I have been searching for the cause of my pain for over 5 years now, I was conducting a process of elimination with my previous GP.
Results from an MRI returned with brain lesions in my frontal cortex.
It was over a 12-month waitlist to the neurology department at Charles Gairdner.
In the meantime, I attended Royal Perth hospital emergency department because I could no longer cope with the pain.
They sent me home, and sent my GP a letter to refer me to the Chronic Pain Clinic at Charles Gairdner.
After a long wait time, I seen a pain doctor, I didn’t want medication, I was given patches that I believe didn’t work.
A few months later a different doctor called me, they asked how I was doing, I told them about the new meds I have been taking for my depression. I told them I felt no pain at the time of our phone conversation. They told me they would make another appointment to check in a few months time.
When I called the department after not hearing back, they informed me I had been exited from the pain clinic and I would need another referral from my GP.
I was infuriated, as I was in so much pain, I was seeing a different GP at the time that didn’t understand my needs. I felt like this was impossible. I was in so much pain and after waiting for so long, with the hope that I would somehow have my pain resolved. I have still done nothing about this and living with the pain.
I had another MRI done as directed by the Neurology department. They have told me nothing.
My new GP sent me for another MRI at a different place, to get a different opinion. It turns out that my C5 in my spine is cracked. They said it’s an old injury, possibly from a car accident I had 10 years ago. I’m frustrated, I was an ED patient at Royal Perth Hospital after the car accident. Why wasn’t my injury noticed then, why wasn’t I looked at when I went there the second time in pain.
I feel frustrated, attending so many different appointments, living in fear and anxiety waiting for these appointments as a public patient. Been told I have brain lesions but they can’t tell me anything else. I feel I have not been taken seriously, and just sent away. The effect this has had on my mental health the past few years is huge.
"Long term pain"
About: Royal Perth Hospital Royal Perth Hospital Perth 6000 http://www.rph.wa.gov.au/ Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital / Pain Management Clinic Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Pain Management Clinic Nedlands 6009
Posted by swingcp98 (as ),
Responses
See more responses from Janet Zagari
See more responses from Lesley Bennett