Discectomy next month & GP complaint

Corelli

Greetings,

I am due a discectomy in March and if anyone has good advice for me I'd love to have it. There are all sorts of questions I forgot to ask the surgeon like, will I have to lie on my tummy for weeks/days afterwards, how long will the scar be, will I have a spinal corset thingummy? Hopefully the sciatica pain will go away fairly soon but I am expecting the nerves to have to heal a bit for a while.

In addition to that, I am allergic to all the normal post op dressings - I had a horrible time with an appendix drain hole and incision coverings.

My other question is about complaining about the GP. This problem started at the end of August and I was referred to a joint clinic in the GP practise. I asked and asked for a scan and a referral to a specialist but was told that seeing this clinic was the first step in investigations. I was told by the receptionist that the clinic was actually where they did cortisone injections and was even more scared that they wanted to inject my spine without a scan.

Its a long story and I'm realising I'm running out of energy telling it, but I was in A&E once as I could not live with the pain, they too recommended a scan but the GP refused.

When eventually I got to this clinic the doctor was astounded I had been referred there and at last referred me to a neurosurgeon. This was in January. The waiting list was about 2 months to see a neusrosugeon, then I'd have to wait for the scan, and then another wait for the appt with the specialist and then the procedure.

At that stage I did something that for poliotical reasons I had been avoiding and used a small private health insurance my family had for me and went private for a consultation and investigation. This neurosurgeon I saw recommended the discectomy and told my GP that he could operate on the NHS, subject to me taking my place in the queue but my GP would have to write the letter of recommendation to him. I have only just seen this letter today.

What actually happened when I went back to my GP was that I was told I could have the click and choose system and be referred to a neurologist. Back to stage one. ?He totally ignored the letter the neurosurgeon had written, or misread it.

After much heart searching I am going private for the op. There is some money left on the policy and my mother and MIL are helping out with the rest.

I am wondering about suing my GP for the delay. I am worried about the implications of waiting months before a proper referral and that my condition could have long term implications that it did not have to start off with. I worried about costing the NHS more money but this is saving them thousands so that guilt is lessened.

I'm also concerned about staying with the practise I am with, whether or not I sue, or complain via PALS at least. I am no longer happy there but do not know of any better practises in the area. I do not know how to find out about good ones. Any suggestions?

Thanks to anyone who read throught to the end of this

FleurDuLys

Hi there,

I can't help you with your second question I'm afraid, but I do a lot of work with spinal patients so I can reassure you that you won't have to spend ages lying on your tummy you will most likely be able to lie on your back or on your side as you wish, and you'll probably be up on your feet again within days. Hope that helps

Fleur x

Corelli

Thanks Fleur, that is really encouraging. As for the second part think I was only ranting, I hate being in debt to my family and am pretty cross with my GP for not giving me the correct referral at the start of all this. Doubt I'd go any further than a letter of complaint asking them to pull their socks up

HB58

I was up the morning after my microdiscectomy (in 2010) and didn't have to lie on my tummy at all. I have a lovely scar, aprox 1.5 inches long, didn't have any drains to worry about. I was sent home in a lightweight 'belt' that I wore, when up and about, for a couple of weeks post op. I was in the gym doing an 'active back' class 3 weeks post op.

Errata

I am wondering about suing my GP for the delay.

Perhaps it would be wise to have a discussion with the Practice Manager first, so you fully understand all the ins and outs of what's happened so far and also use the opportunity to ask for a copy of your medical records.
If it helps, my dad had this operation when he was in his early 50's and IIRC was back to normal after three months.

saintly_2

Hi, i just wanted to add my two penneth

Husband had micro discectomy on 29th october 2012, home same day, never been the same since. Is on more pain killers now than ever before and struggles to walk and has to use crutches as he keeps falling over. Hoping to go in for 2nd op in a month or two. One of the things his spinal nurse said was dont sit up for more than 10 mins at a time for first week or so. Good luck with your op, dont push yourself to do too much too soon.

Savvy_Sue

I'd write all your questions down and see if you can email them to the neurosurgeon's secretary for answers ... they may even have a patient info leaflet they forgot to give you!

Corelli

Thanks everyone, good points. Sorry to hear about your husband, Saintly, I hope the second op sorts him out. Tbh, it is that sort of experience I've been reading on some other boards that frightened me. I'm definite I've been told three nights and no lifting or house work or driving for 6 weeks and I am going to be very disciplined. That's all I can remember, except for being tols post op physio would be a good idea, so I've contated the local NHS service which will hopefully tie in with the op time wise.

I hope I don't have the not sitting for more than 10 minutes advice though as otherwise I don't know how to get home legally. In a mini cab with no back seat belts I suppose. If this applies to me it also scuppers my plans to go and stay with my mother to be waited on hand and foot for a couple of weeks.

Sooooo, I will definitely get in contact with the secretary again with lots of questions.

Re the issues with my GPs I'm mostly concerned that such mistakes are not made again with any one else. and a fear that the delay might have caused more damage than would have otherwise have been the case. I am quite aware of what went wrong but it will be my word against the doctors' - and maybe if I'd been more forceful it wouldn't have happened like this. I did have fantasies about getting enough compensation to pay back the family who are supporting me through this but it is a gamble, even with the no win no fee ambulance chasers there is the risk of having to pay the opposite side's costs if you lose.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences.

Brassedoff

Ahh, I typed out a really long reply but the screen refreshed! Saintly, talk about putting the wind up someone ��


Look, don't worry about the op. They sit you up the day after your op. You are only having a Discectomy. The vast majority go OK. The prospects are terrifying, but the medication stops the pain, the staples in your back itch more than they hurt and the best thing is begin able to wash

Follow the advice and take the rest they tell you to. If I had, I would never had the second, which went wrong and lead to the third, fourth and in a week or so fifth operation.

The national guidelines of waiting for the type of surgery is 18 weeks. They refer most to a spinal clinic first as there are so many out there with glass blacks. If they all ended up in front of the Consultant, the cases that need surgical intervention would never be seen.


I am in the third year of a suing for surgical error, delay in treatment (2 years from Consultant telling me I urgently needed the operation to actually having it). My latest operation in the next few weeks is a Laminectomy and dynamic stabilisation.


Just make sure you rest when they say you should. Exercise when they say you should. If you follow their advice to the letter you should recover well. I know several people who had a Discectomy and they are all up and running about.(so to speak). Most of all, look forward to hopefully being pain free and able to do what you did before (with a weather eye on looking after te back)

pauliboo

I can help with part of your questions: Where to find another surgery - Use this NHS website on the right-hand side under 'Find your nearest'. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Tiddlywinks

Before you take any complaints action, formally request a copy of your GP notes. Then get copies of your notes from each of the hospitals you have attended.

You can then compare the notes and form a timeline of letters, appointments etc.

Do this before you formalise your complaint as you wouldn't want any of the paperwork to go astray / be misfiled etc.