London pain management specialist

[MyStar86]

Hi,

I know no one can directly post a recommendation but would anyone be able to send me a direct message if you can recommend a pain management specialist in London because I haven’t had much luck so far I’m currently on Buprenorphine 10mcg patches but they barely last 4 days and are meant to last 7 so I’m having to change them early and risk running out as my gp won’t do anything without a consultant telling her to. Plus the Buprenorphine isn’t even that helpful it’s very hit and miss but I am in agony 24/7 I’ve been through most pain and nerve pain medications so I am really struggling waiting for further surgery.

I was really hoping if anyone has any experience with London specialists, I have private health insurance so it doesn’t matter who they are or where they work as long as they work privately as well as their nhs work.

Any advice would welcomed. Thank you 🙏🏻

[nevro1]

Hi.....I can only speak from my experience. St Thomas hospital. London.....their "Input" dept.....look them up and if your symptoms fit into what they specialise in.....get an appointment.....shout louder than the patient before you.

I spent time there on their residential course and from there trialed the then new Spinal Chord Stimulator

Excellent team of professionals and after being here there and everywhere...on this drug and that drug....this procedure etc, they were almost my last resort.

14 years later....I'm not going to tell you I'm pain or symptoms free.....but as close as I can ever be and without the SCS .....I don't like to think how bad it would be.

Good hunting.....stay strong mentally as that's where your positivity will help you way more than you know.....I've been there....got that t-shirt.....you might not think it but it is soooooo important

[MyStar86 in reply to nevro1]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and sharing your experience……I just wondered if there was a particular consultant that you could recommend as the hospital that you suggested in London is NHS so it would mean going through all the waiting lists and not knowing who I am going to see, I really want to move this forward asap that’s why I’m using my private health insurance so If you can recommend anyone in particular that would be really helpful thank you 🙏🏻 x

[nevro1 in reply to MyStar86]

So sorry for the late reply....soz!

I suspect that all the staff members I saw 14yrs ago may no longer be there?

I would imagine whoever your consultant is now you could ask for a referal or see if they think Input could benifit you.

I am near Peterborough and had to be refered, a bit of a pain going up and down to London....but well worth it. Also this proceedure is now being done in many other parts of the country, back then only Guys were fitting the SCS.

[Bevvy]

Have you discussed this with your gp? I would be very surprised if gp didn’t know of private specialist consultants.

[MyStar86 in reply to Bevvy]

Yes my gp and my gastro but my gastro recommended one that I have already seen so that’s useless and I was hoping to see someone that had been recommended on here as I trust patient’s opinions over doctors. Also my gp is in Bournemouth and I’m going to London for all my private healthcare so I was just looking for someone that I knew from a patient was a good pain specialist.

[Bevvy in reply to MyStar86]

I think the problem is that sometimes nothing can be done re pain. My late father went privately for a consult and really they couldn’t do anything in addition to what gp was doing.

Most medications (especially for pain) are hit or miss with the patient having to try lots of different ones to see if anything helps. I am fortunate (and am aware of it) that my pain is helped by taking duloxetine twice a day and I use Tramadol for when pain gets more difficult. I also now know that I need to lie down for a while - especially in the afternoon otherwise there is a higher chance of my pain becoming worse and my legs getting wobbly!

Finally be really careful if you are not using patches as prescribed. Doctors but especially GPs can become difficult because a patient is non compliant with taking the medication. They will worry about addiction and consider stopping the medication! Just take care.