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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:
PurplePumpkinDream · 31/05/2021 10:52

@BG2015 unbelievable! I’m sorry to hear as my DP has experience of this ghastly pain. So not much help going to hospital? What’s the poor man to do? Yes pay for a private consultation, things might move a bit more quickly.

Original poster
BG2015 · 31/05/2021 11:02

He was put into an assessment area. He wasn't even offered a piece of toast or a biscuit. He was there 9 hours.

We've joined a sciatica Facebook group and it's terrible reading the suffering some people are going through.

OP posts:
crimsonlake · 31/05/2021 12:10

It never ceases to amaze me when I read or hear about people with slipped discs and how they had surgery to correct it immediately. As I mentioned I suffered for years and do not understand how some people are offered surgery whilst others are left in unbearable pain.
Sorry to hear that your dh was released so quickly, although I imagine it is actually progress that he got an MRI. However those in itself are a nightmare...having to lie still when you are in tremendous nerve pain.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 31/05/2021 12:14

@crimsonlake

It never ceases to amaze me when I read or hear about people with slipped discs and how they had surgery to correct it immediately. As I mentioned I suffered for years and do not understand how some people are offered surgery whilst others are left in unbearable pain. Sorry to hear that your dh was released so quickly, although I imagine it is actually progress that he got an MRI. However those in itself are a nightmare...having to lie still when you are in tremendous nerve pain.
They may have had the means to go private or private insurance.
PurplePumpkinDream · 31/05/2021 12:36

@osbertthesyrianhamster I think you are right regarding the quick treatment for private patients.

crimsonlake · 31/05/2021 14:38

The stories I know of people did not go private, possibly postcode lottery...

GlutenFreeGingerCake · 31/05/2021 14:48

So sorry to hear this OP I have been in bed all week with sciatica myself luckily not as bad as your DH but I find the help and advice is not very good. It seems to be aimed at people with less severe symptoms and says things like keep moving about, there's no way I could do it and the painkillers don't do much. Luckily mine is improving now but it must be so scary for your DH if it keeps getting worse. Don't be afraid to send him back to hospital if you think he needs it.

CharlotteRose90 · 31/05/2021 15:31

@crimsonlake

It never ceases to amaze me when I read or hear about people with slipped discs and how they had surgery to correct it immediately. As I mentioned I suffered for years and do not understand how some people are offered surgery whilst others are left in unbearable pain. Sorry to hear that your dh was released so quickly, although I imagine it is actually progress that he got an MRI. However those in itself are a nightmare...having to lie still when you are in tremendous nerve pain.
It’s definitely postcode lottery and unbelievably unfair. It should be everyone or no one. My mums suffered for years and all they give her is pills .
Christoncrutches · 31/05/2021 16:30

Nightmare - you definitely need to ask for the MRI results - GP surgery should have them on record surely? I'm guessing they were looking for spinal compression, but perhaps he wasn't showing signs on scan. They absolutely need to communicate what was assessed and what their conclusion was!

colouringindoors · 01/06/2021 10:36

Sadly even if the MRI shows nerve compression if doesn't mean NHS will do anything. I had the worst prolapsed disc my physio of 25 yr had ever seen. GP just gave me pills which did almost nothing. It's criminal that so many people are left in such severe pain for months or years. My nerve compression was so bad that although the prolpase is loads better I have nerve scarring causing serious pain 24/7. My GP has still never seen me face to face in the 12 months since this happened. I feel she has totally let me down.

Christoncrutches · 01/06/2021 10:39

@colouringindoors

Sadly even if the MRI shows nerve compression if doesn't mean NHS will do anything. I had the worst prolapsed disc my physio of 25 yr had ever seen. GP just gave me pills which did almost nothing. It's criminal that so many people are left in such severe pain for months or years. My nerve compression was so bad that although the prolpase is loads better I have nerve scarring causing serious pain 24/7. My GP has still never seen me face to face in the 12 months since this happened. I feel she has totally let me down.
That's truly awful @colouringindoors - shameful
GeidiPrimes · 01/06/2021 11:00

Ask for gabapentin or pregablin as a painkiller - they're specifically for nerve pain such as your DP is having.

Qwertywertyisme · 25/06/2021 21:24

I am wondering how your hubby's problem was resolved as I am in the same excruciating pain. I went to A&E but they didn't care. My doctor says in his opinion there is no real need for urgency. I cannot drive some days and today am barely able to stand or walk. Spent the day rolling around the bed shouting out in agony. The pain is horrific and I'm now scared it's something more. Horrific pain at the back of my knee up to my hip and lower back. On a huge amount of pills but they do nothing. Paid for MRI next week and seen consultant privately two weeks ago. Got another on NHS in for weeks but can't imagine surviving until then.

Qwertywertyisme · 25/06/2021 21:50

Meant to say in four weeks not for

Original poster
BG2015 · 25/06/2021 21:55

He paid for a steroid spinal block via the Nuffield but it didn't work.

That was 2 weeks ago. He's still in the same amount of pain. We've bought a TENS machine but it doesn't really do much and he's starting taking Gabepentin (still waiting for that to work) and amitripilyn (sp?) which is giving him chance to sleep.

He's got an appointment to see the spinal surgeon on 2nd August and having a CT scan 3rd August so looks like surgery is on the cards but who knows when.

He's lost nearly 2 stone and has muscle atrophy in his left leg.

He can't even sit outside and struggles on the sofa. It's been truly awful and you have my sympathy.

OP posts:
Qwertywertyisme · 25/06/2021 22:19

Omg BG2015 that's truly awful! Im so sorry he has to deal with this after losing a kidney too! So unfair! You just cannot describe the pain to anyone. It feels as though someone is sawing through my leg. How can the NHS fail us like this? My own doctor was so dismissive, he couldn't have cared less if he'd tried and A&E told me if it was that bad I wouldn't be able to walk. You literally need to be unconscious before they act. Seriously if anyone allowed an animal to suffer this level of pain it would be considered an act of cruelty.

Christmasfairy2020 · 25/06/2021 22:57

Not sure what your expectations of a and e are. They ruled out cauda equina. Analgesia isn't working. He's been checked over. Injections aren't working.

He needs a referral from gp to neuro surgeons to see if he has a surgical target.

Christmasfairy2020 · 25/06/2021 22:59

Stress and anxiety make pain worse btw. Get him doing some jigsaws or mindfulness

Christmasfairy2020 · 25/06/2021 23:00

Also nice guidelines don't recommend anti epileptics or neuropathic analgesia for sciatica btw.

Northernlurker · 25/06/2021 23:07

So he's got terrible pain, muscle wasting, weight loss and a previous history of cancer?
Has he had any blood tests recently?

Qwertywertyisme · 25/06/2021 23:35

I think expectations of A&E are at the very least try to sort out the pain. That is why they are called 'emergency' surely? We go there when we can no longer cope with the agony. They told me I wasn't bad enough in a roundabout way. They even decided my pain score for me. I'm afraid it's curtains for the NHS sad but true

frustratedwiththepandemic · 25/06/2021 23:37

Assume Cauda Equina has beeen ruled out?

Viviennemary · 25/06/2021 23:37

The NHS is not fit for purpose. Time for change.

PawsQueen · 25/06/2021 23:38

If someone had told me to do a jigsaw when I had a herniated disc crushing my nerves and spinal cord I might have thrown it at them. I was up to max dos of everything including morphine at one point and then lost all feeling which was a blissful relief
It was a pain where I couldn't watch TV, read, do anything except pace because it was all encompassing. I told a&e to cut my leg off at one point

OP I had surgery (emergency) and it was the best thing

colouringindoors · 25/06/2021 23:42

Horrendous. Diazepam probably helped me the most. And I ended up paying privately to see spinal trauma surgeon (was worth it). Sending much sympathy, this pain is horrendous and like someone said leaving an animal in this much pain would be considered cruelty.

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