going nightmare.

Is there anyone out there had similar problems with the NHS ?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • mattindro
    mattindro Greebo64

    Posted

    Hi I am in north devon. I have had to pay for an mri, consultation and nerve root block, as it was taking forever on the NHS. The injection was just over two weeks ago and not much improvement so far. Praying something will kick in. I have been told that surgery on the NHS would probably take until feb 2019. 

    I really wish you luck. Sorry I’m not sure what to suggest other than take out a loan and pay for the surgery if that’s an option.

    • Greebo64
      Greebo64 mattindro

      Posted

      Hi Matt

      I have already offered to pay but that did not seem to make any difference either..i had all the injections final one the nerve block 7 weeks ago which gave me pain relief for 12 hours, the consultant told me I needed surgery but what he offered was not adequate enough to solve the stenosis & sciatica, I know this because of all the research I have done , & the consultant himself said "this surgery could make you pain worse & if I was you would not have it"....Unbelievable !!!!

      I had a previous similar experience in 2012 when I had a cervical spine spur compressing my cord, there were 2 consultants who proposed procedures that would have made the condition worse, suspiciously I asked for a 3rd opinion & I got the right neurosurgeon, he condemned to 2 previous consultants for proposing inadequate surgery, I went on to have a ACDF with fusion & I have not had a problem since , but the reason I got that surgery done was because if I had not I would have finished up paralysed.. because my lower back lumber Stenosis not pose the same risk & because its not life threatening I cant get the more expensive procedure even though I have offered to pay for it, one surgeon has refused to see me again because I have challenged him.

      All the Best

        

         

    • mattindro
      mattindro Greebo64

      Posted

      I’m a bit out of my comfort zone but in my experience if you pay for it, you can have whatever treatment you like. Have you asked your doctor to refer you to a private hospital?
    • Greebo64
      Greebo64 mattindro

      Posted

      The hospital is a private hospital "Claremont" in Sheffield, but I am under the NHS who use tis hospital aslo, I told 2 consultants more than once that if it was the budget that was the issue I would pay for the operation myself, I have had MRI scans & X-rays & CT scans, I have a slight herniated disc, lumber stenosis, & grade 1 Spondalisthesis.  I was offered one procedure but I knew it was not the correct one [ cheaper version of what I really needed, I know its hard to believe but true], when you have the surgery I need for my condition there has to fusion involved to stabilise the lumber spine so there is no further slippage down the line.. I think it because I have challenged them that one consultant in particular is being quite arrogant & does not want to see me again, but this is the consultant who does this type of fusion surgery that I need , he was the one who did the ACDF in 2012 but they had no choice then because as said previously if I had not had that surgery I would have finished up paralysed...because this current problem is a severe & very pain full sciatic issue & does not have a compression of the "spinal cord" they expect me to put up with it & just mange the pain, its been nearly 4 months now since the onset & I know its not going to go away, but I would rather put up with it than have the wrong procedure which could lead to even more pain down the line.

  • philsno1
    philsno1 Greebo64

    Posted

    I am in West Yorkshire and had an emergency NHS procedure to remove herniated disc, this was through my own doctor, who after a lengthy period of problems, finally booked an MRI scan for me. My back was a real problem and was becoming crippling and the operation definitely helped, but several months later was still a problem (although it was much less painful). I went back to my original consultant and told him it was still a problem, he booked me for another MRI scan, but my appointment was months away and as I also have private medical insurance, I decided to contact my insurer, Vitality, who booked me an appointment with Consultant Neurosurgeon, Mr Corns, at Nuffield Hospital in Leeds. He arranged another MRI for me and as a result, operated. You could maybe contact him, although I know MRI's are expensive, I think mine was around £450 (but my insurer paid) he may be able to suggest something?

    I hope this helps.

  • jacqueline01135
    jacqueline01135 Greebo64

    Posted

    Hello.. the answer  is Yes ... I had  a severe lower leg pain, that started Christmas  eve. swollen, hard, and difficulty walking. did the usual  111, etc. finally collected by ambulance after a considerable ,wait.  The decision was that it could be a Deep vein thrombosis. Was given  the vein scan,and no clots were found, as far as the  machine could see, but it was unable to "SEE" smaller veins. Was sent home.with my pain and some Nefopam .in pain next day, following day pain had gone to my hip ,extremely painful ,walking more difficult ,ambulance again, decision this time ,was ,that it was Sciatica, and ,could be a varicose vein (Decision from another doctor. ) Sent home again .constant pain, next morning, couldn't get out of bed tried for half an hour,  ambulance  ,this time, had to use a chair to get me out. decision was again Sciatica, and refused to see a swelling on calf .Now my ankle is swollen and a two inch wide swelling climbing up my leg , Afraid to phone for an ambulance,.so I am at this point in time in bed, as I can't get out. I have an appointment tomorrow for another scan, for DVT, but unlikely to be able to get there, I too am in South Yorks, and feel that the hospital regards me as a nuisance.I live alone and don't know what to do now,  except lie here . . 

    • Greebo64
      Greebo64 jacqueline01135

      Posted

      Quote

       I too am in South Yorks, and feel that the hospital regards me as a nuisance. 

      Yes Jacky they think the same about me & now the neuro team at Claremont Hospital are trying to fob me off to another Hospital that does not have neurosurgeons, again disgraceful behaviour, but I have refused to move.. I am now awaiting their next move.

      For you now PHONE the ambulance asap don't let them fob you off...a lump in the calf does not sound like sciatica, & if its a blood clot it will swell & be reddish around the area also feeling hot...but don't take a chance on it not being a clot...get the ambulance out, if they will not come out, for what ever reason [usually excuse its not life threatening] insist on a call out from a GP.  lay it on thick even if it means over doing it !!!!!!!!

    • jacqueline01135
      jacqueline01135 Greebo64

      Posted

      Been there, done that,,, waited 12 hours for the first one. They were too busy scraping Christmas drunks  up, and they were more important than me.  Gets very tiring trying to get help. when  I'm not feeling  up to it .Have an appt tomorrow for a scan, assuming I can walk. 

  • Greebo64
    Greebo64

    Posted

    tridib36090 Greebo64 17 days agoThis reply and4 others have been deleted by a moderator.

    I would like to know why these posts from tridib36090 were deleted....tridib36090 perhaps you could send me your posts via "private Messages" I would like to know what you have to say, Good or Bad"

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