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[cem_devecioglu]

imo do a bit research for who is the best and which hospital and do it.. 

[Lazydocker]

I am so sorry you are feeling so bad with your back problem that has been going on so long

What I would do LD is to get an urgent appointment with your GP and request he asks for funding for whatever treatment you need.  Explain how it is ruining the quality of your life and making you desperate, not just physically but emotionally!  Heavily emphasis the latter and how you feel like doing something silly, but really just want help!

Before you take any other decision see what that produces   I sincerely hope your doctor can do something constructive; some, like mine, certainly can

Afraid appointments with my GP are hard to get (actually I think he's on another 3 week holiday) and, TBH, not fruitful... When I saw him after 8 weeks and said I was still in pain he just tried pushing me to see the private Physio in the health centre. I even told him that both the Chiropractor and company doctor advised against seeing a Physio as I was already getting exorcises and everything else they would do from the Chiropractor. Oh... And I get free Physio through work anyway, and even they said there wasn't really a lot of point in me seeing them

[Lazydocker]

imo do a bit research for who is the best and which hospital and do it.. 

The surgeon I will see privately is one of the best in the country and also works at Ipswich NHS hospital I'll probably see the same bloke for surgery either way

Additionally, the referral to the Private Hospital can include a little "String Pulling" as the consultant has already discussed my case with the Chiropractor because they are pals

[cem_devecioglu]

imo do a bit research for who is the best and which hospital and do it.. 

The surgeon I will see privately is one of the best in the country and also works at Ipswich NHS hospital I'll probably see the same bloke for surgery either way

Additionally, the referral to the Private Hospital can include a little "String Pulling" as the consultant has already discussed my case with the Chiropractor because they are pals

good news.. you did your homework

[Mysteryman]

Let's call a spade a spade Paul. You are paying to jump the queue. I'm not chiding you for it, but that's how it works now. If you couldn't lay your hands on £700.....and the person who's been wating a shorter time could......

[TheBoy]

Hmmm, time for a few of my memorable quotes over the past few years of OOF...

1) I think the NHS should be shut down, it cannot be fixed
2) A bit of pain never hurt anyone
3) Its only pain, it'll go away
4) All doctors are gay





But in your case, only you can decide. As suggested above, can you end up in A&E, crippled with pain, even after pain killers?

a) Might speed up the process
b) Something to do if you're bored sat at home


or

c) Drinnk heavily - the pain will subside

Funny you should say that... It does very little to help with the pain but I did have a "few" Friday night and yesterday... I managed nearly 4 hours before I woke up the first time

Going into A&E really isn't an option as far as I'm concerned... I'm not dying and have lived with it for so long now anyway. I'd rather leave the A&E staff to deal with real Emergencies as they have always done so well when SWMBO needs their help

As to your other 4 quotes...

1 - I agree to some extent.
2 - Errm.... Isn't that a contradiction?
3 - It hasn't really gone away in the last 4 months!
4 - Of course you'd know that because you have downloaded that Grinder(?) GayPhone App

Its the only way I can tell if that Gixer bloke is near me, so I can pretend to be out...

[Lazydocker]

Let's call a spade a spade Paul. You are paying to jump the queue. I'm not chiding you for it, but that's how it works now. If you couldn't lay your hands on £700.....and the person who's been wating a shorter time could......

Absolutely right... If I pay £700 I'll skip the wait right up to the decision on surgery... If that's needed I still have to wait unless I pay again

That's the way of the world now though... At least I won't get marched through the NHS waiting area to get seen first though, as happens in some departments

I'm paying for the privilege of seeing the consultant at a nice private hospital where there aren't really any waiting rooms

[Martin_1962]

It is cheaper to pay in the long run - back to work quicker not losing job ect ect

DO IT TOMORROW

[Lazydocker]

It is cheaper to pay in the long run - back to work quicker not losing job ect ect

DO IT TOMORROW

It'll be next week if I decide to do it  I have a few commitments this week and the turnaround at the private hospital is quick. Father in Law called them on a Monday morning to see them about a concerning mole on his face... It was removed on the Thursday

[Kevin Wood]

Much as it's galling to pay for something that should be free - what price do you put on your quality of life over the last (and next) 6 months?

Plus, the likelihood that you'll keep your job, etc..

Many people pay out a lot more than this annually when they are well for private health insurance. Take the view that you've been self-insuring and pay.. IMHO.

Kevin

[PhilRich]

Right, as most of you know I have had some severe back problems since December. I have been referred to the hospital for a MRI scan and (probably) surgery as it seems that I have a centrally prolapsed disk.

Problem I have is that I was referred 2 weeks ago and haven't even been graded by the consultant yet. Probably looking at a waiting list of between 5 and 13 weeks for the consultation, then a further wait for the MRI scan, then yet more waiting for any surgery that is decided necessary

I am now at the point where I am in constant pain, 24 hours/day and cannot sleep. There are also other symptoms related to the pressure on my spinal column which make life pretty miserable TBH, coupled with the fact I can't remember the last time I managed to sleep for longer than about 3 hours without having to get up and have a walk around the house, it's normally about 2 hours and when really bad I can be up every hour or so

The dilemma I have is that I could go private as we have a good Private Hospital nearby. I have found out that I should be eligible to get funding for the surgery (if required) from a charity I have spoken with but have to pay for the Consultation and scan myself. Spoke to them today and it will be about £235 for the initial consultation and £450 for the scan.

Now that's the best part of £700 I don't really have to spend at the moment but if I wait for the NHS I'll either end up on SSP or possibly even out of a job. If the former, it really wouldn't take long before I've lost more than the £700 I'd be paying out now :-/ :-/

Thought long and hard about this and think I know what would be best but keep coming back to the fact that I could be graded urgent by the NHS consultant (not actually the same chap but same department ) and get an urgent appointment :-/

What would you do?

Paul i'm really sorry you're having such a hard time of it mate, i've been there, done that bought the t shirt etc for the past 24 years! I finally had my lower spine fused in 1993 but it wasn't a success and has left me with a weak left leg & in chronic pain. Modern surgical techniques are far more advanced now but my view is surgery is an absolute last resort!!
As for the pain, if you ask to be refered to the Physio dept at your local hospital, they should teach you the various techniques for avoiding/reducing pain during everyday tasks & at night. A google on 'back pain' etc will bring up loads of info, though not much of any real use. My one tip for attempting a decent nights rest is to lie flat on your back with a small towel rolled in a 'sausage' & slid under the small of the back to stop the spine sagging & also a pillow under your knees to bend the legs slightly as this takes the strain off your lower spine. Codeine & Paracetamol or Tramadol to dull the pain together with Voltarol as a muscle relaxant will help. If the pain/muscle spasm becomes absolutely unbearable, your GP or Emergency Callout Doctor can give an injection of liquid Voltarol which gives immediate relief
Try applying heat (or indeed cold, as in icepack ) depending on what you respond to best. If heat applied to the area gives relief then make full use of the heated seats in the car, I couldn't do without mine!
As for the Poll, I think you've already made up your mind, so I wish you all the best with that. In the meantime you might like to try some of these 'snakeoil' remedies until you can get to see the hospital Physio?   Look after yourself! Regards, Phil. 

http://www.painclinic.org/treatment-exercises-beforeyoustart.htm

[Lazydocker]

Much as it's galling to pay for something that should be free - what price do you put on your quality of life over the last (and next) 6 months?

Plus, the likelihood that you'll keep your job, etc..

Many people pay out a lot more than this annually when they are well for private health insurance. Take the view that you've been self-insuring and pay.. IMHO.

Kevin

Unfortunately that one is still up in the air... I may never be able to return to my current role. But should be able to re-deploy within the company

I do have another couple of irons in the fire, so to speak, just in case though

[Lazydocker]

Paul i'm really sorry you're having such a hard time of it mate, i've been there, done that bought the t shirt etc for the past 24 years! I finally had my lower spine fused in 1993 but it wasn't a success and has left me with a weak left leg & in chronic pain. Modern surgical techniques are far more advanced now but my view is surgery is an absolute last resort!!
As for the pain, if you ask to be refered to the Physio dept at your local hospital, they should teach you the various techniques for avoiding/reducing pain during everyday tasks & at night. A google on 'back pain' etc will bring up loads of info, though not much of any real use. My one tip for attempting a decent nights rest is to lie flat on your back with a small towel rolled in a 'sausage' & slid under the small of the back to stop the spine sagging & also a pillow under your knees to bend the legs slightly as this takes the strain off your lower spine. Codeine & Paracetamol or Tramadol to dull the pain together with Voltarol as a muscle relaxant will help. If the pain/muscle spasm becomes absolutely unbearable, your GP or Emergency Callout Doctor can give an injection of liquid Voltarol which gives immediate relief
Try applying heat (or indeed cold, as in icepack ) depending on what you respond to best. If heat applied to the area gives relief then make full use of the heated seats in the car, I couldn't do without mine!
As for the Poll, I think you've already made up your mind, so I wish you all the best with that. In the meantime you might like to try some of these 'snakeoil' remedies until you can get to see the hospital Physio?   Look after yourself! Regards, Phil. 

http://www.painclinic.org/treatment-exercises-beforeyoustart.htm

Thanks Phil for your response. I have done all you have suggested, although my exercises came from the Chiropractor instead of the NHS Physio (minimum 6 months wait ), although the Company Physio I spoke to said I was already doing the right exercises

The heated seats were the most comfortable place to be but the deterioration is such that even that is now uncomfortable.

I'm currently only on Paracetamol and Codeine for pain relief and a strong, Diclofenac based anti-inflamatory. I'm reluctant to go onto anything stronger for pain relief but may not have any choice. TBH, the spasms aren't too bad now, it's just the constant dull pain (think tooth ache) and, worse still, the fact I constantly feel like I need to pee... Fortunately it's not at the point where I've lost bladder control yet but am well aware that this is the next step Trouble is, when you feel like you need to go, you don't know if it's a false alarm until you try

[Vamps]

Sorry to hear this is not being sorted quickly Paul, my personal experience with the NHS is fantastic, but this was for a different condition, and even years later I suffer a combination of aches and pains following serious surgery, but have a life...

I think, in your position, I would be tempted to fork out the money and go private, though I hate to say so a couple of months back at work will recoup the costs and hopefully you will be back to a better quality, if never quite the same, lifestyle....Just my tuppence worth...

[jonnycool]

£700 is a small price to pay for a quick resolution to this, if you're able to pay IMO. Pain to this extent is a miserable existence. Really sorry to hear you're having such a crap time