How are people finding wait times for pain clinics?

[desquinn]

this is a story from Scotland but suspect it may resonate across the UK. What are peoples experiences?

news.stv.tv/scotland/chroni...

[Hidden]

It’s awful for people, I had a pain clinic Telephone appointment last week, he was actually shocked, and apologetic as it was coming up to 19 months, he told me I should have called, but we was are in the middle of a pandemic, and previously told not to go to appointments, I got a letter a few days later, for another Telephone appointment in June next year . I think if we can remember, we should now call our clinics, if we can get through, or even get answered.

[Painny]

Been waiting for over a year. First pain clinic wrote to my GP and said they are busy. Still waiting for a second referral and I put it down to the pandemic. All my physios been cancelled too and only for the last couple of months they started monitoring my activities through a telephone conversation. They give me an assignment every month.

It’s like do or die 😢

[redmaple-5]

I was waiting 8 months for my first consultation with pain clinic.

[Lou1054]

I was referred three years ago, had a phone call advising that the nearest clinic was miles away, I said I would like an appointment, despite calling several times I heard nothing, obviously I haven't bothered this year they have enough to deal with.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

I've been attending virtual meetings of the all party chronic pain group mentioned - and I'm also in the chronic pain reference group who will have representation on the national advisory committee.

As an aside to this - if anyone in Scotland is having issues with appointments or treatments can they drop me an email at [e-mail] thanks.

[Bananas5 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Not advisable to leave your email on here

Best to ask people to message you

x

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Bananas5]

its the charities head office email account so is in many places

[Bananas5 in reply to desquinn]

Thanks Des. Didn't realise

x

[livvi_livvi]

I have had a truly awful experience (still ongoing). I faced a 24 week wait to my local hospital (a big major trauma hospital in the midlands) pain clinic who treated me and then decided they could offer no further treatments and I would benefit from a pain management programme so they referred me to a tertiary service in August 2019. After 6 months my GP sent a follow up letter as my symptoms had worsened. Then covid came along and Im still waiting now, since covid came I totally understand the wait but the situation was bad in my experience before that.

[Mille21]

Hi my consultant told me in April I was going 8n for pain relief infusion still waiting xx

[Midori]

I'm currently on 5 years and still waiting! Good job I've decided to manage it without help.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Midori]

at that length of time that sounds like a cancelled appointment. Speak to GP

[Midori]

Don't need it now, I have my pain under control. Plenty of folk need appointments more than I do.

[dills2020]

Long waits

[rosewine]

I think there has always been a very long wait for pain clinics. Years back when I asked to attend one as I was desperate get back to work I was told the quickest wait would be 6 months at a hospital 25 miles away and for a local hospital a year to 18 months.

The therapy prescribed was initially given every month and I was starting to benefit, then funding meant every 3 months and then cuts made it every 4 months. When the consultant retired they used it as a excuse to stop the outreach clinics and I haven't had any pain therapy since. In fact I use part of my PIP to get private treatment. I think it has always been the cinderella as far as treatment is concerned. It is also a postcode lottery as in some areas the clinics are excellent offering alot of therapies and in others very little.

[Aurorasparkle]

Hi everyoneI get X-ray guided injections into my facet joint and si joint every four months, I got a letter around March saying my back injections were not going to be done. If I don’t get them done I am in tolerable pain and bedridden. My mum wrote to several Scottish MPs and I finally got them in October. I had to self isolate for 3 to four weeks after words as they make you immunosuppressant. I didn’t mind this at all as I had left the house since March due to my back pain. I have a bulging disc and a synovial cyst on my facet joint.

I’m hopefully getting my next lot in Feb as my pain consultant is starting them up again.

Been having telephone appts with the same consultant every three months. I think if I didn’t get my injections I would find it hard to want to be here.

I read the article in the Scotsman and it is a scandal. Chronic pain patients seem to be at bottom of the heap even before the pandemic.