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Pain care under savings threat

9:20am Tuesday 16th January 2007

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I HAVE been attending the pain management clinic at York Hospital for three-and-a-half years, and have had route dorsal/facet joint/epidural injections due to degenerative disc disease which is inoperable.

These injections help me continue my daily activities and work. Without them I would be unable to walk or continue working.

On January 4, I attended the pain management clinic, only to be told by my consultant that due to NHS cuts I had to be discharged; he could no longer carry out these injections. I would then have to be re-referred by my GP. I had injections in June, August and November, and depend on them for a quality of life.

I have nothing but praise for my consultant and the treatment he has given me, and find it disgraceful that due to management incompetence my treatment has to be ceased. Many other people must depend on the pain management clinic to continue their everyday life.

Whoever has decided this should try living in constant, chronic pain. I can only hope that this disgraceful decision is rescinded in the very near future.

Jane Knaggs, Rivelin Way, York.


AFTER reading and hearing about the proposals to stop giving MRI scans to people who suffer from chronic pain, I can only hope that this does not happen.

The scans are the only way to get a diagnosis of the cause, only then can a true course of treatment be determined. There are a great number of people suffering with this problem, and although things may appear normal, you do not know some of the stress this causes, not only to the sufferer but to the whole family.

It also causes many lost working days when people have to take time off. Since 1999 York Hospital has had a marvellous pain management programme, which has helped many people to manage their pain, and so lead a near-perfect life. This is because, having MRI scans, the doctors have got to the cause. Surely to stop the scans does not make sense.

J Hatton, Galtres Road, York.

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Paul, says...
1:03pm Tue 16 Jan 07

You are so right ,,I suffer from chronic pain having my back operated on at least 12 times,,had my neck fused ,, an ans unit (wire through my lower spine) so the nerves in my legs work,,People who don't have chronic pain have no clue as to what it is,,TH government should use all it's resources to help us not take things away from us,,I am not saying we are a burden but we to some help so we aren't a burden and can lead soome kind of life,,All they want to do is save money..I am so broke from trying to get by ,,and everyday it gets worse.

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Andrew Burns, YORK says...
12:41am Wed 14 Feb 07

i have just learned today about the loss of epidural injections for new chronic pain sufferers.
i ve been having injuections for over 10 yrs for chronic low back pain.
these enable me to have a better quality of life and without them id soon degenerate.
york primary care pain management clinic offers people like myself a keyhole to normal activity/
the consultants and team i have nothing but praise for
Injections for everyone in need is my SHOUT.
let the consultants decide who needs them not money

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