Please help, my mum is in terrible pain and the doctors wont help

[MAK]

Hi,
My mum has been admitted to hospital more than 6 times regarding this. My mum was fine before her operation but she started getting this costant pain after the operation. Its been 8 weeks and the pain is still not gone. I have spoken, argued to the doctor but they keep saying they dont know whats causing the pain, therfore they cant help. My point was, it started after the operation, therefore they must've worsen it and its their problem how they sort this out.

After having spoken to several doctors, now they are saying that the GP needs to refer her to some specialist pain management hospital. I am planning to make an official complaint about the whole thing. please help me by giving any advice becuase she can't go on living with this pain even a week. Thanks

[reform]

Sorry to hear of your mother's distressing and painful situation. I have no trust in the NHS so can only suggest you get tough but remain polite at all times. Insist on a second opinion - it is your mothers right. You may need to get a letter from your mother stating that she gives permission for you to discuss her case with the GP or hospital doctor. They cannot refuse that either.

Failing that you could contact your nearest BUPA hospital direct and ask about one-off private treatment or contact the central line to discuss your needs - see www.bupahospitals.co.uk/

It is amazing how easy it is, how quickly they can accomodate patients and some procedures are much cheaper than you would expect. If I had known earlier that non insured people could get an ultra-sound scan for £180 pounds my husband may still be alive today. Instead we battled through the usual delays and when we did get a scan in a BUPA hospital the cancer had spread and he was doomed to die within 13 weeks. The downside is that you will need a letter of referral from the GP - or hospital doctor - stand your ground on your mother's behalf - firmly but politely. If they know you mean business and are well informed it should work.

Good luck in your quest for acceptable treatment.

[zippyRN]

Hi,
My mum has been admitted to hospital more than 6 times regarding this. My mum was fine before her operation but she started getting this costant pain after the operation. Its been 8 weeks and the pain is still not gone. I have spoken, argued to the doctor but they keep saying they dont know whats causing the pain, therfore they cant help. My point was, it started after the operation, therefore they must've worsen it and its their problem how they sort this out.

After having spoken to several doctors, now they are saying that the GP needs to refer her to some specialist pain management hospital. I am planning to make an official complaint about the whole thing. please help me by giving any advice becuase she can't go on living with this pain even a week. Thanks


thanks to the way the NHS is now run due to the ineptitude of the Neue Arbeit Politicians elected to run the country the surgeons may in fact be in the crazy situation of having to ask the patient to get the GP to refer for services such as this ...

surgeons are not anaesthetists with a specialist interest in chronic pain , so logically, legally, and clinically the Surgeon may be correct in that s/he
can do not more for this particular problem

[jenny]

If the doctors have ruled out any organic cause of the pain - ie any complications from the operation or new condition, then your mother should be able to get a referral to a pain clinic. The hospital doctors should be able to contact your GP over this, and explain that they have been unable to identify a cause for the pain, therefore she needs to be referred to a pain clinic. I am assuming that they have carried out the necessary tests etc? There is no reason that your mother should not be able to gain almost immediate access to help from a pain clinic for chronic pain. You are also entitled to a second opinion on the NHS - you could insist on one, from a doctor who was not involved in the initial operation. Unfortunately, with the NHS, in order to get anything taken seriously, you have to become a bit of a rottweiler. Good luck.

[gp2]

There is no reason that your mother should not be able to gain almost immediate access to help from a pain clinic for chronic pain

Unfortunately referral to pain clinic may take several months due to lack of funding for an adequate service.