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ces59 · 03-04-2010, 05:26 AM

I was due to have cervical surgery next wednesday - not looking forward to it but glad the decision has been made and confident in the surgeon I chose. I live in the UK and in spite of a pretty good NHS system we have paid for private treatment for many years mostly to enable us to choose when and who does the work we need. Today my company told me they would not fund the treatment at the hospital my surgeon works out of and that I have to have it done elsewhere. It is not a hospital that specialises in this type of work and my surgeon will not do it there. I am therefore stuck with the following options:

1. Stick with the current surgeon and chosen hospital and find the costs - very high - plus the costs of after care. I estimate £20k but would get it done next week.
2. Start again with a new surgeon - probably OK but not the best as this guy is and go through all the stuff again. Would involve a delay 1 -2 months
3. Wait for the NHS and through this method I do have some choice of who does the work. Don't know how long the delay would be.
4. There is a possible loop hole in the policy I have which comes up for renewal next month. I can opt for a higher premium which allows me to have my op done wherever I want. I just wonder if they would refuse the policy knowing what they now know about me. I have had months of pain it might be worth waiting a further 3 weeks to get the doc I want, at the place I want. Bueaucratic nightmare! And tomorrow I am supposed to be going for my pre assessment!

I have left message for my neurosurgeon to fight the corner for me. Wish I had just stuck with the NHS.

Any advice.

nochange · 03-25-2010, 03:40 AM

I'm not sure about the system in England but I would wait untill you're able to do the surgery with the surgeon you want. You just never know who is the surgeon who is gonna do the operation. I wouldn't agree.

If you're not going to be paralyzed you can wait.

by the way, did you post here you MRI report?

ces59 · 03-26-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nochange

I'm not sure about the system in England but I would wait untill you're able to do the surgery with the surgeon you want. You just never know who is the surgeon who is gonna do the operation. I wouldn't agree.

If you're not going to be paralyzed you can wait.

by the way, did you post here you MRI report?

Hi there
The op did go ahead after many heated phone calls and lots of pressure. Spinal compression and root channels cleared and the wound is healing but after two weeks there is still pain in my arms. I am wondering if it will go away. I am praying it will go away as it is agony and the Gabapentin only takes the edge off and using a keyboard is hard. Not sure how easy it will be to go back to work.

My problem was c6/7 with spinal compression. He found probs with the root channels when he got in - thinks that is the reason for the arm pain. How long before it might settle down?

janiee08 · 03-26-2010, 10:01 PM

They do have you on pain meds don't they?....janiee

nochange · 03-28-2010, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ces59

I am praying it will go away as it is agony and the Gabapentin only takes the edge off and using a keyboard is hard. Not sure how easy it will be to go back to work.

You should have posted your MRI report beforehand. Too late now.

Gabapentin(neurontin)is given to patients in England to fight pain(that's what I read in this board. Guess what? that is not enough. Gabapentin(neurontin)is med for nerve pain. It only sothes the pain a little bit(10%)I would say.

In england(include all europe)they don't like to prescribe narcotics, that's a shame, honestly. It depends if the pain is bearable, mine is not.

Ces, I would recommend you going back to your doctor and ask/demand? some strong pain killers especially now when you are done with the surgery.

I will tell you the names of some narcotic pain meds like oxycontin, percocet, fentanyl patch and when nothing works there is morphine.
I doubt they will allow morphine in england. No matter where you go in Europe it will be the same, no narcotics. But try anyway.

Good luck and feel better.

P.S noone can tell if the pain in your arms will go away. Only time will tell.

ces59 · 03-28-2010, 02:37 PM

I am due to see my surgeon in about 3 weeks - that will be 6 weeks since the op. I am thinking of going to see my GP as Gabapentin is not working and I spend every evening with ice packs on my elbows. You are right the only other drug I will get given will be strong codeine which makes me sick. However, I will ask about the drugs you have mentioned to see what reaction I get

nochange · 03-31-2010, 02:10 AM

Hello Ces. My experience shows codeine does nothing for neck pain. You still didn't tell me if your neck hurts you. Don't take any meds which makes you sick. It means it's not the right med for you.

If your pain gonna be chronic.(time will tell, it usually takes a year I believe, that's what my doctor told me) you will need to find the right medication for you. I'm really really sory you live in a country which doesn't recognize pain as a problem. As long as you can move your hands/legs and function you are considered healthy there, huh. Well they are wrong. Pain can cause sadness/depression in the long run.

What dose of neurontin(gabapentin)are you on?. It also depends on what dose you are on you know. You must be on 1800mg?. just a guess.

I would suggest you go to your primary care doctor and don't wait 3 weeks.

Let us know how you doing, ok and we go from there.

ces59 · 04-01-2010, 04:22 AM

My neck does not hurt but the physio says there is constant spasm and tension in my shoulders and I need to strengthen my neck. I cannot get into see my GP until the 18th April - two days before my surgeon appointment. The GP is so busy - I can see others but they know nothing about my case. Seeing lots of different GPs is what took it so long to get a diagnosis in the first place so I wont do that anymore. Anyway another GP is going to call me today (my own GP cancelled due to ill health) so I will be asking about whether to up my Gabapentin (I am only on 500g a day). Don't know if more will make a difference. Have also taken Ibuprofen but not really sure that makes much difference. Heat on my back and shoulders seems to help. I suppose I just really have to wait and see. Physio was good - I felt some relief at the time but I just want it all the time now and appointments are 2 weeks apart.

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