Omega Owners Forum - Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma

Lazydocker

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Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
04. Apr 2011 at 20:02

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 Cry

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 Shocked

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 Undecided

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 Roll Eyes

) and get an urgent appointment Undecided

What would you do?

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Lazydocker Omega King Offline Victim of Pinky's Power Trip! Posts: 11336 Woodbridge, Suffolk Gender: Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified	Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma Reply #1 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:04 Poll added
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Entwood Omega King Offline Quietly Confident Posts: 13708 North Wiltshire Gender: Drives: 3.2 Elite (with LPG)	Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma Reply #2 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:05 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.
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STMO123

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #3 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:06

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.

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Lazydocker

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #4 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:11

Entwood wrote on 04. Apr 2011 at 20:05:

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.

Sad

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 Shocked

Ridiculous when you consider it's all done electronically now Angry

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 Cry

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 Thumbs Up!

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cem Omega King Offline Posts: 13920 Ankara/Turkey Gender: Drives: 97 2.5 V6 Manual CD- Clio Sport	Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma Reply #5 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:12 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..
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Lazydocker

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #6 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:13

Quote:

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 Grin

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

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Lizzie Zoom

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #7 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:14

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

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! Shocked

Before you take any other decision see what that produces Wink

I sincerely hope your doctor can do something constructive; some, like mine, certainly can Thumbs Up!

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Darth Loo-knee

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #8 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:17

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. Cool

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Lazydocker

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #9 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:19

cem wrote on 04. Apr 2011 at 20:12:

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.. Undecided

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. Undecided

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.

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Desperate Den Omega King Offline Posts: 11881	Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma Reply #10 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:20 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.
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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #11 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:24

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. Wink

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 fecked up as I am, I should know. Grin

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Lazydocker

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #12 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:25

Darth Loo-knee wrote on 04. Apr 2011 at 20:17:

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. Cool

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! Thumbs Up!

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 Thumbs Up!

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TheBoy

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #13 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:27

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

Grin

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 Grin

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Lazydocker

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Re: Back Problems - Again/Still. Plus a dilemma
Reply #14 - 04. Apr 2011 at 20:36

TheBoy wrote on 04. Apr 2011 at 20:27:

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

Grin

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 Grin

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 Grin

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 Thumbs Up!

As to your other 4 quotes...

1 - I agree to some extent.
2 - Errm.... Isn't that a contradiction? Cheesy

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 Lips Sealed

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