Does anyone know of a good pain consultant, in or reasonably near the East Berks/South Bucks borders? - If so, please pm me with details.

[Spicer21]

Hi,

I've had a pain in my rectum since January this year. I was referred to a local colorectal surgeon on the NHS, but I had a terrible first consultation with him - which included him performing a flexi sigmoidoscopy on me without my consent and without me having an enema first (which meant that my rectum and sigmoid colon couldn't be viewed properly because of all the poo). I'm therefore going to ask my GP to re-refer me, but I don't know who to ask to see.

I've posted up separately for recommendations regarding a good colorectal surgeon, but I would also be grateful to know of a good pain specialist that I could ask to be referred to (as I think that that will be my 'next port of call' after seeng another colorectal surgeon, so I'd like to have some details of one for 'up my sleeve').

If you know of a good pain specialist (or colorectal surgeon) in or reasonably near the East Berks/South Bucks borders, I would be very grateful if you could pm me their details.

Many thanks in advance.

[Suzydeans]

Hi

Before you go to another colorectal surgeon please ask to be referred to Dr Claire Frampton who works in the Pain Clinic at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. I live near Chippenham so it's a bit of a hike but well worth it.

Dr Frampton is one of the kindest, knowledgeable physician I have seen and I have seen many believe me. A surgeon will only have ideas on what kind of surgery he can perform and doesn't really consider other options as that is not within their remit. I did have surgery with an Oxford colorectal surgeon and wish I had considered a pain doctor prior to this.

I also have firbromyalgia in addition to rectal pain so Dr Frampton had to consider both problems. She suggested Pregabalin for my fibromyalgia and Tramadol for rectal pain. I am not a person who likes taking medication but after about ten years with fibromyalgia and three years with rectal pain I will try anything. The fibromyalgia is ok but fantastic pain relief for the rectal issues with the Pregabalin. I know it is that and not the Tramadol as the morning after taking the first dose of Pregabalin my rectal pain went from around 8/10 down to 2/10.

There are lots of stories about side effects from this medication but if you don't try them you just won't know how well your body will tolerate them. I am fortunate that I can live with a slight change with my short term memory but that is about the only side effect I get. For the amount of pain relief I get it's well worth losing

My main advice to you is to ask your GP for a referral to the Oxford Pain Relief Unit before you see any more colorectal surgeons.

Their phone number is 01865 572080. Their email is [e-mail].

Hope this helps.

Sue

[Spicer21 in reply to Suzydeans]

Hi Suzydeans,

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to reply.

I have tried tramadol and pregabalin before - because, just like you, I have fibromyalgia (for over 20 years now). The tramadol didn't help, but, at a low dose, the pregabalin reduced my muscle stiffness and some of my muscle pain; however, unfortunately, it caused me a rare serious side effect. However, that said, I would still like to see Dr Frampton as she sounds wonderful and maybe she might be able to suggest something else I could try, particularly for my anal pain...

I've had a bit of a surf to try to find out if Dr Frampton sees patients privately at all, but to no avail. Do you happen to know if she does? - If not I'll ring the tel no you gave me to enquire. (I'm thinking that I would probably have to go privately as - although you're supposed to be able to choose which hospital your GP sends you to - at my GP's practice they seem to have a policy of making it as difficult as possible to get a referral out the local area on the NHS and, from what my neighbours tell me, it's just the same at all of the other GP practices in my area.)

I'll also think about not going back to a colorectal surgeon because, as you say, all they are primed to do is look for things to operate on and I think my anal pain is probably muscle and nerve related...However, I'd like to have the reassurance of being checked out properly to make sure that it's not something sinister like cancer that's causing my anal pain or something benign that could be sorted out easily. (The trouble is though - having being diagnosed with fibromyalgia - I find that the tendency is for everything to be put down to that and tests and investigations - that would be normally ordered for patients who don't have fibromyalgia - are not ordered for me as a fibromyalgic.)

Many thanks again for your help; I greatly appreciate it. Kindest wishes.

[Suzydeans in reply to Spicer21]

Hello

I don't know if Dr Framptom works privately but try ringing or emailing. It's a bit of a wait on the NHS but well worth it. Ask the surgery practice manager why you can't be referred. Sometimes there is a good acceptable reason and sometimes there isn't. You can do it in an assertive but not confrontational way. If they are within their rights to refuse fair enough but if not then they have a clear responsibility to refer you.

Anal pain is not generally associated with fibromyalgia so insist tests are done by a hospital. I had a colonoscopy twice in three years just to check for cancer. First time polopys which they removed at the time and 2nd time nothing. Colorectal surgeons are great when needed but fight shy of having proper full blown surgery until you have tried every other available option.

Good luck and hope all goes well.

[Spicer21 in reply to Suzydeans]

Thank you, Suzydeans. You've given me some very sound advice, which I appreciate and will follow.