Christie - what a lot of sense you talk! You are right, I really have nothing to lose by getting this checked out properly, so I will take your advice and ask my GP to refer me. And if it turns out I'm not a candidate for sugery, then there is the pain clinic option...

Your son sounds like a very plucky and determined young man - great to see he is getting on with his life, despite the rods and bolts holding him together!

Thanks again - you have given me back some hope I'll come back here and let you know how I get on...although I would imagine that the waiting list to see a specialist must be a pretty long one for a non-urgent case like mine, so I don't reckon that it will be any time soon!