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Original poster

My DP taken by ambulance to A&E with crippling sciatica

62 replies

BG2015 · 30/05/2021 10:44

He's been suffering for a month (can't get off the bed) can't walk, he's not been downstairs for over a week.

Naproxen, diazepam cocodomol ibruprofen- none of it is touching the pain.

He's now struggling to wee and was vomiting all night. Something is definitely not right.

I took him to A and E last weekend and he was checked over, prescription for Movicol and a promise to push his referral through quicker. Then he was sent hone.

This morning we both had had enough. I rang 111 (for the third time on 2 was) sobbed on the phone and she said he needs an ambulance and help with pain management.

He's got a slipped/bulged disc which he had a steroid injection for 5 years ago. But this time it is 100 times worse. He's beyond the physio, osteo route.

If he were an animal he would be treated better. I love the NHS but they've failed him.

Praying he gets some help so that he can at least sleep.

OP posts:
Original poster
BG2015 · 30/05/2021 10:45

*( On 2 was - in 2 weeks)

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 30/05/2021 10:50

Poor soul. I hope they can relieve his pain soon.

switswoo81 · 30/05/2021 10:53

Oh god I feel his pain. I had a slipped disc 6 years ago and had surgery within 3 months. The pain was horrendous. I hope they do something like this because I have never suffered a day since and even went on to have two pregnancies.
A physio took one look at My MRI and said she would only make it worse and wouldn't do anything

Original poster
BG2015 · 30/05/2021 10:59

They had to give him gas and air to get him down the stairs.

I'm sat at home worried sick now. I'm hoping he has an MRI and help with the pain.

It awful to see anyone in so much pain.

OP posts:
Wishitsnows · 30/05/2021 10:59

He's been really let down by the NHS. People should not be left in pain like this. I hope they actually do something this time and not just morphine to temporarily make him feel better to get him home.

OhThoseBubbles · 30/05/2021 11:03

Oh the poor both of you! The NHS aren't very good with pain management in my opinion. Everything is done and actioned by a flow chart rather thsn patient focused. You need to tick boxes before they do anything. It's shit. Hope he gets better soon. Xxx

notapizzaeater · 30/05/2021 11:11

Hopefully they get him sorted. Was the not being able to wee a new thing ? That alone should get him bumped up.

WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld · 30/05/2021 11:28

My brother once fainted with pain in the GP surgery waiting room from a bulging disc. They got really cross with him, told him he shouldn't be there and sent him on his way

Original poster
BG2015 · 30/05/2021 11:33

@notapizzaeater

Hopefully they get him sorted. Was the not being able to wee a new thing ? That alone should get him bumped up.
He's been suffering with it on and off from when he started taking the diazepam so we thought it was that as it says that in the information sheet.

He's gone over 16 hours feeling like he wants to wee but then can't.

I've felt so frustrated, as if the GP and other medics won't listen who else do you turn to?

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 30/05/2021 11:37

Yes, he has been failed. Sorry but I think the NHS's time has come. And they're awful with pain management.

GidgetGirl · 30/05/2021 11:45

A friend of mine was misdiagnosed with sciatica/disc issues for years and years. After literally ten years of being on daily diazepam and having weeks in which he was totally incapacitated and in agony, a doctor spotted huge kidney stones on one of his old x rays. No one had noticed them before because they were just looking at his spine! He’s now receiving treatment for them but it’s very complex because the kidney stones have done so much damage to his kidneys as they were left untreated for so many years.

Although he did have issues with his back, he now knows the majority of the pain has been caused by undiagnosed kidney issues. Perhaps something your DP should be aware of, OP? Especially if he’s also having trouble weeing.

Amelia666 · 30/05/2021 11:47

I can only empathise OP - I had slipped a disc in early May (diagnosed over the phone by the gp) and thankfully am now improving but the pain... the pain 😱😭 I’ve never had anything like it.

I had about 10 days of peak pain involuntary crying out when I moved and needing Nordic walking poles to get down the hall to the loo/kitchen(!). I kept my phone on me at all times in case I needed 999 at any point as it was really scary to be in so much extreme constant pain.

I’m hardcore with pain but never had anything so bad before - I’m on the same drugs as your partner and they’re only giving 30 cocodymol at a time which means trips to the pharmacy every couple of days - great when you can’t move and live alone!! (& the delivery service is full)

I hope he gets the treatment he needs Flowers

Original poster
BG2015 · 30/05/2021 11:55

@GidgetGirl

A friend of mine was misdiagnosed with sciatica/disc issues for years and years. After literally ten years of being on daily diazepam and having weeks in which he was totally incapacitated and in agony, a doctor spotted huge kidney stones on one of his old x rays. No one had noticed them before because they were just looking at his spine! He’s now receiving treatment for them but it’s very complex because the kidney stones have done so much damage to his kidneys as they were left untreated for so many years.

Although he did have issues with his back, he now knows the majority of the pain has been caused by undiagnosed kidney issues. Perhaps something your DP should be aware of, OP? Especially if he’s also having trouble weeing.

He has previous history with his kidney. He had a kidney removed last August after finding a cancerous tumour on it.

He started weeing blood and the kidney was removed within 4 weeks. Couldn't fault them with that at all. They were amazing.

He went for a follow up MRI in March and all was good.

So I think kidney stones can be ruled out.

OP posts:
PurplePumpkinDream · 30/05/2021 23:14

If he can’t wee then it’s a an emergency, they might have to operate urgently to relieve the pressure. My DP has suffered similar but luckily the pain passes after so many weeks, he was warned to watch out for exactly that symptom. He’s now waiting for an op to sort the problem for good. Hope something will be done for your DP.

Cocolapew · 30/05/2021 23:19

Did you have a thread a week or so about him?
I'm sorry he's in so much pain, It must be awful for him. Hopefully it will be looked at seriously now Flowers

Newchances · 30/05/2021 23:21

Sorry to hear op. Hope he is OK. What age is he? Has cauda equina been ruled out?

Christoncrutches · 30/05/2021 23:22

Sounds like spinal cord compression - fingers crossed he gets some proper surgical intervention asap and he recovers quickly. Well done advocating for him.

PersonaNonGarter · 30/05/2021 23:27

You poor thing. Have you had an update?

colouringindoors · 30/05/2021 23:30

Sympathies for your OH. I was him last July, gas and air from paramedics was a godsend. It is criminal how people with disc injuries are left in such severe pain. Really hope he gets helped now.

CharlotteRose90 · 30/05/2021 23:55

Sounds like he’s got more then one condition going on. The nhs can’t manage pain management but they try their best. My mum has crumbling discs in her back and she got physio years ago and now just maintains it with zapain it’s awful but if you can’t cure it you just try your best. I hope he gets answers soon and they work out a plan even if it’s higher pain medication.

crimsonlake · 31/05/2021 00:12

Sadly I think they only take things seriously when you start to have bladder trouble.
I have had 2 slipped discs simultanuously, consultant decided to handle conservately. Years of pain.

Original poster
BG2015 · 31/05/2021 07:26

He’s home from hospital I fetched him at 9pm last night and it was frankly a total waste of time. He’s had an MRI the results of which weren’t shared with him because he was out of it on morphine and couldn’t concentrate. I suppose the results may have to be looked at? Not sure how it works. He left with no additional drugs and hadn’t urinated since they took the catheter out 🤷‍♀️ - luckily he did once he got home.

The only plus is when he goes to see the private consultant (which is our next plan) he won’t have to pay for an MRI.

OP posts:
Cocolapew · 31/05/2021 08:29

Oh my goodness, I thought he would have been kept in. How is he today?

Original poster
BG2015 · 31/05/2021 09:44

@Cocolapew

Oh my goodness, I thought he would have been kept in. How is he today?
Exactly the same. Pain still off the scale.

Luckily we both managed some sleep.

We will ring the totally useless GP surgery tomorrow to find out if there are any other drugs he could be given.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 31/05/2021 10:45

Aargh, really hoped you'd actually be told something. Was he on a ward or just in a and e ? If ward could you ring and ask fir help ?