Discussions

After 9 years and 10 months, the specialist has contacted us to state that he apologizes for the delay but he has been very busy. He is willing to now send us on to a pain specialist if.....  
How can a specialist leave a prior back surgery patient (might I add botched back surgery) for 10 years and then think maybe they should send them on. Did the surgeon think that they had been able to work during the past 10 years, that they had been able to carry on their life without pain, that they were able to exist without taking mega amounts of drugs everyday? How can this be quality health care?  
Any thoughts? Anyone else experience this fantastic care in Manitoba?

did you think of calling his office? I for one after about three months, would have been calling his office every week.  
There is no way, anyone in that much pain could have waited 10 years. Like I said I would have been calling his office, if that didn't work, I would have been calling the board of physicans of Maniota. Is there something in writing that it was a botched surgery? I would have used that as evidence.  
 
We are lucky we have health care, but sometimes you have to step it up to get what you need. I am still shaking my head that you waited 10 years if it was that bad.

I completely agree with Brenda. At some point (I'd suggest 3-6 months) you have to take a bit of initiative and follow up, especially if you are in a great deal of pain. We are all humans, even doctors and their administrative staff. I know when I needed a specialist I was told it would be handled by fax so I kept it in mind to follow up if I didn't hear anything as we all know that faxing isn't 100% reliable. There is no way that I'd let it go past 6 months without following up on my own. I've always received a letter within 1-2 months with the appointment date/time, even though sometimes that appointment might be a year down the road which is unfortunate but then again our healthcare system is FREE so sometimes we are stuck waiting. If it was that bad you always have the option of going to the states and MB health will cover some of the costs as you're taking the burden off our own healthcare system.

there is no way i would have waited 9+ years if I were having trouble after surgery. I have waited less than 2 weeks to make contact again.if I do not hear back from a health care professional who was supposed to contact me. Sad Truth is they so often do not bother even when they say they will check on something and get back to you. You must be very active in your own care and push for the treatment/information/care you need. It isn't just our health care sustem-friends in the US tell me it is the same for them.