This Forum!!

[King Jingleberries]

I am very saddened at what this forum seems to have become. When I first joined with a back problem all the posters on here were just here to give support to each other through our pain!! Now it seems it's just a question of who can score most points and who has the greatest knowledge. It's no longer somewhere to come to give and receive help, kind words and knowing people on here are in the same position as you and want to listen to you.

I had great support from all the members on here when I needed it and am now glad I'm not in that desperate position as this is not the place of help and kindness it used to be.

Regards
Fitbird

 

[cjporterjr54]

I think it's very sad that you felt the need to post this. I think it is inevitable that when a forum takes off and is as well used, and loved, and needed, as this one is, that it is going to be visited by professional people that are all fueled by money rather than a just a need to help.

Knowledge is very important and correct and accurate knowledge is paramount. In fact if there is a mistake in information given then it should be rectified or corrected as very many people rely on this board as a resource of helpful and personal experience led information.

The few minor episodes where members have stuck up for their point is nothing in the bigger scale of things.

Overall HP gives an informed and balanced position. The caring and concerned members are still here plodding on with our everyday problems and if occasionally someone is a bit snappy then that is surely only to be accepted and empathised with under the hard circumstances of continual and frustrating back pain.

Three Cheers for HP!!!

 

[alexxandra]

I'd just like to make a point that not all professionals here are driven by financial motives!

 

[Ferygon]

David you are right and I apologise if I offended you in any way. Many are extremely helpful and good hearted and offer their much needed advice without prejudice or ulterior motive,

 

[Misc Tech Advice]

I am very sorry and feel very sadended that you feel that way Fitbird, but I (and I'm sure others) don't recognise the 'uncaring' description you made of this great and wide ranging forum.

Members join this forum bringing with them many varying agendas, needs, experiences and information. Therapists bring expertise and potetial treatments and sufferers bring insite in to the world of pain experienced by so many, and thereby reassure people who are new to this suffering, they are not alone!

Many Members, including me, sympathize and empathise 'deeply' with fellow sufferer's conditions and predicements, and all regularly state as much, but we don't 'simply' want to be 'boo hoo fixers', we want to move everyones understanding of thier conditions and thier knowledge of all the available & safe treatment options forward!! Bear in mind, this is in the face of overwhelming medical and establishment resistance!!!

There are many Therapists posting and advertising on this forum, who (I believe) offer us sufferers, some truly great & varied pain relieving treatments and support, both physical and physcological. I would also say, that if a sufferer can't find a therapy to help your symptoms on HP, they probably won't find them anywhere, so I fail to see how you can play down these positive facts!

Please believe me when I state, that we are all glad that your condition is much improved, It's always great news to hear about excellent treatments and recoveries. However, you must understand that there are loads of members who are still experiencing chronic back pain after decades, without being offered or given effective, safe or appropriate treatments (in my case 25 years). And we are angry! This forum allows us to tell the truth, without being silenced. god bless HP!!

In my case, and I don't think I am unusual:
I went through 17 years with no diagnosis! but still worked with self treatment.
After an RTA, I was given 3 years of wrong diagnosis and wrong treatments.
Followed with 2 years of self research and self diagnosis.
I then sourced, procured and financed, the only truly 'Key Hole' Spine Surgery Procedure available in the UK. This cleared my sciatic symptoms. (£12,000)
And for the last 3 years, I have not been offered any safe, effective or appropriate treatments nor funding by the NHS to clear my remaining impingement at my L5/S1 level.
I am consantly being given inaccurate or no information by Surgeons, and I cannot afford a second £12,000 private MISS operation at The Spinal Foundation.

So I am (like so many other sufferers) left to 'rot' on the waiting lists, or left on our own having been discharged for no other reason than our Consultants have reached thier 'skill set' limts and will not referer sufferers to more skilled and capable Surgeons. Also beacuse our local Health Boards/Trusts refuse to pay for available and effective private treament, out of area.

I am 'truly' sorry that my/our determination and vigour to regain full or substantive physical improvements leaves you feeling saddened, but I am not sorry for trying to understand the true facts behind my illness, nor for 'debunking' misleading, confusing and unhelpful information, where ever I find it!

Neither am I sorry for seeking safe, effective and minimally invasive treatment that will give 'me' back my life and my 'children' thier Father and my Wife her Husband.

The most important thing I have learned, is that 'time' moves fast when you are 'waiting on lists' with no apparent improvement in the quality of health care available. Life is paaing us by.

So if I/us are rocking the 'ineffective medical boat' whilst making a stand 'relying facts & information' to fellow sufferers, then so be it!

Best wishes

SPINELF