"Waiting times to see Specialist"

A few months ago I went to the Emergency Department (ED) with severe pains in my neck and right shoulder. The nurse was professional, as she made me comfortable as she could, and said that the on call doctor had been out a few times that night and said that we will wait to see the on call doctor in the morning, which I did. When the doctor came they were very nice and said that they believe that it was a bad pulled muscle in my neck which was pulling on my shoulder and gave me some tablets and they said to see how that goes.

Two days later I was back in ED as the pain hadn't gone away and I now couldn't move my right arm so I was given different tablets and asked to see the doctor at the medical centre the next day, then I had to see the on call doctor who was very nice to me and spoke to the ED doctor at Bunbury hospital. So I then went down to see them to have an MRI on my neck, but I couldn't use the MRI there as it was too small as I also had a problem being stuck in small spaces. So the doctor referred me to Peel Campus as their machine was bigger and smaller; they were very nice and I was able to get it done. I was told to go back to the doctors at the medical centre which I did and the results weren't there and so I had to come back the next day.

I returned the next day to find out that I have 2 bulging discs in my neck  which has caused my arm to paralyse so I have had referrals sent to a neurosurgeon and to physiotherapy. It has taken 3 months just for me to see the physio now I have now had one appointment with them. I have been told by the Central Referral Centre that I can be waiting up to 18 months to see the specialist.

The problem is I am a single-wage earner. I want to go back to work, but I can't do my job the way I used to, and I have bills to pay like everyone else. My problem is why does it have to take so long to see the specialist? I did have private insurance as I had only cancelled mine a few months early as I couldn't keep up with the payments. I wish that there were more specialists down this way so that it may not be as long. I really am finding it very hard to live with it as the pain is horrible, and just because you can't see it doesn't mean you don't have pain. I have stopped seeing some of my friends due to that remark that they said "You are OK, just do more movement."

I feel my life is in limbo. I can't do things as I used to, I have my child to help me get dressed, I can't drive, can't do my housework like I used to. I just want to be able to go back to work and do all the things I used to do. I just don't know why there is such a long waiting list for this.