Re: Still Waiting

In Reply to: Still Waiting posted by Sniffer on December 06, 2003 at 20:04:44:

: Sorry but i just want to have a quick moan.
: Reported numb hands to my doctor in November 2002.
: Got an appointment to see the consultant in April 2003. Had the EMG in October 2003. I should get the results of the EMG at my next appointment on 17th December and hopefully have the surgery in 2004 but i wont hold my breath. Wearing wrist splints of a night but the problem seems to be in the elbow and I dont seem to be able to get a good nights sleep. I would go private but cant afford it so I will just have to wait for the wheels of the NHS to turn. I am going to become a dad in April and would like to have the surgery before the baby arrives

Hi Sniffer
I'm in the same boat as you but haven't seen the surgeon yet. I went to my GP in August with ulnar nerve problems & will see the surgeon on Friday.

Don't want to sound pessimistic, more realistic. You'll be lucky to get surgery by April. When you go back on 17th, lay it on with a trowel, tell the surgeon how bad your symptoms are & maybe they'll push you up the queue. If you get a surgery date for 6 mths down the line, keep pestering your GP & that might push you up the list a wee bit faster too.

I had my cts surgery on the NHS & it was around a full year from first seeing the surgeon to first lot of surgery. Waited around 6 months from the decision to operate. Depends a lot on geography too. Some Health Authorities are better than others.

It's ridiculous to have to wait 6 months for an emg when the procedure has been proved ineffective in a large % of cases. An Occupational Health doctor stated that 'without doubt' I have Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Makes me wonder then, why I might have to do the same as you have. The guy who did my cts surgery didn't bother with electrodiagnostic testing so maybe I'll get lucky again.

Good luck on 17th & keep us posted.
Evelyn