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[Lazydocker]

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?

[Lazydocker]

Poll added

[Entwood]

I'd be onto the GP, the Hospital, the Consultant .. stating that the present situation is untenable .. you can't sleep, you can't work .. and waiting weeks for an appointment is ridiculous.

[Mysteryman]

It's a really difficult decision and, practically, only one that you can make. You know your own circumstances best. If it were me, I would take the decision which got me pain-free the quickest, the rest could be sorted later.

What pisses me off is the fact that you're even faced with this decision.


World class NHS? Eff off.

[Lazydocker]

I'd be onto the GP, the Hospital, the Consultant .. stating that the present situation is untenable .. you can't sleep, you can't work .. and waiting weeks for an appointment is ridiculous.

I have been... I've got the consultant's secretary on speed dial but it took a week for my referral to even be put on the system Ridiculous when you consider it's all done electronically now At the end of the day, I have lived with this for 4 months so the attitude is that another few months won't do much harm, even though it is now much, much worse than it was when we were in Hampshire

At the end of the day, the NHS is overstressed. Even if I get seen on the NHS, if there is a long wait for surgery I may be able to get a grant for the Op

[cem_devecioglu]

if your sleeps are disturbed to that extent , you have to solve it as soon as possible.. because your body cant resist without sleep as your immune system will be effected also..  :-/

[Lazydocker]

It's a really difficult decision and, practically, only one that you can make. You know your own circumstances best. If it were me, I would take the decision which got me pain-free the quickest, the rest could be sorted later.

What pisses me off is the fact that you're even faced with this decision.


World class NHS? Eff off.

Have you just woken up Steve? That's another sensible answer from you

In all seriousness... I'm pretty much decided on my course of action, just interested in other people's thoughts

[Lizzie_Zoom]

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

[Darth Loo-knee]

Like it or not our health service is very good compared with elsewhere.
Paul I had some problems myself, I went the private route. I saw the consultant top guy of his field within days. He then decides if you are a priority and can help to get you seen on the NHS sooner rather than later where you will see him. Thats what happened with me anyway.
People may not like it but you need to think about thats best for you, in my book £700 would be worth every penny.  8-) 

[Lazydocker]

if your sleeps are disturbed to that extent , you have to solve it as soon as possible.. because your body cant resist without sleep as your immune system will be effected also..  :-/

TBH, I've never been a very good sleeper... Probably because I have worked "odd" hours for the last 15 years or more. That said, it is starting to effect my mental state. :-/

Interestingly, I found out back in December that the saying that someone has a high pain threshold is genuinely true... If you live with pain for 12 (or possibly 16) weeks, the body resets the normal levels. That is the other reason I know this is getting much worse, because I do have quite a high pain threshold anyway.

[Dishevelled Den]

Short of collapsing in obvious pain in an A&E unit, pay the money to get the ball rolling.

Sleep depravation as a result of physical pain is debilitating and the longer you try to live with it the longer it will take you to recover.

[albitz]

I think you should bite the bullet and pay to go private. You shouldnt have to but you have to do the best  you can in the circumstances.If it gets you on the road to recovery it will be the best £700 you ever spend.
Your young and active, and I would imagine the problem is destroying your quality of life. You cant put a price on your health imo. And being as breaked up as I am, I should know.

[Lazydocker]

Like it or not our health service is very good compared with elsewhere.
Paul I had some problems myself, I went the private route. I saw the consultant top guy of his field within days. He then decides if you are a priority and can help to get you seen on the NHS sooner rather than later where you will see him. Thats what happened with me anyway.
People may not like it but you need to think about thats best for you, in my book £700 would be worth every penny.  8-) 

I'd like to re-phrase that Dazzle... Our Health Service is excellent. One of the best (if not the best) free health service in the world!

I'm not complaining about the NHS here, there is a waiting list and it's only going to get worse with the new Incapacity Benefit Rules that have been introduced.

The surgery side is not a concern... As I have already stated, if I need surgery and there is a waiting list, I have already made enquiries and should be entitled to a grant for any surgery required. That is a maximum of a 21 day process. It's the initial consultation and MRI scan I'm discussing

[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

[Lazydocker]

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