"Pain Clinic and subsequent treatment waiting times."

Prolapsed Disc 

The waiting time to be seen to for lower back pain is far too long in Dumfries & Galloway.  Each stage takes 3 months or more before the next step can be taken.  If I was an animal my owners would be done for cruelty.

From initial injury in October 2016 it took till March 2017 to be seen by the back specialist (who is brilliant, very knowledgeable and straight forward) who got me an MRI scan, diagnosis and provided the options available to me.  It then took to mid November 2017 to get the epidural injection (over the patient time guarantee as I was on the locum list and there was no locum).  Now I have to wait to see how well I respond to the injection before the next step is taken.  I have been in agony for over a year, being proactive with my condition and trying all I can to improve my situation.  I have to say all the specialist staff have been excellent, I can’t fault them.  A few GP’s I have seen were less then understanding and very flippant and the other GP’s I have seen were brilliant very supportive and caring.  The private physio and therapist have help me manage the pain thus far as the NHS physio was not helpful, stating I was doing it all myself anyway (I choose to take that as a positive rather than a cop out on the physio’s part).  The Pain Association Scotland meeting that happens once a month has been a real life line as well, it’s a wonderful service.

Surely something can be done about the waiting times for the pain clinic and subsequent treatment?

Appointments