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Private or wait for nhs surgery on back

3 replies

greenberet · 07/10/2018 08:44

I have previous threads/comments about back pain!

Been to a& e twice now as mri picked up disc compression to cauda equina. After being told in neurosurgery I needed urgent surgery on 27 July I am still waiting. Except my fall back appointment on 31 October to “stop me falling through the net” was replaced by an appointment on 1 october which was then cancelled - so currently I could quite easily have already fallen through this net!

I could go private - I have funds to pay this ( divorce settlement meant for house) which I could use although this will have major implications in other areas.

I have no idea now what is the truth of my situation - I was told urgent surgery needed within 4 weeks at first appointment by neurosurgery. I have also been seen by orthopaedics who confirmed I will need surgery but just not as a real real emergency as in today.

If I lose bladder/ bowel control I am to go back urgently and they will operate - my ability to walk is restricted and painful. My day to day duties are impacted - I don’t work but if I did I am certain I would be off sick as unable to do very much at all.

I am getting pissed off with uncertainty now - I need to be packing up house for impending house move but can’t do much - what with everything else going on I hit another low yesterday!

If I went private I can get organised and move forward although I’m looking at £10k and probably have op pretty sharpish with 6 week recovery. If I wait for nhs well who knows! I’ve seen 2 threads in the last couple of days where people have got long term issues as a result of similar to me which could result in some paralysis and/or incontinence

I’d more or less decided to go private when someone said yesterday you don’t want to do that any complications afterwards and nhs won’t want to know ( based on issue with breast implants)

What would you do - I’m in a depressive low right now which means I’m useless at making any decision and this could go round and round my head for days - appreciate any views

OP posts:
TheProvincialLady · 07/10/2018 08:54

It’s not true that the nhs won’t want to know if you go private and then later have complications. I had an operation privately and then later on needed some nhs care and there was no difficulty with that whatsoever.

If I were you I would contact your local PALS service and start complaining. If you were told you needed urgent surgery within 4 weeks, it is unacceptable to be waiting longer than that. You should insist on a fixed date. PALS will help you.

£10k is a lot of money so I would want to be sure that there was no alternative first.

Good luck.

greenberet · 07/10/2018 11:19

Thankyou theprovincial that’s what I wanted to hear - I think the breast surgery situation is a bit different I will give PALS a try

OP posts:
Jellyjumpers · 09/10/2018 03:27

Pals.

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