Delay in referrals — Scope | Disability forum
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Delay in referrals

ANGELATERESAWATERS
ANGELATERESAWATERS Community member Posts: 1 Listener
I have had severe lower back pain since January 2018 when i first visited my GP.  I have since been prescribed multiple different types of analgesia in varying dosage amounts.  None of these have had any great benefit.  In September i was referred for MRI only to find it was for thoracic spine.  Results were that there are areas of scarring possibly due to a non diagnosed myelitis.  But this still did not explain the severe pain in lower back and right leg.  Eventually in December yet another GP referred for a lower spine MRI and physiotherapy.  Have just had MRI results showing no bony involvement or chord compression. According to Gp via telephone call it is L3, L4,L5 wear and tear.  Yet again increased pregabalin dose and just wait for physio.   Another 5 weeks at least for that!!   In the meantime i can hardly walk at times and becoming increasingly difficult to maintain daily needs.  However no support for the fact that i am sole carer for my disabled 13 year old.  I feel the delay in referrals is now going to leave me in chronic pain and this is just not good enough.

Comments

  • Antonia_Alumni
    Antonia_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 1,780 Pioneering
    Hi @ANGELATERESAWATERS welcome to the community. I am sorry to hear about this, how are doing  today? Some of our members will be able to relate to you, delay in referrals can be frustrating. Have you been in contact with your local carers centre to see of there's any support they can offer?
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi this may not be an option for you due to cost but I went to a private chiropractor best thing I have ever paid for 
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @ANGELATERESAWATERS
    If you have been struggling with pain for more than 12 weeks, there are many services that can help. There's lots of self-help advice available from a variety of organisations supporting people living with long-term pain, such as:

    If you find you're having difficulty managing your pain, ask your GP for a referral to a specialist pain clinic.

    Pain clinics offer a wide range of treatments and support. They aim to support you in developing self-help skills to control and relieve your pain.

    Treatments may include:

    • medication
    • pain-relief injections
    • manual therapy
    • exercise
    • TENS machines
    • complementary therapy
    • psychological therapy

    Pain-management programmes

    Some people receiving treatment at a pain clinic may be offered a pain-management programme (PMP).

    The aim of a PMP is to improve your quality of life, despite your pain, rather than reducing your pain.

    PMPs are usually delivered through a series of group sessions with other people with persistent pain, in a friendly environment.

    The sessions may include:

    • gentle exercise
    • relaxation and mindfulness
    • how to manage emotions related to long-term pain
    • group discussion
    • learning to pace yourself  to avoid pain flare-ups
    Scope
    Senior online community officer

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