How long did you wait for a neurosurgerical opinion?

[MrsFrugal]

Iv had back pain which has got considerably worse for about 5 months, I ended up paying for a private MRI as I couldn't get to see a GP. This has shown a herniated L4/L5 disc which is causing significant compression of my L5 route nerve. I finally managed to get to speak to a gp last week who has referred me. I am in absolute agony daily and it's at the point I cannot leave my house now (I'm 36).
I feel like it's really beginning to affect my mental health and I'm physically becoming more unhealthy as I cannot do anything.
I just wondered if anyone has been in this situation and can advise me on how long they waited to see a neurosurgical specialist. I know it will vary by area but I just need some sort of indication.

I keep hearing around 2 to 8 months, I tried to discharge myself a fortnight ago after NHS MRI but told best to wait as inpatient for neurologist and spinal. Speaking to people I’ve had company of in different wards it really is a waiting game unless it gets to an emergency.

I totally understand about it ruining your mental health, life as you knew it and you have my deepest empathy x

if you can keep mobile do try and I mean this in the kindest sense. I firmly believe walking through the pain when I use to go to food shops to keep going has helped now with hospital physio post surgery. I used to work for a mobility company in my many previous jobs with little passion/appreciation for their products which are going to be a real god send now to get me up - lovely pink stick for walking, crutches, walking frame, grab stick right down to rise and recliner bed. I’m also hopeful to keep my appointment next week with a mobile hair dresser as it has been years since the hair has had attention and I will be getting it cut short for easy management, one less thing to worry about.

Good luck, I’ll hope the wait isn’t long for you xx

Thank you for taking the time to reply and I hope you are now on the mend! I was a nurse for 12 years in A&E so I'm generally really fit! As you say I know its not an emergency but it's so debilitating. I have nursed hundreds of people with back painful and now I can truly empathise with just how awful it can be!
I have managed a short walk today, it's been the first time in weeks and it's really helped with feeling better generally. I think I just need to make sure I am topped up with pain relief and wait for an appointment.

Sorry I’m not in anyway insisting that you are not an emergency, (these things can just go pop; it not taking anymore) it’s just sad that gets treatment soonest and there is so much ignorance regarding back/nerve pain. So many people in here have been left weeks/months in agony and as they are now trying to tag the old mental health aspect I’m finding it hard to process knowing two physio’s were like there is nothing wrong to begin with.

Looking after yourself Mrs F 💐

I had back surgery in 2007 after ending up pretty much like you say - slipped disc pressing on nerves on both sides until I could barely function. Was pretty much sent off work and waiting on the op after seeing a surgeon months into the problem. Like a lot of people, whilst the surgery did stop the nerve pain it is not without its issues. I have a numb leg, my back is weak and I struggle to do things (sitting too long, walking much, standing in queues, etc). I see a physio every now and then and have learned a lot from them over the years. I have seen neurosurgeons after the surgery, for a frozen shoulder a few years ago and recently for what turned out to be Small Fibre Neuropathy - none of which was actually back related though after surgery everything gets blamed on that. From what I gather spinal surgery is only now carried out if its life threatening as the results are so mixed and the surgery and recovery is so brutal (took me months/years to get over it all). I would never recommend surgery but highly recommend finding a good physio. Their opinion is that it will settle down eventually (mostly) with or without surgery so I'd go without if I was given a choice. Some people I know have had a 2nd surgery and its always a mistake (wheelchair, etc). Be very cautious. I go private at the minute as the NHS is such a mess but please try physio first (its a lot cheaper too lol).

Thank you @allypally999, Im sorry to hear you have had such rough time. For me the nerve pain in my buttock, calf and foot is the worst.

I have seen a private physio and osteopath before I went to the GP, to be honest at that point it was annoying back pain but I was managing so I suspect knowing what I do now my disc was produding slightly, my osteopath thinks I have done to much i.e excersises that the physio recommended and ended up making it worse now ending up with with full disc prolapse which is pretty much occluding my L5 route nerve. I know surgery has its problems and it's a huge risk but at my age I cannot live like this, the way I feel right now its a risk worth taking, although I'm more than happy to try anything they recommend. I have considered private, it's about 10k, im a nurse and university lecturer and can continue with my uni work as its from home but nursing has had to go on hold and I just want to get back on the front line! I would need to take a loan out to cover the cost for private treatment. I'm going to speak with my GP next week and hopefully they can give me an indication of waiting times which will help me make a decision.

OK so I did the voice of doom thing but you seem pretty well informed (not to say desperate sadly). There are better parts to my story - I rarely get the nerve pain anymore yay! Also they said I could get back to 80% of what I was but sometimes I feel its 90% (and sometimes 60 but lets not go there). Also I was 49 when I had the surgery and I am guessing you are younger? The younger you are the easier the recovery. I got back to work (just part-time) after 3 months and was still improving for a long time after that. I couldn't cross my legs for years but just recently I can - weird huh? Back then I felt I had waited too long and couldn't stand it anymore so called my GP and burst into tears (a bloke obviously who just wanted rid of me) and he got me an urgent assessment and I got a date for my op 3 months after that. Try that? With that amount of pain its not hard to have a teary spell eh? Good luck whatever you try.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you’re in pain. It’s ever so miserable and I totally understand.
I herniated a disc in my lower back which was then pressing on the nerve root. This caused horrendous sciatica, which left me unable to walk for at least two months and then on crutches for a further four months. I have never felt so much pain in my life. Lots of well meaning ‘keep mobile’ didn’t help at all. I couldn’t even sit on the toilet without crying.
I was referred in July 2021 and only saw a neurologist (phone call) in February 2022, by which time, I was pretty much recovered.
I had physio, acupuncture and lots of drugs!
The good news is I am pain free now so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Hope you get better soon.

If at all possible id pay privately to see a consultant. We did it with teen DD when she developed back problems - saw an orthopaedic spinal consultant within 2 weeks and when he also wanted her seen by a neurosurgeon she was seen in a few days. Normally it is around £200