Hi..just wanted to know how long after follow up with Consultant last week - who wasn't keen on giving me another one ...didn't think it was that BENEFICIAL as only lasted 4 months of less pain /increased mobility.
Had to be really assertive as i know i did get some benefit even though it was short term fix...know also its not a cure but i stated that if they can fix drunks/druggies at the w/end in A&E, then i should be given another nerve block treatment...Why do they not start charging for the people who come/brought into A&E when they have clearly had too much to drink/take excessive amounts of drugs...and take up beds and clinicians time...
Also the Specialist nurse at pain clinic advised me to be assertive with Consultant as, she discreetly mentioned they want to cancel all these types of injections..to save money/time and that would then impact on these nursing roles...terrible...i am normally a bit intimidated when speaking to the Consultants but this time not, have recently come out of a flare up when my legs didn't want to move at all..triggered by heat..and had to have time off work AGAIN..so told the Consultant i had missed work and needed to stay in work so please put me on waiting list...finally said ok he would..so if anyone knows what the waiting time is, please let me know.
Best wishes
Bea x
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I don't think comparing one person's need with another is helpful unless full facts and circumstances are known.
Waiting times have nothing to do with when you saw consultant. It has to do with how often these injections are safe to do.
The usual time is approx 6 months for repeats although most consultants will only do a certain number. Scar tissue.
Some have to wait 12 - 18 months.
Many pain clinics have huge waiting lists due to theatre shortage.. Our last consultant, who is always an anesthetist, had one day a week which meant he could only see about 8 people . This covered other procedures too.
Our NHS is being sold off to private companies and there is nothing any of us can do about it.
Actually waiting times do count and also well aware of the safety around how often the injections are safe to have done...obviously waiting times have changed in the last 12-18 months and found your post a little condescending...but suppose as you are no longer living in the UK you may not be aware of the current NHS crisis...and how they want to cancel arthroscopies etc.
When I was having them it took about 1-2 weeks for me to have the injection but I was at a private place through the NHS so it’s alot different from a normal hospital.
If yOur last injection was over 5 months ago then they should do it soon , if he sees it as urgent x
Always chase them up and get yourself put on the cancellation waiting list that always helps with times if you can have it done at a days notice. Are you being sedated and doing it under X-ray x
Yes they have to sedate with a local and x-ray guided so they can hit the right spot/spots...thats how the nurse described it afterwards as, it was a painful procedure and i had expected a general...and yes, am on a cancellation list but am on blood thinners so have to be off them 5 days before any medical procedure so its not as straightforward as just hoping for a cancellation..
You had a general? 😮. My surgeon should be tarred and feathered together with the anaesthetic lady. I had a tiny local around the base of my spine!! That’s all!!! No wonder I went into cardiac arrest!! I’ve never felt anything so painful in my life!! I was fully awake and felt everything poking around my spine and spearing the nerves like kebab. 😠😡
It’s not a full general it’s a sedation, the first one I had I was fully awake but my doctor did that, to be sedated you have to go through the pain clinic, it’s so they can pin point it better and go deeper without hurting you , you just wake up in a lot of pain lol x
All my procedures have been prescribed and done by the Consultant (and sparring partner) Surgeon in the Pain Clinic. I doubt if my GP would recognise a Pain Clinic if it came up and bit her 😂
No LadyPenelope i was expecting to have.. but like you have described, i also had a local at base of spine and not as bad a reaction to have a Cardiac Arrest but it was bloody painful and had to tell him to stop but gave me more local but still felt the stabbing in buttock ...good description ...spearing nerves like kebabs...hope your treatment went better
Very good advice!! My consultant and I fight like cat and dog. He’s a nasty short fat balding man with a big bum!!😂. Yet I can bet you that when he looks in the mirror he sees James Bond 007 with a headful of Hair and a six pack. There are different kinds of nerve blocks. Sadly the nerves are living things so they grow back. Some Consultants behaviour and I suspect they think they are God. You need to be extremely firm and confident when dealing with them. Make sure you know what you’re talking about. Fortunately I spent time in Med School and I made sure I was 2 steps ahead of him. I will not be fobbed off, intimidated or bullied by anyone anymore
I endured 6 years of that in my marriage. I would be an idiot if I allowed it again. When I go to see him, I tell him I’m not having any of his rudeness today. I’m not in a sparring mood. Maybe next time.
I’ve had nerve block that wore off in 2 months, 6 weeks, didn’t work and caused paralysis and in 2014 I had one after which I had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest.
When all fails, I tell him what he desperately wants to hear. I tell he’s looking very well, has he been home (Europe) on holiday. The trump card is “can I ask you something? Have you had a hair transplant? Your hair has really grown. “ At which he runs his hands through the nothing on his head and I rearrange the look on my face and take deep breaths to prevent me from bursting out or exploding with laughter.
Be firm and remember you can always report to PALS. Good luck
I have a very complex medical history. I have dissociative seizures, had at least 30 surgeries and surgical procedures for Endometriosis stage 4, Had a lower anterior Bowel resection with an Ileostomy. When it was reversed, my bowels never worked again. I have to rely on extremely painful hours of irrigation just to open my bowels. I have a general weakness on my left side and I’m seeing a knee specialist to help me so that my left knee doesn’t add to the many issues I have. I have Angina and a horrid type of asthma that causes me to become unconscious when I have an attack. I could go on.... once the immune system is damaged, every Tom, Dick and Harry will come in to say hello only to end up staying. I take Oxycodon, Morphine and a 100ug Fentanyl Patch. I will not give anyone bad advice. Thank you very much. I’m simply different. Sadly 😞
And another thing.... anytime anyone goes poking at the nerves around your coccyx or your spine in general, there’s always the risk of temporary paralysis. I didn’t have a CA in the Surgeons table. It took place later on in the night.
Trust me I’m not your average patient at all. If done successfully Im able to walk as opposed to being bedridden 😊 I hope your confusion has been cleared Redhots 7😁
Yes, thank you for update on all that you fight daily. In your case, I guess the “risk” is worth it, gives you a chance at some kind of life. So very sorry your
Health issues have taken you down a slippery slope. Good Luck and God Favor you with
Aaaaww 🙈 you moved me to tears. What a kind and lovely person behind and within the words. I can tell the genuine empathy in your words. This is the difference between someone who understands and my family who stay away from me because I’m always claiming to be unwell, the odd one out, a drama Queen, most likely a lazy hypochondriac. Besides I don’t look sick! I’ve even gone from a size zero to a size “round”. I suppose you sometimes have to go through pain and suffering to be able to understand and empathise. Redhots this is the kindest anyone has been to me in such a long long time; and I’m off to wipe my tears before the plumber comes to catch me in tears. Thank you very much.
Anytime Bea; after over 30 surgeries and surgical procedures for Endometriosis, 4 cardiac arrest and a usual partridge in a pear tree
I have to laugh or I will cry. From an energetic young Endo Warrior to an Endo Veteran as I will not survive anymore surgeries for Endo. So we just do Maintenance surgery so I can get out of bed every now and then and terrorise my long suffering Carer. 😁. Life has to go on. She’s my best form of entertainment. The lovely old cow who can’t even see the invisible dust I can see from the safety of my bed 😂😂🤣🙈. I’m terrible.
Wow, you beat me with the amount of surgeries...but sound so positive putting a comedy spin on it all...am sure you have your crying moments too....glad you have a 'long suffering Carer' she must be a great friend also.. hope today is not too bad and you have sunshine...
Wow, reading all these comments I'm appalled that people who are obviously dealing with deep life changing chronic pain are treated like this by the medical professionals who are supposedly there to help them since everything they and their doctors have tried have failed up to this point.
I thought the whole idea of going to a pain clinic WAS to get help with relieving their pain? Now I hear they are just further intimidating and practically mading them feel like they're just drug seeking?? Seriously?? This is what we've come too?
That's not good! Not good at all!
It has been suggested to me at different times from some of my specialist that maybe it's time I tried going to a pain clinic. I've always been reluctant about this mainly because I know so little about what they actually do. I've always been afraid that maybe they can't help me, and what then? Would I lose my former doctors since it was already determined they couldn't help with my pain? I would be left in the dark with no other outlet to turn too. Except maybe a shrink!
And they wonder why so many people suffer from depression and anxiety. Well, they're part of that equation now too from what I read here. When you're not well and dealing with such daily chronic (sometimes severe) pain, who has the strength to debate your pain case to a consultant while the pain is eating up inside? At age 66 (67 in 2 months) I don't have that kind of strength.
At least this blog has enlightened me that the "PAIN CLINIC" is NOT the place to go for chronic pain, since it appears they have no compassion toward the patient's pain, and offer so little assistance with it, plus they kick you to the curb after they feel you completed your treatment plan.
Hi ..I hope you do try a pain management appointment...I'd previously seen a lovely supportive Consultant who wasn't in the least bit intimidating so hope this does not put you off...i'm well aware its pot luck sometimes when you see someone new but at least i know the first treatment did help me and just hope i don't have to wait too long for the next but can appreciate at your tender age...(I'm just 4yrs behind you) that we don't need the added stress and frustration whilst managing our chronic pain and daily life dramas.
My pain clinic have been absolutely amazing I wouldn’t have got anywhere the last few years without him (my pain consultant) please don’t knock it until you try it, it could really change your life
Thanks Bea! That helps hearing something positive about the pain clinic. I will have to give it some loooong consideration, but not anything in the very near future. I have to many issues all happening at the same time right now (of course, what else? Lol). Besides my regular onging "pains-in-butt" I have just recently been diagnosed with glaucoma in my only "legally" sight seeing eye. Also scheduled for high-risk cataract surgery on the same "good eye" which is what makes it a high-risk surgery. One mistake, and well my day's of texting might be over! I'm sure it will turn out fine though.
Then after my cervical spine MRI results come back, I find out if I need more disc surgery or not. When that's all taken care of, I have to have my hip and knee evaluated. I'm afraid the Osteoarthritis has worn out the cartlidge in those u, but that remains to be seen.
So only after all these issues have been addressed can I even consider a pain clinic, and even THAT is IF I live that long! LMBO! Funny thing though, outside of my bones falling apart, migraines and depression, for my age I am actually very healthy. All organs are perfect! (well except the bladder Hahahahaha)
BTW, I love your name! That was my mom's name, the "Queen Bea"🐝 as she liked to call it.
I had one in May and a second one in June on my left side. I’m on the waiting list to have the right side done. I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Short answer; I have no anaesthetic. I screamed so loudly and so long that the surgeon said “the patient is too traumatised, sedate her” I welcomed the darkness.
Now I’m used to it. It still hurts like hell but the alternative is that I can’t walk. My discs pop out to the shops and never come back home so they have to be arrested and put back in place.
Then there are the nerves at my coccyx (tail bone) that keep sending pain signals to my brain for no reason. They have to be found and zapped ⚡️
Just trying to get thru my named GP is another task in itself..but when i do he is normally very supportive except on my last visit he seemed so not disinterested but different ..i was quite concerned for him and very surprised..but we all have our down days..
Yes am trying to be more assertive but feel very vulnerable at the moment..lost a schoolfriend couple of months ago and stilldealing with this huge loss...
I’m in pain everyday like you but I think your attitude to drug users and drunks is out of order I use to work in the nhs and we had a person who was in the gulf war and was shot badly in his legs parachuting in and after that suffered pain everyday so became a drug user, also a drunk who use to come in had seen things he shouldn’t in his fathers behaviour to his mother as a child so drank to shut it out as he grew up but then couldn’t stop drinking so please do not judge people by what you see on the outside and there are plenty of stories like that so what makes you think you should come before those people there is more than one type of pain and also when I worked they only gave two injections a year and that was 17 yrs ago I feel sorry for your pain and understand how pain effects you everyday life probably like it effects mine keep your chin up
Sorry if it offended people but have had 2 emergency visits to A&E myself and yes it was traumatic both times and the staff were run ragged dealing with people in the dark rooms for their dependancies and i was left in terrible agony and am not joking just wanted to die..nurse/doctor came and said they would be back..never saw the same professional twice it was AWFUL...kept in overnight both times to control pain but i tell you i will so resist going back to A&E unless am unconscious obviously...
Thanks for the chin up comment! Hope you having a better day...😐
My husband was in the Royal Navy....saw active service over many years...... witnessed horrors of the Cold War..., broke his back fighting in active service...now drinks to forget that pain as well as 35 years of chronic pain.
So don't judge other people by what you think you see. I find it deeply offensive and hurtful
I wasn't judging you..i explained in comment above how i was treated in A&E..treatment was unequal and i'm allowed to express how i was treated..so don't bully me..
Not bullying in the least just commenting on your statement..
... i stated that if they can fix drunks/druggies at the w/end in A&E, then i should be given another nerve block treatment...Why do they not start charging for the people who come/brought into A&E when they have clearly had too much to drink/take excessive amounts of drugs...and take up beds and clinicians time...
Those drunks and druggies are men like my husband.
Thank you and believe me I do understand how you are feeling today I’m having a good day which doesn’t mean I’m pain free but it’s bearable one of the hardest things I think when you and I suffer this pain is unless you meet someone who has the same problem they can never imagine how bad it is and there are days when I’ve wished some of these people would have it for just one week ( which is not nice of me I know) then they may not be so judgemental the worse thing for me is every time they try me on a different medication it never works amitriptyline and co codamol plus sometimes diazepam helps a bit but on the whole none of it really works good wishes to you x
Thanks Kingsley...felt i was being attacked on here earlier -taking same drugs as yourself plus others but find amitripytyline, co codamol and diazepam together makes me loopy but good when in a flare up which is my status at the moment.
Not a dropout at all. I switched to Clinical Psychology. We all start together and then some go off to do dentistry etc. I was still a Clinician but my patients would all be as crazy as he is. If he dares, I will remind him that my IQ is significantly higher than his. I always make sure we discuss the procedure and I sign a consent form in his office or else I will be on the waiting list for ever. By the time I get there I know exactly what the problem is and what is causing it. BTW are you aware that you can tell the appointments team to call you if anyone cancels? Last year, I had 2 days notice for surgery but I was ecstatic 😂. Sad
What type of anaesthetic do they give? Mine is a quick spray on to the area to be injected, and has no effect at all. The nurse stands in front and lets you squeeze her hand, lol. It is excruciatingly painful, but I just accept that in the hope I can be pain free for a few months.
..So pleased you have all the services for managing chronic pain..let's have more empathy especially when some of us are feeling very vulnerable and feeling they can't express themselves when in chronic pain..blaming the NHS policies isn't conducive or helpful when i was only asking about WAITING TIMEs...but so pleased that other people on here have reacted in a more sympathetic supportive manner...
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