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Care Opinion

Orthopaedic waiting times

Posted By Everhopeful44

"Orthopaedic waiting times"

About: West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital (Yorkhill)

(as the patient),

I am currently awaiting  an operation to remove a herniated disc, I am in a huge amount of pain constantly, I am taking so many painkillers to try and ease the pain, often I struggle to stay awake.  But the pain never eases, I can barely get out of bed in the morning, I struggle to lead a normal life.  I have now lost my job, due to incapability through ill health.  I have been suffering now for over a year.  

I am a single mum with two children, I can’t work, I have to rely on friends to help me with school runs and after school clubs.  I also have to have help with general day to day tasks. 

I was in hospital last Christmas time for 6 days, with severe dehydration and a severe kidney infection, my liver wasn’t functioning properly either, even though I told all the doctors that I felt this was all a side effect of all the pain medications I was taking for my back, as I was normally very healthy.  I felt no one was interested, no one was listening to me.  I have had 6 urine infections all since this has happened.  You can’t tell me this isn’t connected. 

I have done everything I have been told to do, I have tried physio, acupuncture, and I do the excercises I have been given religiously, I don’t feel any different, I am in agony all the time, my kids think I’m going to die, I know to you that may seem silly to other people, but their dad died and that’s what they think will happen to me when they see me in pain.  

I understand that the waiting lists are long, and other people are in the same position as me, but my whole life is on hold as are my children’s.  

I got a letter in October asking me to contact orthopaedics ASAP as they had been unsuccessfully trying to contact me, twice I’ve been told that they have tried to contact me and have been unable to (checked all the contact details which were correct)  all the were calling for was to check I still wanted to be on the list they have told me I won’t be seen until at least May 2020!!! 

I am at the end of my tether, I dont know where else to turn.  I will do anything to be free of this constant pain.  

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 4 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 18/12/2019 at 16:09
Published on Care Opinion at 16:09

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Everhopeful44

Thank you for getting in touch. I am sorry to hear about your experience with the Orthopaedic service and from your post it is clear the frustration and anxiety you are going through whilst waiting for your surgery date and the impact this is having on your quality of life and your children’s.

Unfortunately, our Orthopaedic waiting times are longer than we would like and there are a number of factors which are affecting our capacity, please accept our apologies. As your condition is deteriorating, you may want to speak to your GP as they will be able to provide a clinical update to the Orthopedics Team and may be able to explore other options to help you manage your symptoms.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Update posted by Everhopeful44 (the patient)

whilst I understand that times are really busy, and the waiting lists are long, I have already been back to my GP, they wrote to your department back in October to explain that things were worse and no one has even had the courtesy to reply.

Last weekend I had a relapse back to square one, I couldn’t weight bear on my left leg at all, couldn’t stand upright with severe spasms in my back and down my left side. My daughter had to help me dress. I realise this is probably not urgent to you, but it is having a severe impact on my and my daughters lives, my eldest is scared to leave me alone, in case I fall or something worse happens. The lack of contact is very frustrating I am not the person who goes to the doctors on a regular basis. I only go when I really have to, I am taking ibuprofen, co-codamol, diazapam and amytriptyline Everyday, I worry about what that is doing to the rest of my body. I rarely even take paracetamol normally. Please help me get back to my normal self.

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