I have chronic pain which started in my face three years ago, primary care (my dentist) referred me on to secondary care at the hospital (oral surgery) for suspected TMD.
I have been asking for an MRI since the beginning as the condition, whatever it is, is getting worse with time. The jaw pain started to spread spread from the jaw, to the base of my skull, pain behind my eyes, my neck, shoulders and now my whole upper back area is in chronic pain.
My jaw also deviates to the side which it didn't to begin with.. so whatever is going on is definitely getting worse. Still no imagery taken.
For years I've been back and forth to the hospital for appointments with them, they've put me on two different medications that have done nothing. I see a new person every time I go who tends to do an examination and then kick the can down the road for the next one.
I had one consultant (I think that's what she was? Member of staff in oral surgery anyway) tell me there's nothing they can do for me and it's "just how you are" - I considered making a complaint then but they redeemed themselves when another lady assured me I was a candidate for botox.
So eventually I had botox (after a two year wait and me breaking down in tears during another appointment where it was looking like they'd do nothing) essentially still treating me blindly as I hadn't had so much as an X-ray.
I've had to plead for a referral to neurology after doing my own research and wanting to rule out occipital neuralgia among other things. That can was kicked down the road for months so I went to my own GP who was shocked at the lack of progress and sent off a referral himself.
That referral was subsequently rejected as the neurology department wanted the referral to come from secondary care, for the benefit of continuity.
Cue me having to plead with oral surgery, again, to please send the referral.
Finally after almost three years and endless pointless appointments where I've travelled across the city for nothing I've had a referral sent to neurology which I'm told could take 6-12 months. I've also, after breaking down in tears again had the most recent person I saw today agree to refer me for an MRI.. which could take another 6 months.
All of this has gotten to the point where I'm unable to care adequately for my children on some days. I receive alot of support from my OH and DM as when the pain is bad it's completely debilitating and I can't function.
I'm upset and stressed that if they'd have just taken a bloody X-ray or done an MRI at the beginning they could have treat whatever this is, or put me onto somebody who could, and I wouldn't be in the state I am now.
So WIBU to make a formal complaint? Do you think I'm being entitled to believe this baseline investigation into my condition should have been done along time ago thus could have saved me alot of pain and deterioration?