"Severe back pain and spasticity in my left leg"

During the last couple of years I have increased weakness in my left leg. During the latter part of 2017 my leg would give way without any warning resulting in falls. This once happened whilst I was doing a presentation for one of my employer's clients. My GP referred me to the physio at our local NHS Trust where they did an xray and subsequently a MRI scan. They informed that I had muscle wastage so subsequently I had physio and was attending the gym 3 times a week. My left leg improved but still not strong and I still continued to walk with a gait.

By this time I also started getting back pain which I self medicated for. During the last quarter of 2018 I awoke with severe back pain and stayed in bed all weekend just taking pain killers. Then in November 2018 my back went into severe spasms and I was trapped over the kitchen table unable to move, subsequently an ambulance was called to help me out of this position. I was in severe pain I attended the hospital and my GP who referred me to physio once again but as the waiting list was so long advised me to go privately in the meantime.

I started seeing a private osteopath once a week who wrote to my GP to request that I see a neurologist as my reflexes were not correct, my temperature in my left foot was always cooler than the right and my gait was not right. I was referred to Wrexham Park hospital that is outside my Borough but waiting times were less.

I saw the neurologist Dr Wade who on first exam informed me I had spastic leg this was late December 2018. He ordered a brain scan and upper and lower scan of the spine this happened in January 2019. I saw him again in February where he said my brain scan showed early onset of MS and I had a bulging disc at L4 and 5. He said he would refer me to a neuro surgeon for the back and I was to have a lumbar puncture to confirm the MS to release funding for treatment. I saw him again in April where he told me the lumbar puncture did not show the MS markers and further blood tests and a scan of the T spine would need to be undertaken. I asked him what was happening about my back he had forgotten to make the referral and would now refer to me Charing Cross.

During this time I constantly chased for appointments. I was now desperate living in constant pain signed off work and very limited of what I can do, now walking with a cane unsteady on my feet, more clumsy with swelling in my left leg, increased need to urinate lack of bladder control, searing headaches, memory impairment.

I got an appointment with Dr O'Neil neurosurgeon at Charing Cross for July. I could not wait this long so saw him privately in May where he said a number of tests would be carried out on electrical activity on my brain and nervous system and he would try injections into my spine to see if this helped firstly, then review with the possibility of an operation. He wanted to see the results of the scan of the T spine as he felt this may show other reasons why I was in pain.

I have been chasing both hospitals for news Wrexham Park informed that Charing Cross would be carrying out the procedures. I have chased Charing Cross by phone and email trying a number of different people as Dr O'NEIL secretary is on holiday. I have since received a copy of letter from Wrexham to Charing Cross with my t spine results which show significant herniated disc at T6and T7 plus early myelopathy of the t spine. I am so desperate I feel abandoned and ignored, although when I am able to make contact the staff are always very nice.

I understand the pressure the NHS is under as I work in the public sector. I need help and to be communicated to, I cannot afford to pay for anything more privately and am worried about finances as I have been signed off work since late March. This whole thing is also having an impact on my mental well being and those around me as i am usually the member of the family that leads and problem solves for others and is the strength within our family unit. But most days I just want to cry and spend most of it having to rest, as even cooking dinner will cause me pain that I feel physically sick. I will continue to chase but this has been going on for 7 months in chronic pain, I just am so disappointed that I worked all my life and paid into a system that is letting me down.  I also still do not know what is completely wrong with me what is causing my spasticity do I have MS?