"Waiting for appointment, in pain"

I had a Spinal Fusion of the lower back in July 2011 and from the start of recovery knew that it had failed as I was still in extreme pain.

My GP referred me to see the consultant that had done my op in Nov 2011 and after having the appointment cancelled twice during this year I eventually got to see one of his colleagues in July of this year (9 months after referral).

I was told that the op had indeed failed and that I needed it all doing again with a waiting time of about 6 months, also as I was in constant extreme pain I would be put on the waiting list for steroid injections with a waiting time of about 10 weeks to see if this would help and also another procedure and these would be done prior to my surgery.

I received a follow up letter from the consultant 2 weeks after my appointment but that is where the communication has stopped. I have twice phoned the hospital as I have yet to receive any correspondence from them but I am just being told 'you are on the waiting list'. The first time I phoned I was told that the consultant had 'forgotten'to refer me for the injections and the other procedure so it was a good thing that I had phoned!

To this date I have yet to have any letters or indeed notification of any of the procedures and after being told that the pain killing injections were about a 10 week wait I am now in week 16, still unable to work, unable to mobilise properly and still in the dark on when someone will contact me. I seem to plod along and somehow get through each day waiting for the post in case my precious appointments appear.