Cruel NHS rationing condemns me to a life of agony
THE NHS is not only delaying surgery for hip and knee replacements until the pain is unbearable (Mail). Treatment for back problems is also dire. I have a wonderful family and should have everything to live for, but I have been suffering for nearly three years. For all this time I have been awaiting surgery for spinal stenosis, which causes severe nerve pain in the lower back and legs. It is making my life intolerable. I’m not a lazy person and used to love to walk, but I spend a large percentage of my time crying with pain. When I wake up, it takes three hours to be able to put my feet on the ground and stand and walk. I’m told that if this condition leads to me losing control of my bowels and bladder, they would have to treat me as an emergency — is this what they are waiting for? I could get private treatment tomorrow if I could afford to do so, and with exactly the same surgeon who would do the operation on the NHS. When I first went to see my GP, I was referred for physiotherapy at a local community hospital and then to a pain clinic, where they try to persuade you that you can control your pain with your mind. After several months, I was referred to a back clinic, where nurse practitioners treat you with drugs. Finally I had an MRI scan, which confirmed I had a grade one slip of the spine, needing decompression and fusion surgery. I have been back and forth to appointments with consultants and specialist nurses. I have had further MRI scans and a pre-op assessment where they inform you that you have to be as fit as possible for the operation. But I am still waiting for an operation date. I am told the wait could be lengthy, as there is a 12-month waiting list. What a waste of taxpayers’ money. I can’t believe our normally efficient and wonderful NHS service is being run into the ground.