Belgium Forum

Nousch
Joined 2023
Posts: 1

7 months ago

ANTWERP: Specialist for herniated disk?

7 months ago

Hi!

My 33yo partner, who lives in the Netherlands, was diagnosed with a really bad herniated disk. Moving is extremely painful and has gotten to a point where it has an effect on bladder and bowels, as well as on the right leg, which has started to drag recently.

Despite the severe complaints, my partner was sent home by the neurologist in the hospital and told to take paracetamol (which don't help, which was also communicated) and to sit it out for 3 months with some physio to then come back if there's still pain.

In the meantime the complaints have worsened and we asked for a 2nd opinion from the specialist from the insurance company. We were told he's on a holiday for a month, so too bad for my partner. Working has become daily torture since walking is barely possible, and there is no hope at the end of the hernia tunnel if we have to rely on the healthcare system in the Netherlands, since apparently paracetamol cures everything in this country.

It's not the first time the Dutch healthcare system has failed to provide help in a dire situation, so the plan is to go to a specialist here in Antwerp. The only hospital that has a contract with my partner's Dutch insurance company is UZA, but I have no experience with the department of neurology there.

Do any of you (who have/had a herniated disk) have experience with the neurologists of UZA, and if so which neurologist do you recommend? I do have to mention that my partner doesn't want a surgery. This should be the very last resort, since there isn't really any reliable data yet on the long term effects.

Other recommendations in other hospitals are welcome as well if UZA doesn't turn out to be the right place.

Thank you so much for your feedback!

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