Fed up with the wait

[Shazza1968]

Cancelled orthopaedic consultant 2 times Oct and Dec . New date is in February 2022… I’m so fed up I’m getting new symptoms with numbness all down the leg and that’s alongside the sciatica pain … but I’m alive for now

Happy new year 🥳 all

[Hidden]

Happy New year..

I hope you get it all sorted soon.

[debwhit]

Hope things get better for you soon happy new year you lovely lady xxxx

[katieoxo60]

Sorry to hear of your cancellations, everywhere is different according to the virus situation. Of course the long Christmas break has not helped either. I rang to check an appointment scheduled for April and got a cancellation that had come in for 4th of January however it is a late afternoon appointment in place of their cancelled morning one, it is worth questioning with booking office, there is a number on your appointment letter. It is not nice waiting in pain , have you exhausted all the things that work for your control of pain? Of course you could ask your GP for more advice . Think this will be a waste in the current NHS crisis , so do not accept anymore cancellations without very, very good reason. It is only weeks away now so good luck and hope they can help you with a diagonosis and treatment that works better for you.

[Shazza1968 in reply to katieoxo60]

HiYes suffered for 20 years with sciatica right side as they took so long before they did anything, so scared they will take as long with the left side now… I had a couple of years remission for my serious fibromyalgia flare up.. which has now come back with a vengeance… I’ll push on .. wait for OT to do a house visit for adaptions ..

[Bevvy]

Have you spoken to PALS at the hospital about the situation? Having 1 cancellation is bad enough but 2!!PALS can instigate on your behalf and try to organise an earlier appointment.

Otherwise speak to consultant secretary. They may be able to help. Also if your are able to say you can take a cancellation at little notice. These appointments often become available and are wasted because no one is made aware.

[Peileen]

Happy New Year Shazza1968I had very bad sciatic and low back muscle spasms October 2020 after eConsult form I got phone consultation. Eventually after pain dept phone consultations I got an MRI Oct 2021. This resulted in spinal surgeon consult face to face so will see him every six months because of cervical stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis will be treated by Pain Clinic whenever that will be.

I decide to pay for private consultation £250 and expected to be given epidurals and pain blocks as I had annually in Dorset up to 2016 but not since moving tomAberdeenshire. However, I was told by the anaesthetist during consultation that these are not being done due to steroids reducing immunity. He suggested possible Radiowave frequency burning of nerve in cervical spine which is causing the headaches.

The Nortryptiline and Baclofen he suggested to GP to prescribe made me feel strange so sticking to codeine and Gabapentin.

It was worth the £250 to get answers although I will wait now and continue with TENS on low back until I-can have a lumbar epidural and give thought to the radiofrequency treatment at cervical spine. I know if pain gets really beyond pain killers I can pay the £1,000 + for each for immediate treatment of whichever. I’ve been alone in the house for nearly two years spending little. I don’t approve of going private but life can impact our principles.

Good luck. I hope you get answers.

[Shazza1968 in reply to Peileen]

Wowser I have spinal stenosis and a pinched left side sciatic nerve the consultant was very frank and has asked for another MRI as the one he had was earlier in 2019! Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[Imagine1]

Hi Shazza1968. I have been waiting 2 years for an urgent operation on my Gall Bladder. I have multiple stones in my bladder and it could block my bile duct which would become serious, I had a pre op telephone appointment last week and i asked her when my operation would be and she said it could be another year, so why the pre op now? things could change with my health by then. It is absolutely disgusting, I feel so sorry for you. I hope you get something done soon. Take care.x

[Linelover15]

I’ve just replied to you but feel I must add that some of the first questions an orthopaedic surgeon asks are about numbness in the groin or sciatic pain. I noticed on an earlier post you mentioned numbness. This suggests that you need urgent treatment as time is of the essence. Whilst browsing the web re cauda equina, I noticed a firm of solicitors whose practice is built solely on pursuing these cases where there has been delay. I should emphasise any numbness to the surgeon’s secretary. Hopefully you’ll be triaged as urgent. Worth a try!

[Konagirl60 in reply to Linelover15]

I agree.