"I was in so much pain and getting nowhere"

In March 2014 I felt pain in my lower back and pain down through my buttock to my ankle. I saw a nurse at a walk-in centre and she said it was sciatica, gave me some painkillers and advised me to see my GP for him to make a referral to physiotherapy. I opted to see a private osteopath. After 4 weeks he wrote to my GP stating I needed an MRI scan. My GP stated that I could not have one and had to go through a pathway. As I wished to be seen asap, I opted to go with Dudley Hospital Trust. I was seen in July 2014 and was referred for an MRI. I managed to get a cancellation so I was seen in a few weeks. It was confirmed I had a herniated disc. I was given some treatment options and given I had seen an osteopath without success, opted for an epidural. Again I got lucky and was seen at the end of August, but the epidural was not successful. I went on holiday in September, had a terrible time due to pain, and when I came back I went off sick from work. I couldn't stand the bus and train commute any longer. I asked my GP for further pain relief, but I was told there was none. I had to wait until November for a follow up, to be told I was an "enigma". They could not understand why I had pain walking and standing up. I should only have pain sitting down. I was told I should lose weight and that the reason the epidural did not work was because I did not have a herniated disc. I was told I would be sent for physiotherapy whilst they asked the radiographer for another report on the MRI. I felt really angry that I was in so much pain and getting nowhere. No-one seemed to know what to do. I had a full time professional job and my employer naturally wanted me to go back to work. So did I.

I complained to my GP and they wrote to the hospital asking for me to see the consultant. Just prior to seeing the Consultant, I saw a junior doctor who said I had a cyst on my spine and it was likely I would have to go to Birmingham for a biopsy. I again asked for more painkillers, but was told there were no more I could be given. When I saw the consultant a week later, they confirmed I did not have a herniated disc, it was a cyst. They told me I would be transferred from Russells Hall/Corbett Hospital, Dudley, to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

10 days later I had a heart attack. When I came out of hospital, my father went back in. I could not visit him for a month, nor could my mother as I could not drive, I believe this was detrimental to his health as he had Alzheimers and in May 2015, he died. He was treated appallingly and I will give a separate post about his treatment. During my father's period in hospital and my recuperation, my boss advised me that unless I could give assurances I would be back to work by the end of March, I would face the sack. Alternatively, and they suggested it as a better option, I could apply for voluntary redundancy. I applied and got it. I am still living off my redundancy money, which is running out. I was furious at losing my job. I had worked very hard to get it and enjoyed my job. Between January 2015 and May 2015, I had had a heart attack, lost my job and my father.