Waiting again...

[rowantree]

I've just been put on the waitinglists for to different orthopaedic surgeons . so its time to wait again. i wrote on here a while back, one thing that is so hard to bear is all the waiting all the time. Being in pain, with the suggestions that surgery could help, but being told ill have to wait four months or so, is soo hard, and upsetting. I'm in pain every single day, all day, all night when awake, it wakes me up. Hard to have to wait for it to be sorted. If it can be..

[Hidden]

Hello rowantree

BOB here

It is the nature of the animal, if we had the money we most probably may get things done much faster, I have changed my area now and will have to wait on further lists even though I am in the same county

I suppose life is one ,bus stop two will turn up together

You have to laugh it would be serious if we did not

Keep a hold, two specialists may arrive together.

All the best

BOB

[teadrinker]

Can you ring the hospital and ask for a cancellation slot? By that I mean you go on a list and they phone you at short notice if another patient cancels and you go in their place. It does mean that you have to be in a position to drop everything and go to the hospital for your operation within a few days. This will only work for you if you've got people around you who can also drop everything if you need help after the surgery. I did this years ago when I was young, free and single and didn't have any dependents but did have friends who were willing to help out, and I waited only a couple of months.

The other thing to try is to leave it a few weeks and then ring the consultant's secretary and ask if there's any chance of it being brought forwards. They may well say no, but there's no harm in asking. I tried this once for a day case procedure where the waiting time was 18 months, and they brought it forward to 8 months - still a long time to wait but worth a phone call.

If these things don't work at least you've tried.

[rowantree]

Good idea teadrinker thanks. I'll try that.

[rowantree]

I rang today and apparently they don't have a cancellation list for orthopaedic foot surgeons! I wonder why!?

[rowantree]

I rang today and apparently they don't have a cancellation list for orthopaedic foot surgeons! I wonder why!?

[teadrinker]

That's a shame. Maybe the service is too under-resourced to organise it any other way?

At least you've tried. And you can tick off a few days from your waiting time now.

[Charli93]

Rowantree I wouldn't rush into surgery if it can be helped. I had to wait 7 years to be diagnosed . When I finally was I had to wait 13 weeks for surgery. I was so excited when the date came around, I thought it was an end to all the pain! Four months later I've had the op, physio, hydrotherapy and I'm in more pain then what I started with. Now I've had surgery there is no option other than strong pain killers and neuropathics and I'm only 20. Be careful what you wish for, sometimes it's not the right answer xx

[rowantree]

I had the surgery. I had metalwork taken out of previous bunion. That's healing nicely, and already hurts less inside the bone. I also had a saddlebone deformity removed off the top of the other foot and that's still tender but I think it will be fine. The foot surgery was 4 weeks ago.

And I had dequervens release on both wrists 6 months ago. One wrist is fine. The other isn't. But I'm glad I had it cos the constant pain in both wrists was awful. One wrist has complications and will be re looked at soon. My main problem is one heel though. Surgeon injected it whilst doing other surgery but it hasn't helped at all. It is so painful. I feel like surgery is the only option. Painkillers don't work or the side effects are intolerable. If I have surgery at least there's the chance it will improve the pain I live with every minute of the day and night.... I know there's a risk, but the alternative is to put up with it and use crutches for ever, walking only short distances in constant pain. At least, hopefully, a year after the surgery, I will be able to walk again!

[Charli93]

Fingers crossed for you, although mine is from a different cause my only option will be crutches/use of wheelchair. I had aggressive surgery and it just shows it doesn't always mAke things better. Good luck