Current Events > Is my experience with healh care for my suspected herniated disc ok?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Week 1: My neck and shoulder started to hurt, not too bad, had some ibuprofen and acetaminophen and kept working.

Week 2: Wake up monday, stiff neck and shoulder more pain, call sick from work. Call health clinic, got appointment for physiotherapist tuesday next week.

Wednesday pain is worse, I call health clinic, got doctors appointment, he could not say what it was, got Gabapentine for nerve pain, muscle rexalant and a stronger NSAID for inflammation. No MRI or other scans ordered, MRI would take 3 months to get.

Week 3: Physio examines me, says I have inflammation on the levator scapula muscle and spasm to the intercostsl ribs. He tapes my shoulder and I get some excersices. Says I dont need Gabapentine since its not nerve pain. My pain doesnt get much better. New appointment next week.

Week 4: Physio retapes me monday.
Thursday pain has increased a lot, call health clinic, a doctor calls me and I get a stronger NSAID and more muscle relaxant, removes Gabapentine (i had already stopped taking it cuz physio said so).

Friday: I call health clinic again as I could not sleep due to the increased pain. Get to meet the doctor who thinks it might be herniated disc in my neck. I get Gabapentine back and bigger dose and some opiods. During the weekend meds help a bit. No MRI or scans ordered, he said MRI is ordered for herniated disc after 3 months of pain or severe symtoms.

Week 5: Tuesday: Pains has just gotten worse and unbearable, meet with physio, could not examine me due to my pain, taped my shoulder, order a TENS machine I can rent.

Wednesday: Doctor still thinks its herniated disc, upped my gabapentine, no more opiods, no MRI order yet. I just have to endure my extreme pain while the Gabapentine starts to kick in and get new excersices from physio+TENS.

I had contact with 4 doctors and 2 physiotherapists.

Been suffering from extreme pain and sleeplessness.

Been off work almost 4 weeks, got 4 more weeks sick leave.

Bump

If your pain isn't being managed, then your treatment needs to be improved.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Im not gonna defend them but try to see from their point of view. They dont think its anything that an MRI would change the course of treatment as I have no signs of anything like that, and because of our health care model, free health care combined with huge amount of patients and understaffed they have to hold on things like MRI unless absolutely neccesary.

ai123 posted...

If your pain isn't being managed, then your treatment needs to be improved.

Gotta say tho, today is the first day I feel less pain, maybe the Gabapentine is starting to do its thing.

But yeh I an dissapointed that it feels like they havent taken my extreme pain more seriously.

Been good mostly all day but pain increasing again.

Been up since 3am its 8:30am. Nerve pain has gotten better but my muscle pain is is bad, could not sleep due to muscles spasming.

Feel better again after taking my meds.

Getting the TENS machine today.

What is a Physio? Is that what we refer to as a physical therapist?

I think you definitely need the MRI.

I have no idea why they think an MRI wouldn't help here? An MRI is going to be the best test for a herniated disc.

I don't think it's ok at all, but I understand it. I think I've said before but my dad had a herniated disc that kept him bedridden for several months before they did MRI and surgery. It sucks.

MabusIncarnate posted...

What is a Physio? Is that what we refer to as a physical therapist?

Yeah, cba to write it all out.

itachi15243 posted...

I think you definitely need the MRI.

I have no idea why they think an MRI wouldn't help here? An MRI is going to be the best test for a herniated disc.

Its just how it is here. But yeh they are treating me as it would be herniated disc so an MRI would not change the treatment considering the symtoms I have.

scar_the_1 posted...

I don't think it's ok at all, but I understand it. I think I've said before but my dad had a herniated disc that kept him bedridden for several months before they did MRI and surgery. It sucks.

My sister got MRI after 3 monts and was on sick leave for 6 months, wouldve needed more but was not allowed by Frskringskassan and because of that she wasnt hable to fully recover so she still sometimes have nerve pain and have numbness in one arm.

I hate Frskringskassan so much

Met Physical Therapist (PT from now on), got the TENS machine, some excersices, I have a little diminshed stenght in my right hand. He had talked to the doctor so if I havent gotten better or its gotten worse next time I meet the doc ins month they will do an MRI.

But the positive is that I have good range of motion and no constant numbness in my right arm.

Did the TENS machine relieve anything?

scar_the_1 posted...

Did the TENS machine relieve anything?

Gonna try it later when I have more pain, only tested it a little at thr PTs office but its hard to judge from that short time.

Hard to use the TENS. Where Id like to use it has been taped, and its hard to reach some parts of my back.

Othwrwise had my first full night of sleep in a week. Pain is better overall, gets worse at night and bad in the morning before meds.

Uneasy night, pain worse again but not as bad as its been. Removed the tape and tried the TENS, didnt help, gonna give it back. Heat and cold + spike mat helps more.

Great, the money Im getting from the social insurance agency is less than my bills per month, Im almost screwed from one month, its impossible for me to be sick 6 months if that happens.

I need to talk to them and see if they got some information wrong.

Need to ask doctor when its safe to go to work so my pain doesnt get worse, and ask work of they can change my tasks to be easier for me.

Gotta prob have to endure more pain and work, I cant afford being sick.

Btw the money stuff is worked out. I forgot I still get pay from last month on top of what I get from social security insurance.

If Im sick from work monthly basis now Ill get about $700 less than my pay. Its managable but not fun.

Was at PT today, my right hand got half of the numbers than my left hand on the stenght test, and I normally stronger with my right hand.

Returned the TENS, heat, cold and spikemat helps more.

PT thinks the problem might be around the C5-C7 vertabraes.

Pain is worse, I dunno if its cuz I plsyed some guitar, fell asleep and took my meds at midnight as I missed them or both.

Sound like my father.

Back and forth doctors trying to decide what it is, for a year or so. And then another few years until he got surgery.

Dark_Moon posted...

Sound like my father.

Back and forth doctors trying to decide what it is, for a year or so. And then another few years until he got surgery.

Damn, so long? Didnt they do MRI? What did he have and did he recover?

FF_Redux posted...

Damn, so long? Didnt they do MRI? What did he have and did he recover?

it was a hernia disc, they eventually did a mri, but it took awhile.

I have 3 severely herniated discs in my lower back and 3 moderately herniated discs in my neck. It sucks. Been dealing with it for 5 years, with relief on and off. Just got a spinal cord stimulator that has cut my lower back pain in half.

Syrain posted...

I have 3 severely herniated discs in my lower back and 3 moderately herniated discs in my neck. It sucks. Been dealing with it for 5 years, with relief on and off. Just got a spinal cord stimulator that has cut my lower back pain in half.

Thats horrible, how you dealing right now? Been able to work?

Things havent gotten better, today its been worse. Its worst at night and morning, hard to have a full night sleep. Meeting doctor and PT start of September.