To be angry that the NHS doesn’t take pain seriously?

I am sorry you have spinal stenosis, that is tough.
Spinal stenosis is actually very common in those over 50, and is part of ageing.
Back pain issues are also very common. By age 50, 95% of people have degenerative issues in their back.
Drs obviously can not order MRIs on everyone. You obviously needed one as your spinal stenosis is more severe. But it is a judgement call assessing who needs one and who does not. And bias does come into play.
I know people who have been referred for MRIs for what turned out to be low level issues, and others who struggle to get referred for more serious issues. It is not limited to the NHS, it is about bias amongst medics when making judgement calls.
I am glad you are finally going to get the support you need,

What you've been through sounds horrible and dealing with that diagnosis plus feeling dismissed and disbelieved really adds insult to injury. I hope you're given the very best care and support going forwards.

So, I think you're right about women's symptoms and that includes pain being less believed.

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that can cause really quite severe pain (as you well know). Now, I don't know how to articulate this diplomatically, but I'll try... There are now a lot of "wishy washy" chronic conditions that are applied to people that a Dr or team of specialists cannot find 'proof' of through various tests so a diagnosis of elimination is made that's given a name. It's very subjective and these conditions often co occur with other similar conditions of the same nature. Unfortunately, the people diagnosed with these conditions do often fit a demographic and sadly that demographic tends to be middle aged women with other co morbid mental health conditions. Now this is in no way a judgement on those individuals...

So, my point being, I think that translates to "middle aged women with chronic pain who want loads of strong painkillers for a condition that I can't find proof of " . I think as women we kind of fit into a "stereotype" and it's dangerous.

I'm sorry, I haven't articulated that well. I guess the short answer is, I think it's down to stereotyping. Particularly middle aged women.

I do wish you well for your future treatment and care. I'm glad you've got your answers finally at the very least !

Isn't women's health underfunded compared to men's health? I know if it was a man having these issues they'd be taken more seriously. Probably get a week off a month for their period.

I’d agree there is a real lack of joined up thinking in terms of budgets. I was hospitalised last year for anaemia, I don’t think I absorb the tablets properly. Can’t get an iron infusion till you be are ill enough to be an inpatient. Several nights in an acute ward and a blood transfusion.

Much cheaper to treat as an outpatient but nope, Let’s wait till we are concerned you’ll drop down dead.

What a frustrating and upsetting situation. And politicians wring their hands over why the sickness benefits bill is so large. Sending solidarity to all affected ❤️

The stark difference in how men and women are treated is ridiculous. My husband (chronically sleep deprived, stressful job, runs on caffeine and sugar) went in with a ‘bit of a headache on and off’ (obviously a mild migraine, his risk factors are textbook) - within about a week had a head CT and a half day of eye tests at the hospital. It was a migraine.

I went to the GP with a lump and numbness in one of my legs and I was told it could be ‘lots of things, like diabetes or mental health’?!?! I had to make an absolute nuisance of myself to get any investigations whatsoever - ended up that I needed surgery.

Not unreasonable at all!

I fell down the stairs in lockdown and could hardly walk for months. When it was easier to get an appt with a doctor, I went to see someone. I was in agony when I tried to walk.

i was met with “it can’t be that bad or you wouldn’t be able to walk on it”

I’d ruptured my Achilles 😒

It's women's pain that they don't take seriously - as though the female body is an optional module that no medical student bothers to take.

It's the medical profession and I'm afraid that includes other women. My female Dr dismissed me for over two years and kept sending me off with antidepressants.

I wasn't depressed. I eventually insisted on further tests and I had a chronic illness.

Guess what she said after the diagnosis? I expect they're wrong.

I completely agree with you. I've been in pain for years now. Had to half beg for an x ray and was told "Your knees are in a better condition than mine, there's no way you're in any pain with them."

Still being refused an MRI after years. God knows how much it's cost them to do repeat bloods and pain med trials that haven't worked or made me so out of it that I can't focus anymore.

Best part is that I applied for PIP after realising I couldn't work anymore (literally collapsed during a shift). I joked with DW that the DWP would care more and actually grant me PIP before the NHS diagnose me.
Didn't think I'd be right. But I've been on PIP for almost a year and still no diagnosis or MRI, just repeat bloods, repeat trials and a pain clinic appointment where they said they couldn't help me because they weren't told what was wrong with me and could make it worse.

They're dismissive of women's pain. It's been proven via various studies. I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

I agree with you. I have a chronic condition I’ve lived with since childhood. A flare up a year ago meant I couldn’t walk without terrible pain for about 4 months. At one point after much fighting I was referred to a doctor who said “well it isn’t exactly cancer” and then dismissed me. Merely asking if there were options to prevent being in non lethal but disabling pain was a massive waste of his time and NHS resources.

If course I’m grateful I don’t have cancer but it isn’t meant to be a race to the bottom as to who deserves to be taken seriously.