Hi, my name is karl1973!

karl1973

hello I had really bad back problems in 2019 I could hardly stand or walk so my partner phone the doctors and asked for a home visit, she come to see me and asked me to stand up had a look at me and she prescribe me some anti inflammatory medication even though she could see that my back and feet was swollen. She saw no need for me to go to hospital, three days later it got to the point we’re I couldn’t stand up straight so my partner insisted that I go to the hospital. We went to A&E Sandwell hospital the doctor who examined me said I’d got Claudia équina, I was admitted awaiting an MRI scan in the morning. I couldn’t lie down to have the MRI scan every time I tried to lie down the pain was unbearable. Sandwell hospital contacted the QE requesting for me to be transfer there for a stand up MRI Scan, but they refused to admit me there until the MRI Scan had been completed at Sandwell. Eventually on the third MRI Scan there was a nurse there that helped me by putting pillows under my back and sand bags on my feet to stop them from moving. After 8 days in Sandwell hospital the MRI Scan showed that I’d got bulging disc, nerve compression and thecal sac compromise. I go to the QE hospital at that point i couldn’t stand or walk I my right leg hadn’t got any reflex or feelings and my left leg was going the same way I’d got no choice but to have the surgery I was on the toilet when the surgeon came to see me and he said ill go through what the surgery is with you in the morning before you go in for the operation I never saw the surgeon after that day. my partner saw the surgeon after the operation and said it went better than he thought it would and he had removed a 3 inch splinter of bone which was wedged between the vertebra (this being the thecal sac compromise on the MRI Scan) The surgeon told my partner ill come and see Karl first thing in the morning I waited till 2 pm with no show of the surgeon.I had L3/L4 microdeiscectomy in 2019 the pain has got worse I’ve seen several consultants having injection up to 80 ml the only thing the injection did was reduce the swelling in my toes the first time since 2019 (but it only lasted 8 hours). I saw the extended scope practitioner in 2019 who notes I have seen and who I had told about the pain was worse in my back, my legs and feet, he’s notes stated that I’d told him that the pain had reduced which was a lie, and other thing he’d wrote down wasn’t what we had talked about I’ve asked consultant for second opinion and stand up MRI scan with no success I’ve asked my own doctor for second opinion and stand up MRI scan on several occasions with no success. The extended scope practitioner arranged a MTI Scan and it states “gas pockets cause for concern” both the extended scope practitioner and my GP knew about the gas pockets and nothing was done at them. I was referred to City hospital to see another consultant who was putting a care plan in place, after 3 month I chased this care plan to be told the was NO notes of any care plan and the consultant no longer worked for the NHS. On contacting my GP, her response was “what part do you want me to play in this”. I then followed up with a complaint to the QE complaints department (PALS) and 17 months on and after several cancelled appointments on there side, they have now decided not to get back in contact with me, so I’ve been let down by the NHS system and the complaints department. It has got to the point now that my GP wants to reduce my medication instead of trying to find the root of the problem. I’ve tried everything to get help no one wants to no so what can I do next.

karl1973

Rachel_Scope

Hi @karl1973 and welcome to the community. I'm so sorry to hear of everything you've been going through. Did you follow up with PALS about the complaint? Your next step could be the Ombudsman https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/ It seems you haven't been able to get very far with anyone so the Ombudsman should look into everything that has happened and hopefully get it solved.

karl1973

Hi Rachel,

I am thinking that that’s going to have to be my next step

Karl

Rachel_Scope

It's sad that it's had to get to this stage but you deserve fair treatment. Will you let us know how you get on? I hope it can be resolved for you.

onedayatatime

Hello @karl1973 That truly is an awful and scary experience you've been through and continue to be going through right now. I really do hope you make some progress with whatever steps you now take to get some resolution, help and adequate treatment. Best of luck to you.