Is my G.P telling the truth?

[dbpap688]

Hello all
I have had three discectomies - in 1992, 2006 and 2009
The last op took longer to recover from - and of late my leg has been hurting again - along with constant pins and needles in my foot.
I recently moved areas - and have seen my new G.P three times - but she will not refer me to a specialist
She says a specialist will only see me if I need surgery. I explained to her - that I do not really want more surgery - but I would like a scan, to see what is happening and how my back is. I would also like to see a specialist to see what my long term future is.
I have just left the surgery after seeing her again - and I am in tears, as she is not listening.
Surely with my history - can she not refer me?
I never had this problem with my previous G.P

 

[Glenn T]

What a pain!! Literally lol!

I dread changing GP's it has taken me so long to procure a good relationship with mine. I think that you should be able to get a referral to a specialist and they will then decide on an mri. Or you could always get an nri privately but that may upset the bigwigs.

You don't say which discs were operated on? Maybe you need to say that you want another op to get the investigations done, then gently back done?

 

[Emilia of Byzantium]

Hells bells the so called medical profession frustrate me so much. Can I ask you though what happened after your last op, what did the surgeon say to you in 2009, did you not have a follow up appointment with him/her? Did they say you could have problems in the future? Did they say that after 3 ops you would not be able to have anymore? I have not had the problems you have but other ones that needed me to see a specialist more than once or twice and I have not had any problem with that. I am wondering if you can afford say £100/£150 you could see a specialist privately (but you would need a letter from the Doctor telling them why) but at least that way you would get chance to discuss your worries. Of course if a specialist then feels as though you still wanted or needed a scan they could contact your Doctor and tell them to arrange this on the NHS. Or privately it would cost around £500.

Come back on here and let us know how you get on won't you...good luck.

 

[Jason Bernasconi]

Thank you both for your replies

Back in 2009, my surgeon discharged me, but said if I had any problems to see him again. He did say that I may encounter problems again.

Don't get me wrong - I do not really want more surgery, just peace of mind, and having moved to a new area - it would be good to see a specialist just to touch base, and have me on file - so to speak.

1992 - L5/S1
2006 - L4/S1 - dense fibroids around root nerve (not sure what that means)
2009 - L4/L5/S1 - major bulge (like a mashed up blob of cornflakes), as my surgeon described it

My G.P just keeps prescribing me Amitripyline - which I am not really happy with (although they do relax me)

 

[T.O.Rider]

Whatcha goin do now then?

 

[Edgar James]

Your GP should refer you if requested.... or go see an osteopath, get there opinion and ask them to write a letter to your GP asking for a referal..

 

[MovieMama]

I am deeply saddened see the frustration that you are experiencing. Sadly, your GP is allowed to refuse you a referral for an NHS MRI on the basis of many things including cost, appropriatness and on wheater she has a good relationship with
the unit supplying the MRI service.

What she is not able to do, is to refuse a referral for a privately funded MRI to an
appropriate MRI clinic of your choosing. This is because she is not a Spinal Specialist

The cost of a (1 level) private 'standard' MRI starts at around £250. The better Tesla scanners offering the 'higher resolution' images, start at around £500. Load bearing (dynamic) Scanners at the London Upright MRI Clinic start at around £990.

Best wishes


SPINELF