Steroid injection wait
I have just got off the phone to the "Surgery in Primary Care Scheme". This was my third phone call to try and get a date for a steriod injection (having been referred 13/10/11). The earliest date available to a GP surgery I can travel to is 2 months away, wondered if you were aware there was such a long wait at present in the Canterbury area?
Thanks and sorry for putting it in the wrong place. This is the first time ever I have written on a forum site, but I was so upset at the thought of 2 more months of sleep deprivation. I will log on in early November and update you. Thanks
I know it's still very early in November, but you said to get in contact if no cancellations from SIPC.
I have not heard from them, so at present my appointment for the steriod injection is just prior to Christmas.
Things are bearable during the day, but the nights are very difficult. I am being woken between 3 -6 times every night by the pain, which seems to take ages to subside each time.
They told me on Monday (by email) that the exisiting injecting GPs had agreed to put on some extra lists and that a new GP in Thanet was just getting going so give them a call tomorrow morning and see if they can do anything earlier. If not see if you can get through to me on the office number (01227 783048 - apologies if you get the answerphone, it just means I am busy talking to another patient) and we will try and arrange to do it for you in neurophysiology. JB
Looks like we have to do it here in neuropysiology next week then - see you then. JB
Update following steriod injection last Thursday (10th).
Firstly thank you so much for fitting me in.
Not such spectacular results as previous 2 injections.
I am still getting some numbness and "fizzing" but nothing like as much as before the injection.
More importantly ( to me) I am NOT waking in the night in pain which is the main thing.
I am happy to remain in this situation until/unless it gets severe again.
Then I will make contact again via this site.
We spoke about it at the annual SIPC meeting two weeks ago and there is clearlya need for more GPs to take on the injecting. We do have one new volunteer in Thanet but that is just being looked into by the management at present. We could arrange to carry out some injections in the neurophysiology department - but in the modern finance, cotract and market obsessed NHS that is subject to negotiation betwen the hospital trust and the soon to be abolished primary care trust over how much is going to be charged for it - such negotiations usually seem to take at least a year in my experience. I am attending a conference in London next week so will not be doing any CTS clinics but keep in touch through this site and if SIPC have not come up with something timely by the start of November we will see if we can arrange an injection list on a Thursday morning in Canterbury.
In a day or two, when you have had a chance to see my reply I will move this comment to the Canterbury patients forum as it really belongs more logically there. JB