Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackArcher101
GMG having to navigate our health system and getting a crash course on how it operates. Up until now I've luckily never had to deal with urgent care, but my father recently went to the ER and after an MRI was diagnosed with a severe issue requiring spine decompression surgery. He was referred to the spinal clinic at foothills, then told they would contact him within a few days to arrange surgery. They never did. We called them, and they said there was no need to speak with them, they'll reach out to us, at minimum 8 months from now, then at that point they'll schedule something.
It seems they want to wait for permanent paralysis before they bump him up to needing urgent care, but by that time it'll be too late.
So I'm left trying to help him, but he doesn't have a GP and can't find one in Lethbridge. His pain is a 9/10 and unable to walk, but his pain prescription runs out in 3 days and they tell him he has to keep returning to the ER to get new meds. What bullcrap.
Could use some advice from someone who's gone through back issues needing surgery. Going to start looking at private options, but man, I don't know where to begin. I thought our health system would at least be a little bit of a help.
|
Sorry to hear. Always sucks to hear about those living in pain and the challenges that those supporting those individuals have to go through.
Who referred him to Foothills? Ask them to put pressure on them by asking on the status or insight into how long the wait might be.
In the interim, I think all you can do is try to figure out what else can be done to improve his comfort levels.
Personally, I have pretty bad back pain issues but not one requiring specialists and surgery to address. Beyond physical adjustments and staying mobile (I highly recommend looking for a few Tai Chi warm up exercises that can be done while seated that your dad might be wiling to do), I started tinkering around with a few things beyond medication (leaving it as a back up plan) to see if it would help reduce discomfort.
Things that I've found work for me in tandem with other pain mitigation and reduction approaches that are not too expensive....
Weight lifting belt. Allows reduction of strain on back for basic motions and stabilizes back to reduce randomly painful movements. $30-50.
Hot bean bags. Allows for slight relaxation of muscles via heat, consider more than one. $40-60.
Salon Pas stickers. Allows for relaxation of muscles via topical medication. $20-40 for a pack of around 100, replenish maybe 2-3x a year?
"Water intake"/supplements. Drinking an extra litre of water or so can help the muscles not seize up as bad, but also adding slightly extra doses of electrolytes/salt/multi vitamins/Rhodiola etc. will help as well. Just make sure it doesn't react with anything else he might be taking. $10-50 /year.
Compression knee braces/compression pants. Helps to reduce strain on lower body which helps to have less requirement to use back to re-balance. $30-40 ish for knee braces. $90-150 ish for compression pants that help with both knee and hips.
Document the pain. Date, level of pain, how the pain occurred etc. Keep going to whoever you can and don't let your dad downplay the pain when talking to someone. Don't lie of course, but don't downplay it either.
I ignored some other things I try under the assumption that those in an advanced age and likely worse pain than me shouldn't try them (ie: certain activities recommended to my by physiotherapists such as stretches and rollers etc.).
Hopefully some of those ideas are able to help to to tide him over until the surgery. Good luck.
