still waiting

Hi Oscar,

I know what you mean by the waiting. I'm on a waiting list to go on the hospital waiting list! How ridiculous is that?

My back pain started in May 2006 although I had leg, hip and buttock pain before the back pain started. I went for physio for 12 weeks last September after which I felt worse.

Pain spread to both legs and MRI in April showed a lumber disc prolapse, so now waiting to see orthopaedic consultant for a clinical assessment. Since the MRI I have started with pain in both arms, hands and neck, the pain has got so bad I don't know what to do with myself it's unbearable somedays. I have tried all the usual drugs (Tramadol, Pregabalin, Amitriptyline etc) and now on Morphine but even that just takes the edge off the pain.

I have 2 young children to tend to and I think it's them that keep me from going insane, they have been great and dont seem to mind that they are having an extremly boring school holidays because I can't take them places.

I have just asked my doctor if I can speed things up by going private to see the consultant but still get the surgery on the NHS so will see where that route takes me. Has anyone else taken this route?

Is there anyone else who has leg pain aswell as arm/neck pain i would like to know how you cope.

Dawn

hi dawn so sorry to hear that your in so much pain-not sure why you have pain in both areas legs and arms could be the nerve sthe disc is prolapsing on is affecting both areas. i am sorry now that i didnt go down the route of going private to see the orthopedic consultant i could have had an appintment the next week but i was told if i went down that route i would have to have all my appointments privately(by the clinic) not so you can see the orthopedic consultant private and when he says you have to see a neurosurgeon(which happened in my case) you wont have so lomg to wait. i waited 18 wks to see the orthopedic consultant who then arranged carpel tunnel tests- waited for those to come back and of ourse they were negative and i did say to the doctor at the time what a waste of money and time. next was a mri scan but of course you,ve had yours so that would take the wait down a little. i waited for those results only to be told i need surgery and guess what-HE COULDNT DO IT i had to go on another waiting list to see another doctor a neurosurgeon to do the procedure and another 18 wks wait to see him and the rest is history still waiting for the said surgery its now 23 months since injuring myself (neck prolapse)i am going down another route at the moment to try to speed things up- good luck try anything the wait is too long!!!! gail

Hey, I know how you feel with not being able to do anything. Sucks, doesn't it?! I think the only thing you can do for now is keep doing things when you can. Also, badger anyone you can! It sounds awful, but seriously, if you're having trouble getting people to give you a straight answer etc, phone and phone and phone until you get what you want. The NHS is here for YOU, remember!

Hope it works out!

Rhi

Thanks Gail & Rhi for your replies and support,

I got a letter today I have an appointment to see consultant at private hospital on the NHS for Tues 21st! :D

I don't understand what's going on now as when I saw my doc last Thurs he said I would carry on waiting months on the NHS. Unless I scared him with my condition rapidly getting worse I cant work it out how i've suddenly got such a fast appointment.

Gail I have no idea what's going on with my arms and neck as they only did MRI on lower back, maybe hopefully I will find out more on Tuesday. You seem to have had a rough time waiting I hope you get sorted out soon down whatever route you can.

Dawn

[quote:5733745bb4=\"Dawnie\"]Thanks Gail & Rhi for your replies and support,

I got a letter today I have an appointment to see consultant at private hospital on the NHS for Tues 21st! :D

I don't understand what's going on now as when I saw my doc last Thurs he said I would carry on waiting months on the NHS. Unless I scared him with my condition rapidly getting worse I cant work it out how i've suddenly got such a fast appointment.

Gail I have no idea what's going on with my arms and neck as they only did MRI on lower back, maybe hopefully I will find out more on Tuesday. You seem to have had a rough time waiting I hope you get sorted out soon down whatever route you can.

Dawn[/quote:5733745bb4]

hi dawnie good news you lucky begger no seriously pleased for you hopefuly you can get some treatment now let us know how you get on. best of luck gail

Hi Gail, Lee and Rhi

Am going to have my scan on Friday 24th August had to go private in the end but at least I get to find out what is wrong after a bad day to-day and a bad night last night must have moved onto my back during the night woke at 2.30 in agony , the pain was with me all night after, Co-codamol made no difference, speak to you soon

Jude

Hi Jude, Gail & all...I just got your messages Judith - since getting my life back on track a bit more I've been out all day catching up with people - this is brilliant news - this is what i had to do - get a private scan - you get the results really quickly and it will be so much better to know what you are dealing with.

Good luck - I nearly fell asleep during my scan and managed to listen to nearly all the (well it was back then) the new Keane album lol!

Let us know what the diagnosis is...Lee x

[quote:43f6e92e1f=\"judith\"]Hi Gail, Lee and Rhi

Am going to have my scan on Friday 24th August had to go private in the end but at least I get to find out what is wrong after a bad day to-day and a bad night last night must have moved onto my back during the night woke at 2.30 in agony , the pain was with me all night after, Co-codamol made no difference, speak to you soon

Jude[/quote:43f6e92e1f] good news : :D you,ll know what your dealing with then are you going to bupa in cardiff? my scan wasnt to bad but by the end i was in a lot of pain and told them so . i also had a bad night last night up since before it was light, think most people on the site doesnt know what it is to get a good nights sleep. ,all the best let us know how it goes.gail

Hi Gail

I t had a bad night been awake since 02.45 with terrible sickness and the runs, :roll: still have it now so couldnt even go to physio and I need a bit of traction as yesterday and today I am back to the beginning with trying to get out of bed, that will be a laugh on Friday then because I can't even lie on my back because all my weight is going n to the disc and nerve. My son is going to take me on Friday and my mum wants to come it will be like a family outing, they have said in Bupa that a member oif your family or friend can actually sit in n the sacan with you, not my Mum, speak to you soon hope you have a better night to-night. Speak to you soon

PS

Sorry Gail yes Bupa in Cardiff not as expensive as I though it would be £250.00

Well I went to see the consultant yesterday at what was more like a hotel than a hospital! :lol:

He said he was more than happy to operate on my lumbar prolapse but needed to find out what was causing the pain in arms and neck first, could be another prolapse but he said something was seriously wrong somewhere (which is always nice to know!) Anyway he sent me for another MRI straight away and took more bloods and I'm back to see him on Sept 9th and hopefully he will have more of an idea.

Finally feel I'm getting somewhere at last

Dawn

Hi Dawn,

I started with lower back pain then t went to my right leg the spasms are the worst if I dont have my stick then I just go down like a ton of bricks, I have gone orivate for a MRI scan which is to take place tomorrow in BUPA as they told me it would not be until January on the NHS can't wait that long..

I don't know if you have been prescribed Gabaentin I have about three weeks ago I must say it has helped with the terrible spasms in the morning and I can now get out of bed in about 15 mins where it would take about an hour. was it expensive for you to see the consultant private, I was quite supprised that the MRI is costing £250.00 I had been told it would be about a lot more expensive than thet, anyway I hope you get things sorted soon, maybe you should mention those tabs to your GP, speak soon

Jude

Would you like us to merge the two experience threads on Disc Prolapse then you wouldn't need to reply to two separate threads?

Site Management

Hi Judith,

I was lucky enough to get seen private on the NHS through the PCT.

Good luck with your scan tomorrow hope everything goes ok for you.

Dawn

Ps I will ask about the tabs

[quote:4be40df9f1=\"hilary\"]Would you like us to merge the two experience threads on Disc Prolapse then you wouldn't need to reply to two separate threads?

Site Management[/quote:4be40df9f1]please thanx